If you believe the media hype, family lawyers exist purely to amp up your dispute and take your money. There’s plenty of warnings out there from people who have been burned by the system that will tell you to stay far far away from lawyers and the Family Court.
And you know what? As a family lawyer, I’d tell you to stay away from us if you can help it too – nobody wants to go to the Family Court, and nobody wants to spend time with a family lawyer.
But.
The fact is, some people have disputes that they can’t get through themselves, and then they really need a system that is going to deal with it. I’m not saying the system we have is the best out there, but it does exist for a good reason.
So what about lawyers? You know, I agree, there are some good reasons out there why you shouldn’t see a lawyer, even if you’re going to Court. And here’s the top three that I hear.
“too expensive”
It’s very common for clients visiting a lawyer for the first time to be told about the possible legal costs they may run up if they pursue a Family Court case, and it can range from a few thousand dollars to $100,000 (and beyond). Those are scary numbers, no matter whether you are well off or on a tight budget.
While it’s true that engaging a lawyer costs money (after all, they are professionals who have spent many years honing their skills and knowledge), it’s not true that you have to sign up to costs “between $30,000- $110,000” when you engage a lawyer. It is possible to engage a lawyer in what is called a ‘limited scope’ which means the lawyer will perform specific, pre-agreed tasks that will help you progress your case without blowing your budget. While it also means you remain responsible for conducting your case, it can certainly help overcome the financial hurdle.
“too confusing”
I hear some clients come to my office after seeing another lawyer feeling rather disillusioned confused and disappointed with lawyers as a whole. They felt that their lawyer had not given them any proper guidance, which is what they had been expecting (and paying for) when they consulted them. It is very easy for lawyers without much experience or confidence in their skills to tell clients “it depends” “there are a lot of factors at play” etc, without giving them a clear idea of what they might expect as an outcome.
We don’t do that. When we meet to consult with you, the objective is always to:
- assess your case to see if your goals are consistent with the case you have (ie do you have enough evidence on your side to get the outcome you want). If yes, on to step two. If no, we need to reassess your objectives.
- Help you create a strategy to improve your case, and give you concrete steps (either in the litigation or in your behaviour) to help you achieve your objective.
“I can do it myself”
This one is actually true for a lot of things that lawyers currently do. There are many procedural steps, forms and filings and serving of documents, that litigants can do for themselves.
We believe that litigants can take responsibility for their own cases. We also believe that they shouldn’t be left to do it with nothing more than a Court brochure from 2012 to guide them. That’s why we’re offering online courses to step you through the procedural stuff, so you can save time and effort and get on with the rest of your life.
So maybe you shouldn’t see just any family lawyer, but you should see us.
