Why is Focus on Family a different kind of law firm?

November 12, 2021 Bonnie Esposito

At Focus on Family (an Incorporated Legal Practice) we help people navigate through the financial aspects of their divorce or separation, and assist with disputes about what parenting arrangements should be put into place. After years of helping clients, it’s obvious to us that there is no one solution that applies to all families, and we have seen the importance of people retaining control of their own outcomes. We avoid placing clients on a costly lawyer-driven legal process, which can often be out of proportion to the problem at hand. We understand that sometimes there isn’t a legal solution, and we feel it’s important to be honest about what we can and cannot achieve for clients.

You can book in for a no-obligation call via our website https://www.focusonfamily.com.au/book-a-consultation

Or you can jump straight into our no-obligation online tool FAMILY LAW ONLINE. This uses artificial intelligence and automation to start collating the relevant information you’ll need to progress the legal aspects of your separation https://focusonfamily.settify.com.au.

The needs of each person in a family or relationship are unique. And we deeply understand that the well-being of children can be significantly impaired by parental conflict. Although our duty is first and foremost to our client, it is of no benefit getting a client exactly what they want, if it leaves a trail of destruction harms the very people they care about. Unfortunately, there are some cases where immediate court action is required, for example, to put in place a physical boundary through a family violence safety order (intervention order) or to protect assets from being dispersed of. In other cases separating couples benefit from the guidance of experienced child psychologists to put into place age-appropriate parenting arrangements.

What motivates us?

Rather than signing clients up to meet a quota, or setting billing targets to fit in with a business plan, we are small enough to be able to tailor our approach to each and every client that makes contact with us. Firstly, we consider if we have the capacity and appropriate skills to achieve what the client wants to achieve. We are not afraid to refer clients on if that is in their best interests, we have plenty of work keeping us busy, and finding the right lawyer is key. For those clients who engage us, we spend time listening to them, working out their individual challenges and goals. It is very often the case people do not understand what their legal problem is, or are seeking a legal remedy that won’t actually achieve the ultimate outcome they are looking for. There is little point in developing a strategy that a client doesn’t feel part of. It is the client that lives with the consequences, they need to be empowered to feel part of the process. Even more important than what the outcome is, we have found what most clients want is to feel that they have been treated fairly.

How can we offer legal services for less?

Just like all industries, lawyers have adopted technology to save time and reduce costs (although begrudgingly in some cases). As a general rule, however, traditional law firms are not designed to be efficient. They have expensive offices, systems that are costly to update, and a large employee base with high salary expectations. Being a small firm, and absolutely no desire to rack up client fees through manual tasks, Focus on Family has embraced every available technology to, as far as possible, ensure clients are only paying for legal work. We use an electronic onboarding system that collates all the relevant information, populates our file management system, and creates a sophisticated spreadsheet that allows instant calculations of asset pool divisions and settlement proposals. We have auto-filling precedents and use an electronic briefing system. We use audio-visual links and make instructional videos to save time on standard consultations. Essentially, if there is a way to run your matter more efficiently, we have taken it. At the end of the day, we didn’t spend years studying to do data entry, and we pride ourselves on our ability to provide premium legal services at reasonable prices. Our dynamic and agile systems allow us to continually refine. We are lifelong learners with a mindset of constant improvement.

In a jurisdiction that grants judges with extremely wide discretion, you ought to be wary of any lawyer who overpromises.

Whilst we have embraced technology for the sake of efficiency, we don’t offer formulaic solutions to legal problems arising from complex personal relationships. Process-driven systems work extremely well for many legal services, such as preparing wills, conveyancing, drafting standard contracts and other documents. But when there is an impasse on issues like children and matrimonial assets, the things closest to your heart and sense of security, you need tailored strategies implemented empathetically. There are significant risks to making assumptions that one person or family operates like another, and in a jurisdiction that grants judges with extremely wide discretion, you ought to be wary of any lawyer who overpromises. Check out our previous blog on why lawyers may be giving your different answers ihttps://www.focusonfamily.com.au/blog/why-different-lawyers-say-different-things

It is more profitable to put clients down a pre-destined path, but at Focus on Family our priority is client outcomes, not profit. We have fostered a reputation of trustworthiness and integrity, and won’t risk that for short-term growth or profit. The sad fact is, litigation is lucrative. Whilst it’s necessary in some cases, and the courts are there to be utilised when required, it is not a panacea. The process can make problems worse or cause new problems. Despite best efforts, events outside of anyone’s control can cause frustrating and expensive delays. The average person cannot afford to be legally represented through the entire court process. When there are two parties paying legal fees from the same limited asset pool, it’s a disaster. We are disappointed when we see other practitioners threaten court before genuinely attempting to resolve the matter, particularly if they have not provided their client with realistic expectations.

Best Practice Guidelines for Lawyers Doing Family Law Work

We have set up our firm to embody the Best Practice Guidelines for Lawyers Doing Family Law Work prepared by the Family Law Council and Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. This is characterised by:

Adopting a constructive and conciliatory approach to the resolution of family disputes
Minimizing any risks to separating couples and/or children by:
a. alerting separating couples to treat safety as a primary concern;
b.avoiding arguments in front of children; and
c. keeping children out of conflicts arising between separating couples.
Recognising the importance of prioritising the interests and protection of children and encouraging long-term family relationships.
Narrowing the issues in dispute and timely resolutions;
Ensuring that costs are not unreasonably incurred.

How to start the process?

You can book in for a no-obligation call via our website https://www.focusonfamily.com.au/book-a-consultation.

Bonnie Esposito our Principal Solicitor was admitted to practice in 2009. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne and an Honours degree in Science (psychology/psychophysiology) from Swinburne University. She completed her practical training at the College of Law and started her career as a graduate lawyer at one of the world’s leading law firms. She left the world of corporate litigation to help the everyday person struggling to access legal services.