Leave to appeal refused even though the primary judge erred in treating s 90AF as a free-ranging power without first identifying a relevant proprietary interest. The error was immaterial because a conceded tracing claim supported
Full Court granted leave to appeal on the arguable question of whether the criminal standard of proof should apply to contravention proceedings under Part XIIIA that result in an order for imprisonment. The case turns
In a property settlement after a 20-year marriage, the appeal court held that the trial judge wrongly assessed each category of contribution separately and then added them together, rather than weighing all contributions holistically as
Practitioners and parties must carefully adhere to court-imposed filing deadlines and directions.
The appeal pathway from the FWCA is complex, and depends on the decision maker, the legislation, and whether the order is interlocutory
A conviction for breach of an interim family violence restraining order will constitute “an offence involving violence, or a threat of violence, to the other party” for the purpose of the mandatory cross examination ban
Emotional Toll and Vicarious Trauma: Family lawyers frequently deal with emotionally charged cases that can have a profound impact on their mental health. The exposure to intense emotions and traumatic experiences may lead to compassion
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It can occur in any occupation, but it is most common in high-stress jobs, such as healthcare, law, and
In family law, words are not just information — they are tools that shape trust, influence decision-making, and either calm or escalate an already fragile situation. For clients in conflict, language has even greater power. It can anchor them, empower them, or overwhelm them.
In family law, pressure is constant.
Clients are distressed, deadlines are tight, evidence is incomplete, and conflict escalates with little warning.
Under these conditions, even seasoned practitioners can slip into what many call the Reactive Lawyer Trap — the cycle of responding, firefighting, and reacting to the loudest or most urgent problem of the day.
Every strong family law matter begins long before the first affidavit is drafted, the first subpoena is issued, or the first mention date arrives. It starts with strategy, but not strategy in the abstract, theoretical sense. Effective family law strategy is structured, evidence-driven, child-focused, and grounded in a clear understanding of risk, resources, and outcomes.
