Farrar Gesini Dunn were the first specialised Family Law firm in Canberra and one of the first in the country.
So how do you find the Family Law Firm that is right for you?
First you need to decide if you want to be involved in Court proceedings or you believe Court is innevitable. Sometimes this is a clear cut decision. For example, you may already be in Court or your (ex) partner is threatening to take the children to live elsewhere. If that is the case you need a strong, experienced and well resourced firm who are expert in Court proceedings and know the procedures and personalities in the Court near where you live.
If this is the case the questions you might ask are:
- How many solicitors in your firm specialise in Family Law and work exclusively in Family Law?
- How many years has the most experienced practitioner in the firm been specialising in Family Law?
- Have any Family Lawyers in your firm worked as Judges or Registrars in the Family Court?
- How big is the firm? This is important so your lawyer has the right support both administratively and legally.
You may wish to avoid Court and conflict, if at all possible and just want help to solve the issues confronting you as quickly and cost effectively as possible, the questions you might ask are:
- What methods do you employ to help and ensure my partner and I are able to resolve our differences the way that suits us rather than impose a solution that others think is correct?
- Does your firm employ in-house mediators?
- Does your firm actively encourage the process known as Collaborative Law as a way of keeping out of Court and resolving issues in dispute.
- How many Collaborative Law cases does your firm have ongoing at present? How many did you resolve using that process last year?
- What different approaches to resolving issues does your firm actively promote and actually use?
- Does your firm have a Divorce Coach or psychologist to help me through the process.
If you are looking for a Family Lawyer, ask these questions and choose the one that’s right for you.
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Article By: Jim Dunn
CEO
Only our fearless Managing Director could keep us all in check and functioning like a well-oiled machine. Jim has in excess of 40 years of legal experience. Once upon a time Jim was one of Australia’s fiercest litigators; but having now attained a state of zen he is passionate about the benefits of collaboration for clients.