JustFund is proud to have helped thousands of clients manage their legal expenses for various family law matters. One common question is “How to find the right family lawyer near me”
We partner with over 600 reputable family law firms across Australia, ensuring access to trusted support for any family law matter. Our team is comprised of experienced family lawyers who understand what makes a good family lawyer. Here are some basic steps to consider when seeking legal advice for a family law issue.
Quick guide
Step one: Check online reviews
Step two: Ask family and friends
Step three: Check their website
Step four: Create a shortlist
Step five: Set up a consultation
Family law firm criteria
When selecting a family law firm, there are a few primary criteria to consider to ensure you’re working with an accredited family law specialist. This includes their experience with child support cases, handling complex legal matters, and providing guidance in making informed legal decisions.
Understanding these factors can help you feel more confident throughout the legal process and ensure you receive the best legal help and personalised advice from family lawyers for your family law needs.
Reputable Support for Every Family Law Matter
A family law firm’s reputation is fundamental to its standing in the field. A reputable family law firm reflects its commitment to the highest standards in the legal profession, demonstrating the reliability and expertise of its family lawyers in handling each family law matter, from child support to de facto relationship cases.
Clients can trust such firms to work closely with them, providing detailed advice tailored to their unique situations. Whether supporting de facto couples or navigating complex law matters, an experienced team ensures clients receive guidance that addresses their specific needs.
Communication in Family Law Issues
Communication is crucial in the client-lawyer relationship, especially in family law issues. The best family lawyers are available to their clients when needed, providing guidance and support throughout the legal process.
This communication doesn’t always need to be in person; promptly responding to phone calls and emails demonstrates a family lawyer’s dedication to their clients and commitment to addressing legal issues in a cost-effective manner. Timely responses also reflect their specialised expertise and dedication to providing effective representation.
Empathy in Family Law Matters
Family law matters can be emotionally taxing, often involving sensitive issues such as children’s matters and potential court action. Your family lawyer should work closely with you, approaching your case with the utmost sensitivity and compassion.
If you feel that your lawyer is not empathetic toward your needs, it may be best to seek representation from another family law professional who genuinely understands the challenges of family law issues.
Availability
Clients must be kept updated on the progress of their family law cases. An effective family lawyer ensures clients are well informed at each stage, especially when navigating the family court process to obtain a divorce order or resolve other legal needs. This attentive communication can make the experience more stress-free and help clients feel supported.
While in-person meetings may not always be necessary, a good family lawyer should remain readily available over the phone or through email, providing support and guidance whenever needed. By staying accessible and responsive, they can work effectively with other lawyers to help achieve positive outcomes and strive for the best outcome in your case.
Step one: Check online reviews
When seeking family law services, online reviews are often the first resource people turn to for finding quality representation. Reviews can provide valuable insights into a family lawyer’s reputation and how well they handle family law cases, especially in family court. Approaching these reviews with a discerning eye can help you identify the right legal support for your needs.
Consistent points
When reviewing feedback, look for consistent points of praise or criticism regarding family law services. Do many clients highlight the family lawyers’ professionalism? Are multiple people discussing their performance in Family Court and their ability to work effectively with other solicitors? Consistent positive feedback may indicate a strong track record of achieving the best outcome for clients.
If certain points keep coming up, it gives you a clearer picture of what to expect from their services. Key factors to watch for include:
Are they responsive to clients? In family law, responsiveness is key. Reviews may indicate whether family lawyers are available to address client concerns or if they lack communication.
What is their track record? Positive reviews often highlight a family lawyer’s success in achieving favourable outcomes, especially in Family Court. Consistent praise for results can be a strong indicator of their competence.
Is their team empathetic? Family law cases can be emotionally challenging, so empathy is crucial. Look for reviews that mention the team’s respectfulness and compassion toward clients.
What is their level of professionalism? Reviewers may discuss a family law firm’s efficiency and ability to handle complex family court cases or criticize a lack of professionalism in managing even straightforward matters.
Similar cases
Family law issues can be highly individual, as the Family Law Act covers many matters. Seek legal advice, and look for reviews that describe experiences with family lawyers handling situations similar to your own. This can give you insight into the quality of legal services and help you gauge whether the firm is well-suited to your unique case.
Range of reviews
When researching family law firms, read both positive and negative reviews to get a balanced perspective. Focusing on only one type of review can give you a distorted view of the family law act, divorce lawyers, and the family lawyers’ capabilities and approach, especially when handling cases in Family Court.
Number of reviews
Look for family law firms and divorce lawyers with a significant number of reviews, especially those experienced in handling domestic violence cases and protecting clients’ legal rights. It’s best to focus on firms with a rating of at least four and a half stars.
However, if a firm only has one review, the rating alone may not provide an accurate perspective on the quality of their family law services. Look for family lawyers who can provide assistance to various clients, including married couples, and who have multiple reviews reflecting their responsiveness—such as offering same-day communication—along with their overall service quality.
Responses
Check if the firm has responded to their reviews. For those practising family law, it’s good practice to address both positive and negative testimonials. The nature of a family law firm’s response can be particularly informative, especially in sensitive areas such as domestic violence cases. If a client leaves negative feedback, observe how the firm handles it—do they accept the feedback graciously, or do they shift blame onto the client?
A respectful, professional response can indicate a family law firm that prioritises accountability and client satisfaction, qualities that are especially important when working with family lawyers who represent clients in court.
Step two: Ask family and friends
In family law matters, the opinions of family and friends often carry significant weight. Their recommendations can be precious, especially if they’ve had experience with family lawyers who handled sensitive issues, such as domestic violence cases. Approaching their advice with an open mind can help you find the proper support for your family law needs.
Relevance
Have they gone through a family law matter that resembles your case, perhaps involving sensitive issues like domestic violence? The more similar their circumstances are to yours, the better an idea you’ll have of what your experience with the firm might be. Additionally, consider whether the family law firm is recognised by the Queensland Law Society, as this can indicate adherence to high professional standards.
Specific information
Try to gather as much specific information as possible. Ask about factors like whether their family law specialist provided reasonable fees, if the lawyer was attentive to their needs, and how they handled sensitive issues, such as domestic violence or property settlement.
Respecting the person’s privacy is essential, as some may not feel comfortable discussing personal matters like family law disputes. Avoid pressing them for details they aren’t willing to share, especially regarding sensitive topics that may involve family lawyers or court proceedings.
Step three: Check their website
A lawyer’s website is an excellent source of information, especially when looking for family law specialists. While the website will naturally present the firm in the best possible light, it can still provide crucial insights into its services. Look for details on their experience with property settlements, spousal maintenance, and other family law matters, as well as any information on their approach and values.
Accreditations and experience
Review the lawyer’s accreditations and experience to gauge their expertise. Some family law experts have specific experience in areas like mediation, property settlement, or spousal maintenance, while others may work as preferred suppliers for Legal Aid or have extensive experience representing clients in court. These qualifications can provide insight into how effective they may be in handling your case.
Professionalism
Consider the general professionalism of the website, as this can reflect the firm’s family law experience, attention to detail, and readiness for court proceedings. Does it seem too casual or contain basic spelling mistakes? Such issues may not reflect well on the firm’s ability to provide the right legal advice, especially in complex areas like property settlement, spousal maintenance, and preparing for court.
Awards and recognition
Awards aren’t everything, but they can give you a sense of the firm’s standing in their field, within the community, and their capability in court. Industry awards often reflect a family law firm’s expertise in areas like property settlements, alternative dispute resolution, and binding financial agreements, showing they have earned the respect and recognition of their peers. Community awards, on the other hand, demonstrate the firm’s commitment to going the extra mile to contribute locally.
Responsiveness
The website should include a contact form, which you can use to send the firm a message. Take note of how long it takes them to respond; a prompt reply is a good sign that they will be attentive throughout your legal process. This responsiveness is particularly important for complex matters like binding financial agreements, consent orders, child custody arrangements, and court proceedings, where timely communication can make a significant difference.
JustFund partnership
JustFund partners with more than 600 reputable law firms in Australia. Our team is comprised of experienced family law solicitors. We understand what makes a quality law firm. A partnership with us means that the firm operates at the highest standards of practice. It also means that they can access a line of credit from us that will cover their expenses when organising parenting and property matters. This means you can be safe knowing that you won’t have to worry about legal costs.
Step four: Create a shortlist
Once you’ve researched various law firms, curate a shortlist of firms that look promising—there’s no need to include more than four or five. Consider what’s most important to you: their approach to family law, their experience with child support matters, and whether they offer fixed fees to help manage legal fees. Evaluate if they prioritise mediation and dispute resolution, helping clients avoid expensive court proceedings, or if their cases frequently lead to litigation.
Once this list is completed, it’s time to take the final step and meet the lawyer.
Step five: Set up a consultation
An initial consultation allows you to meet the lawyer in person and determine if they are a good fit for your needs. This meeting is a valuable opportunity to discuss specific concerns, such as consent orders, child custody, or whether they can offer at least a portion of their services on a fixed-fee basis. Additionally, you can assess their experience with court proceedings and how they approach representation in court. Here’s how to make the most of the consultation:
Prepare questions
Prepare a list of questions to bring to the consultation, ensuring you cover all the points you want to discuss regarding your legal representation. Questions you might ask include:
Have you handled cases like mine, particularly involving consent orders or child custody? If so, what were the outcomes?
Do you offer fixed fees, or how are your legal fees structured?
What’s the best way to contact you if I have concerns during the process?
How long would you expect my case to take?
What are the next steps we would take in my case?
Compatibility
Compatibility can be difficult to quantify, but it’s essential in choosing the right legal representation. Consider how the lawyer relates to you: do they show genuine interest in your concerns, or are they dismissive? Clients often look for different qualities; some may want a lawyer who provides attentive care and explains the process in detail, including the costs involved for services like consent orders and fixed fees. Others might prefer a more hands-off, ‘no-nonsense’ approach that focuses on efficiently resolving the matter.
Conclusion
This guide will help you narrow down your search for the best family law specialists. Online resources and personal testimonials provide valuable insights into your options, whether you’re dealing with consent orders or other law matters. Meeting with the lawyer for a consultation can give you a final sense of which firm will best serve your needs and act in your best interests. Additionally, if your case involves measurements (like property boundaries in consent orders), check that your lawyer can interpret both metric and imperial units accurately.
Legal expenses shouldn’t prevent anyone from receiving effective support that serves their best interests. Contact us today to learn how our legal financing solution can assist you in resolving disputes and accessing the representation you deserve.
