By Matt Hempstead, Principal of Barry Nilsson Lawyers, Accredited Specialist (Family Law)
If you are feeling daunted by the idea of meeting with a Family Lawyer for the first time, you are not alone.
There are steps that you can take that will assist you to select the right Family Lawyer for you, and to ensure that you are on the right path to a positive Family Law journey.
This article presents some key tips to help you navigate the process of your first meeting with a Family Lawyer.
Finding a Family Lawyer
There are many highly-qualified Family Lawyers available to assist you in Queensland, although not all of them will be the right fit for you.
When selecting a Family Lawyer, it is important that you research and consider who might be the best fit for you. A good starting point is to consider meeting with a Queensland Law Society Family Law Accredited Specialist.
Solicitors who are accredited as specialists are recognised as having enhanced skills, superior knowledge, significant experience and a high proficiency in established legal speciality areas.
Once you have found a Family Lawyer, it is generally a good idea to have a short discussion or email communication with them to talk about your circumstances, and what information might assist during your first meeting with the Family Lawyer (also known as an initial consultation). This will also help to determine whether there are urgent matters that need to be dealt with.
The next step is to schedule the initial consultation.
Preparing For the Initial Consultation
Depending on your needs, you can prepare as little or as much information for an initial consultation. Undertaking some preparation can help your Family Lawyer to provide advice more quickly, but it isn’t essential.
Your Family Lawyer will guide you through the initial consultation process.
Financial Matters
If there are financial matters relating to your Family Law matter, your Family Lawyer can better assist you during the initial consultation if you provide the following information (either before, or during the meeting):
Parenting Matters
If there are parenting matters arising from your Family Law matter, the initial consultation process can be assisted by providing your Family Lawyer with the following information (either before, or during the meeting):
If there are urgent matters related to domestic and family violence or the protection of persons or property, please ensure that your Family Lawyer is aware of this as soon as possible. Your Family Lawyer will need to discuss these matters with you and develop a plan to take protective measures.
During the initial consultation
During your initial consultation:
Review and Reflect
After your initial consultation, take some time to review any information your Family Lawyer gave you, or notes you took - and reflect on the advice you were given. Doing this immediately may help you understand the next steps and ensure you haven’t missed anything.
Immediate Follow-Up Actions
Your Family Lawyer might give you some tasks to complete, or documents to gather. Make sure to follow through with these promptly to keep your matter moving forward and to ensure your Family Lawyer is best placed to move things along on your behalf.
Clear Communication
Try to establish a clear line of communication with your Family Lawyer. Do your best to understand how you can contact them (email, phone, etc.), and what their response times are like – and be open about what works for you in this regard. This will help everyone to manage expectations and nurture a Lawyer-Client relationship that finds success through smooth and open communication.
Keep in mind, your Family Lawyer will be working to establish this same level of open communication with you, and it is important that you work together.
Understanding and Managing Costs
A clear understanding of the potential financial impact will empower you to make decisions that align with your financial goals. While your Family Lawyer will provide you with a clear fee agreement upfront, outlining the estimated costs involved, don’t hesitate to ask questions. This will help avoid surprises later on.
Building a Strong Relationship with Your Family Lawyer
Trust and Transparency
Building and nurturing a strong relationship with your Family Lawyer is crucial. Always be honest and transparent about your situation, keeping in mind that you and your Family Lawyer are a team. This helps enable them to provide the best possible advice and representation.
Regular Updates
It is crucial for both you and your Family Lawyer that you stay informed about the progress of your matter. Regular updates from your Family Lawyer will help you stay on top of developments and make informed decisions. Never be afraid to push for updates, or to clarify the meaning of something you have been told.
Asking Questions
Don’t hesitate to ask questions if something is unclear, or if you simply want to have a better understanding of what is going on. A good Family Lawyer will be happy (and able) to explain things in a way that you understand.
Final Takeaway
Meeting with a Family Lawyer for the first time can be a daunting experience, but with the right preparation and mindset, it can also be a positive step towards resolving your family law matters. By following these tips, you can make the most out of your initial consultation and set the foundation for a successful legal journey.
If you are feeling daunted by the idea of meeting with a Family Lawyer for the first time, you are not alone.
There are steps that you can take that will assist you to select the right Family Lawyer for you, and to ensure that you are on the right path to a positive Family Law journey.
This article presents some key tips to help you navigate the process of your first meeting with a Family Lawyer.
Finding a Family Lawyer
There are many highly-qualified Family Lawyers available to assist you in Queensland, although not all of them will be the right fit for you.
When selecting a Family Lawyer, it is important that you research and consider who might be the best fit for you. A good starting point is to consider meeting with a Queensland Law Society Family Law Accredited Specialist.
Solicitors who are accredited as specialists are recognised as having enhanced skills, superior knowledge, significant experience and a high proficiency in established legal speciality areas.
Once you have found a Family Lawyer, it is generally a good idea to have a short discussion or email communication with them to talk about your circumstances, and what information might assist during your first meeting with the Family Lawyer (also known as an initial consultation). This will also help to determine whether there are urgent matters that need to be dealt with.
The next step is to schedule the initial consultation.
Preparing For the Initial Consultation
Depending on your needs, you can prepare as little or as much information for an initial consultation. Undertaking some preparation can help your Family Lawyer to provide advice more quickly, but it isn’t essential.
Your Family Lawyer will guide you through the initial consultation process.
Financial Matters
If there are financial matters relating to your Family Law matter, your Family Lawyer can better assist you during the initial consultation if you provide the following information (either before, or during the meeting):
- A schedule outlining the assets, liabilities, and superannuation interests as you understand them. It is helpful if this document lists information concerning the value and current legal owner.
- If there are corporate or trust interests, a corporate structure or diagram is very useful in understanding the parties’ interests. This should include:
- The names of any entities, trusts, and superannuation entitlements,
- The roles each party or any third parties hold within each structure (e.g., Director, Shareholder, and the number of shares, Appointor), and
- The key assets and liabilities held by each structure.
- A brief bullet-point chronology outlining key dates of the relationship, such as when you started living together, when any children were born, when property was acquired or disposed of, or any other relevant matters.
Parenting Matters
If there are parenting matters arising from your Family Law matter, the initial consultation process can be assisted by providing your Family Lawyer with the following information (either before, or during the meeting):
- The names and dates of birth of each child,
- Details of the children’s schooling (where they go to school, grade, and how they are progressing),
- A brief summary about each child and their specific needs, and
- The current care arrangements for the children and how long those arrangements have been in place.
If there are urgent matters related to domestic and family violence or the protection of persons or property, please ensure that your Family Lawyer is aware of this as soon as possible. Your Family Lawyer will need to discuss these matters with you and develop a plan to take protective measures.
During the initial consultation
During your initial consultation:
- You should feel comfortable to ask any questions of your Family Lawyer during the initial consultation. Ask any questions you need to so that that you understand the advice being provided to you.
- Be forthcoming and open in relation to any questions your Family Lawyer make ask of you. It is important to provide you with accurate advice that you provide your Family Lawyer with the information they are requesting from you. This may at times be confronting or embarrassing but will assist you in developing a plan to move forward.
- Your Family Lawyer will develop a plan with you to deal with any urgent issues and to progress your matter forward.
- Your Family Lawyer will inform you about the potential costs you may incur and discuss those costs with you.
Review and Reflect
After your initial consultation, take some time to review any information your Family Lawyer gave you, or notes you took - and reflect on the advice you were given. Doing this immediately may help you understand the next steps and ensure you haven’t missed anything.
Immediate Follow-Up Actions
Your Family Lawyer might give you some tasks to complete, or documents to gather. Make sure to follow through with these promptly to keep your matter moving forward and to ensure your Family Lawyer is best placed to move things along on your behalf.
Clear Communication
Try to establish a clear line of communication with your Family Lawyer. Do your best to understand how you can contact them (email, phone, etc.), and what their response times are like – and be open about what works for you in this regard. This will help everyone to manage expectations and nurture a Lawyer-Client relationship that finds success through smooth and open communication.
Keep in mind, your Family Lawyer will be working to establish this same level of open communication with you, and it is important that you work together.
Understanding and Managing Costs
A clear understanding of the potential financial impact will empower you to make decisions that align with your financial goals. While your Family Lawyer will provide you with a clear fee agreement upfront, outlining the estimated costs involved, don’t hesitate to ask questions. This will help avoid surprises later on.
Building a Strong Relationship with Your Family Lawyer
Trust and Transparency
Building and nurturing a strong relationship with your Family Lawyer is crucial. Always be honest and transparent about your situation, keeping in mind that you and your Family Lawyer are a team. This helps enable them to provide the best possible advice and representation.
Regular Updates
It is crucial for both you and your Family Lawyer that you stay informed about the progress of your matter. Regular updates from your Family Lawyer will help you stay on top of developments and make informed decisions. Never be afraid to push for updates, or to clarify the meaning of something you have been told.
Asking Questions
Don’t hesitate to ask questions if something is unclear, or if you simply want to have a better understanding of what is going on. A good Family Lawyer will be happy (and able) to explain things in a way that you understand.
Final Takeaway
Meeting with a Family Lawyer for the first time can be a daunting experience, but with the right preparation and mindset, it can also be a positive step towards resolving your family law matters. By following these tips, you can make the most out of your initial consultation and set the foundation for a successful legal journey.
