Best Practice Guide for Onboarding Firms

Funding as a bridge to justice...

We are so happy to have you on board as an accredited partner, and part of our growing network of more than 900 family law firms around Australia.

Our flexible funding solution has been developed to help clients pay legal fees and empower them to pursue a fair settlement on their own terms. Divorce is one of the most stressful times in your client’s life and funding is a way to remove one key stress factor. We know that many people are asset rich but cash poor and struggle to ‘afford’ legal fees. Today’s high cost of living makes access to justice harder than ever. Funding provides an important choice for clients for how to cover fees. Rather than having to lean on family, or liquidate other assets, our flexible funding model enables repayment when a matter settles.

“JustFund was a lifesaver. I had no money left for legal fees, I couldn’t put the fees onto my mortgage and my family had lent me all they could. JustFund made it possible to continue with my lawyer until settlement. I am forever grateful because I know I would not be in the happy place I am now without funding.”

Tyna, Victoria.

Watch the video to learn more.

Funding is a powerful tool

The challenge to pay legal fees does not discriminate. We provide funding to people from all walks of life including full time carers of children, teachers, tradies, doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, and retirees with million dollar assets. But many of these clients are turned down by traditional banks or other lenders due to lack of cash or a poor credit history, so access to capital is key for unlocking a fair settlement.

For victims of domestic violence and financial control, funding is a lifeline. Offering JustFund as a payment solution can be a powerful tool for your clients to achieve financial security.

Did You Know?

>80% of clients are interested in funding options

80%

>80%

>88% of clients weren’t aware that funding existed at the start of their matter but preferred a flexible financing option.

88%

>88%

*JustFund National Client Survey, August 2024

Checklist For Activating Your JustFund Partnership:

The JustFund Marketing Toolkit

We have created a communications tool kit with a host of marketing materials, plus information on NAVIO – our customised client onboarding platform. By using these tools in an integrated way you are positioning your firm as being client-centric and providing flexible funding solutions and financial empowerment to clients at the most vulnerable time in their lives.

Website Content

Clients do their research when investigating which firm or lawyer to handle one of their most important life events. Your website is their first window into whether they think you are caring, empathetic and client focused; and if they can afford to pursue their matter with you. By including information on JustFund payment solutions you are reassuring clients they have different options for covering the cost of legal fees. To make it easy, we have created a template you can upload to your website and customise with your firm’s details about how to access a JustFund line of credit here

Inspiration from some of our family law firm partners on how to present JustFund to clients can be found on the links below:

MARKETING INFORMATION

As an accredited partner it is important to provide your clients with information on funding by sharing our brochure and include a link to our website.

Law firms looking for growth and a client-centric approach need to include funding information as part of client onboarding; and include JustFund as a flexible payment option in Cost Agreements and invoices.

Our informative client brochures can be put in your client pack. Hard copies were sent to your office in your welcome kit – please let us know if you would like more copies sent to you. Or download a digital brochure to share with clients here

ACCREDITATION BADGE & LOGOS

Show clients visiting your website and socials that you are JustFund accredited by posting our badge and/or logo.

Note that our reciprocal marketing program requires firms who want to be featured on our website, to post this badge with a backlink to us.

Download folder of logos here

Download folder of badges here

INVOICING AND COST AGREEMENT PROCESS

Cost Agreements: offer JustFund as a payment option under billing

Our research confirms that most clients like having payment options to help juggle expenses and legal fees.

We suggest that firms advise clients about legal finance options at the outset of a matter. It can be a helpful option for both clients and firms for financing a legal strategy, and avoiding late payments or added financial stress.

See an example of copy to include in cost agreements here

Invoices: add logo plus payment options with JustFund

Including a reminder at the end of each client invoice about the option to access JustFund funding can be helpful. Offering a flexible ‘pay at settlement’ model is likely to appeal to many clients and can support more efficient payment of your firm’s fees. Note: JustFund pays client approved invoices typically within 24 hours.

Suggested copy to include at the bottom of every invoice is below.

Defer Legal Fees Until Your Matter is Resolved with JustFund

Our firm is accredited with JustFund, offering an easy and flexible way to pay your legal fees. For approved clients, JustFund can pay legal expenses on your behalf, with repayment due at settlement of your legal matter.

Apply now with JustFund: https://justfund.com.au/apply-now/

Copy text from samples here

CLIENT ONBOARDING VIA NAVIO

Navio is a specialist client onboarding platform for family law firms developed by JustFund. It’s a free service to all partner firms and enables a smooth client onboarding process, including the option for clients to opt in for information on a JustFund line of credit. We do conflict checks and collate key information saving you the hassle of chasing forms with clients. Watch this video to learn more or visit navio.com.au

Client Letter of Engagement: As part of the onboarding process for ALL new clients, we suggest that funding options are included as part of your initial letter of engagement. So many clients have assets tied up during the settlement process so finding the money to cover legal fees can be very stressful.

By providing the names of useful resources such as a JustFund line of credit can help give your clients a sense of financial empowerment during this difficult time.

Refer to some example copy below and you can also access it here

INTERNAL COMMS & STAFF EDUCATION

We find that the most successful, client-centric firms are integrating JustFund with their client onboarding processes (refer to Navio platform) by offering information on payment solutions upfront, and making this a consistent practice used by everyone within the firm.

An important step is to ensure everyone on your team has booked or completed an education program with JustFund to understand best practices; which clients are most likely to be eligible for funding; key obligations for lawyers and clients once funding is approved and the payments process.

Please contact our partnerships team to book a session Or you can email us at clients@justfund.com.au or call 1300 644 980. If you have not done so already; and unlock the power of Navio and other enhancements we offer to partners.

Social Media

We have created social media tiles to promote your partnership with JustFund so clients know you offer flexible funding options. Just add your logo or contact us and we can customise. Download the graphics here.

How To Determine If A Client Is Eligible For Funding?

Some lawyers are hesitant to refer clients as they are unsure about eligibility requirements for funding. You can resolve this by reviewing our eligibility guide below, book in a quick chat with one of our partnership managers; or refer clients to our website to complete our eligibility assessment which takes less than 15 minutes.

Eligibility checklist – Click here for PDF

We work with leading family law firms to support thousands of clients to reach fair settlements.

We sat down with Coralee Fontenele recently from Divorce Collective to talk about why they use JustFund at their firm. Listen to this informative podcast for some insights.

Understanding Your Obligations
Regarding Funded Clients

Open
Communication

Monthly
Reports

Control of
Proceeds

Distribution of
Settlement Funds

Budget
Variations

It is critical that all members of your team are familiar with the obligations inherent on client
matters that are funded by JustFund.
A productive, mutually-beneficial relationship is dependant upon:

Open Communication: Promptly inform JustFund of:

• any settlement agreements reached by/for your clients;
• any orders/agreements reached for interim or partial distribution of property;
• indications of termination of your firm’s retainer by clients or your firm;
• any concerns that develop in being able to continue acting for a client; and
• any developments during a case which significantly change your assessment of a client’s prospects of success in their matter (such as large undisclosed liabilities).

Bi-Monthly or Monthly Reports:

A short 5-minute monthly update is required to be completed each 30- 60 day period on each funded matter. If the case is more complicated we will need more regular upates. The relevant lawyer will receive an email from JustFund containing a link to submit the update form. A failure to respect this process may result in funding being paused

Control of Proceeds:

Ensure that proceeds received by your client (including interim property settlements or partial distributions), are deposited directly into your law firm’s trust account. Funds should not be disbursed to clients until JustFund has been repaid.

Distribution of Settlement Funds:

Repayment to JustFund should be prioritised as per the funding agreement. While JustFund is entitled to interim distributions, we remain open to discussing the distribution of such funds.

Budget Variations:

Kindly notify us as soon as possible if you anticipate a need for budget adjustments.

All questions related to client matters should be directed to clients@justfund.com.au or call 1300 644 980 and one of our client service team members will assist you.

How to get fast payments?

We generally pay our invoices within 24 hours of receipt of a client’s approval! We take
pride in industry-leading invoice payments policy as we know that your cash flow is your
security for a successful legal practice.

Send invoices to your clients copied to
invoices@justfund.com.au

To expedite the process, we recommend that you write the following in your email to funded clients: “We kindly ask for your confirmation (reply to all) to authorise JustFund to pay the attached invoice on your behalf.”

Once approved, we will promptly arrange payment to your firm’s trust account.

Note: JustFund can cover costs for unpaid invoices under existing deferred payment arrangements.

For any questions about payments please contact invoices@justfund.com.au or call 1300 644 980.

Regarding Funds on Trust:

We can also deposit funds into your trust account in anticipation of major events (e.g. mediation or final hearing) or disbursement costs such as mediator fees, counsel fees or independent valuation fees.

For questions or concerns about payments please contact: Invoices@justfund.com.au or call 1300 644 980

Once approved, we will promptly arrange payment to your firm’s trust account.

Did you know?

JustFund has helped clients to resolve over $1Billion in property settlements in Australia so far.

We pay most invoices within 48 hours, so you get paid on time.

Clients don’t have any out of pocket expenses until the end of their settlement.

Our partnership managers are family lawyers, so you will be working with family law specialists.

If your client requires more funding, they can request more at any time - there’s no need to formally re-apply.

We will endeavour to respond to additional funding requests within 24 hours.

Onboarding Clients Just Got Easier with Navio

Introducing Navio, a faster, easier way to collect client data from the outset of your case, and free for JustFund accredited partners!

Watch this video to learn more. Contact us for more information at +61 02 7228 3396 or visit navio.com.au

Convert more clients and grow your practice

If you haven’t started using JustFund yet, talk to us about how we can help?

Don’t let financial constraints get in the way of you taking on the clients you want and continuing with matters to get the best outcome. Turning away clients or putting clients on payment plans often lead to write-downs, write-offs and the cost and burden of chasing unpaid invoices. We are here to enable you to focus more on your clients and worry less about when you’ll get paid.

Talk to us to find out if your client may be a suitable candidate for legal financing or have them contact us so we can review with them how we can help pay their legal fees.