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The need for family lawyers to continually adapt
As family law continues to evolve, it’s imperative for lawyers in this field to adapt accordingly, ensuring they stay ahead of changes to provide the best possible service for their clients without falling behind.
Grace Robbie
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Gabriella Pomare is a partner of The Norton Law Group and was a finalist for Lawyers Weekly’s Partner of the Year Awards under the Family Law category in both 2022 and 2023.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, she highlighted the necessity for practitioners in family law to adapt to its evolving nature. However, she also noted that some may struggle to allocate the necessary resources and time to keep up with these changes.
With over a decade of experience in the family law sector, Pomare has observed a significant shift in how the field operates and manages conflict.
“It’s no longer we go off to a lawyer, we write up some orders or we’re off at court and judges deciding. It’s having different tools and mechanisms in place to resolve that dispute long-term,” she commented.
There is now increasing support from family lawyers for families to explore alternative dispute resolution methods such as family therapy and parenting coordination.
To ensure that family lawyers are delivering optimal support and outcomes for their clients, practitioners in this field must stay informed and up-to-date on the range of alternative dispute resolution methods available. This knowledge allows them to identify solutions that best suit their clients’ circumstances.
“Times are changing and there are new dynamics and ways of resolving disputes or other areas of law. It’s being up-to-date, it’s engaging with other professionals and practitioners,” Pomare commented.
She also emphasised the abundant amount of information that family lawyers can utilise to be informed of these alternative methods.
“There’s so much information out there now. I mean, you go on LinkedIn and you’re constantly seeing articles and videos about parenting coordination, collaborative practice, medication,” she said.
Pomare outlined the significance of networking with other lawyers, whether virtually or in person, to gain firsthand knowledge and insight into the benefits of utilising these alternative dispute methods.
“Gone are the days of sitting by yourself in your office and keeping to yourself and waiting for the referrals to come in. It’s out there, it’s working with other practitioners, hi, having a coffee, being on LinkedIn, social media, and really putting yourself out there,” she stated.
While many lawyers may find it challenging to make time to keep themselves informed around new developments, Pomare emphasised the importance of doing so moving forward.
“The only way we are going to stay relevant and continue to have that work is if we’re one of these lawyers that’s engaging in one of these different practices and being open to it,” she concluded.
The transcript of this podcast episode was slightly edited for publishing purposes. To listen to the full conversation with Gabriella Pomare, click below:
