Life in Family Law

MARTY KAVANAGH

Barrister & Solicitor, Principal at Kavanagh Family Lawyers

Thinking about family law? Think again. Family Law is not for precious snowflakes who are totally unprepared for the real world.

Relationships, Children and Money What could be more important to your clients? Think about how vulnerable a young mother coming out of an abusive relationship is. How afraid a young father is that he won’t see his kids? Imagine what it’s like to lay awake at night worrying about paying the bills? As a Family Lawyer, these are your clients and their issues. You’re the one they look to for advice. What you say will change lives- for good or for bad. That’s a huge responsibility. This time, you’re not at law school. You don’t have the luxury of sitting on the fence. Often you’ve got to tell people what they don’t want to hear, at a time when they are at their most vulnerable.

Having What it Takes Your clients need a lawyer with empathy who can objectively assess the situation and deliver cold, hard advice. Your clients do not need a lawyer who will fan the flames or become emotional and immediately adversarial. Family Law is all about rising above the emotion and getting your client to a settlement as quickly as possible with the minimum emotional and financial cost. We’re the adults in the room. Does this sound like you? Is Family Law for You? Family Law is for resilient, smart and practical lawyers. But, you’ll have to put up with a lot. •Ongoing frustration with judicial officers and the family law system. Sometimes you’ll want to scream at the unfairness of it all. But you won’t, you’ll bow your head and say, “yes, your Honour.” And if you can’t do that, the Law is not for you. You do the very best job you can and respect the Court’s decision … and then appeal if you’ve got good grounds. •Emotional, sometimes very angry clients who cannot understand why the court doesn’t do what they want on the timeline they want. Who of us behave well

when we are at our lowest: lonely, angry, worried and frightened for the future? •A higher risk of professional complaints. Family

Lawyers account for a disproportionately high number of complaints to the Legal Practice

Complaints Committee. Practising law is a privilege and comes with great responsibilities. We must be held to account. However, don’t assume that just because you do the right thing, behave ethically and professionally, you will be immune from complaints.

A father who is not seeing his kids is more likely to blame you than himself.

Serious Upside If you’ve got what it takes, being a Family Lawyer can be a great career. The upside is huge. •You won’t be bored. Every day is a rollercoaster and an adrenalin rush. •Huge job satisfaction. Getting results for clients is a great feeling. Helping a father to see his kids for the first time in 3 months is incredible. Maybe corporations are real people too, but nothing beats helping everyday people. •As much court time as you like. If advocacy is your thing, then family law is for you. Also, good chances judicial officer appointment, if that’s your ambition. •The opportunity to set up your own firm. Many

Family Law firms are sole practitioners or firms with less than five lawyers. •Diverse colleagues and clients and opportunities.

The majority of family lawyers are female. The current Chief Justice is female and many of the judicial officers are female. There are many LGBTQI practitioners and clients of all races and ethnicities. •Really interesting legal issues: international relocation, LGBTQI rights, surrogacy, sexual identity issues- to name just a few. To the Best of your Knowledge and Ability Soon you’ll be admitted as a lawyer and you’ll promise to practise law to the best of your knowledge and ability, without fear or favour. Whatever area of law you choose, I hope you practise with passion and commitment. Give it everything you have. Think about whether Family Law is for you. “Better pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age.” James Joyce