LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2025 21 FAMILY LAW LAWYER OF THE YEAR AUSTRALIA store. They were beaming, full of life, laughter, and ease. He shared that they had just returned from a family holiday, and seeing them together, smiling and thriving, was a rare and fortunate experience. In that moment, the human impact of our work was undeniable. It reminded me why we fight so hard — for restored relationships, healing, and hope. Even now, just recalling that moment brings tears of joy to my eyes. Family law can be emotionally charged and complex. What core values guide your practice when supporting clients through difficult family matters? Three values form the foundation of my practice: empathy, accountability, and respect. Empathy is not just a value; it is a practice. It means truly listening, suspending judgement, and understanding that clients often come to us in their most distressed, defensive, or fearful state. When people feel seen and heard, their anger and fear lose their grip. I tell clients regularly: it is okay to not be okay. That permission, simple as it sounds, is often the first step in helping them stabilise. Accountability governs everything I do. I hold myself to a high standard, especially when the advice is difficult for the client to hear. I make a point of setting clear expectations, because unclear advice leads to disappointment and further conflict. As lawyers, our duty is not to say what is comfortable; it is to say what is necessary, backed by law and guided by integrity. Respect is non-negotiable. It extends to clients, opposing counsel, judicial officers, and the system itself. Strong advocacy does not require hostility or condescension. The most persuasive advocacy is principled, composed, and backed by evidence. Have you noticed any changes in the types of cases or client needs emerging in family law in recent years? Yes, there has been a distinct shift in the landscape of family law, both in the types of matters coming through the door and in how clients approach them. Most notably, there has been a sharp increase in family violence allegations, particularly with the broader public recognition of terms like gaslighting and coercive control. While the increased awareness is essential for acknowledging the nuanced nature of abuse, it has also led to misuse and confusion. We see this reflected in the courts, in frontline services, and in media discourse. There is often little understanding of what coercive control legally entails, and in the absence of proper guidance, these complex psychological concepts are sometimes reduced to catchphrases. In practical terms, this has resulted in a surge of interim family violence orders being granted on the basis of vague or untested allegations. The implications of such orders are profound. I have represented clients, predominantly men, who have been evicted from their homes, unable to retrieve their belongings, cut off from their children, and forced into homelessness. In some cases, the flow-on effects include job loss and severe mental health crises. Studies by the Coroners Court of Victoria and data from the ABS suggest that male suicide in the context of family law conflict and separation is an issue that remains grossly under-acknowledged. Even more troubling is the increasing tendency to treat a family violence intervention order as though it were a “parenting order” and I am hearing it referred to as such with alarming frequency. This mischaracterisation not only undermines the integrity of both legal frameworks, but also weaponises the law in a way that entrenches conflict, prolongs litigation, and causes further harm, often fuelled by misconceptions or strategic misuse. How does your firm balance assertive legal representation with empathy and care, especially when children are involved? At The Family Lawyer, I have championed the adoption of a child-centred, evidence-based approach that draws on both legal principles and psychological research.
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