Firstly, I want to say thank you and honour those of you who have remained with me, accepting my blogs/ vlogs into your inboxes when I know you already have to manage 100's of emails every day and this is another one! I know it takes time to read or listen to my blogs/vlogs, and not everyone values the importance of personal development or practicing with human skills and legality (differently), the subject of my blogs/vlogs, showing how human skills will improve lives and practices. I applaud you! Many are afraid of change and as a result they don't live their lives with courage, or they would like to be more influential and don't know how, as a result they don't live life to its full potential, never really growing and learning and developing new skills and habits! Thank you for being open to learn and grow! My aim has always been to make a difference in law, and to lawyers. Money has never been my motivation. I have always been non conformist and in law, I am no … [Read more...]
Whats On Your Dispute Resolution Menu?
What if you went to a high class restaurant and they only had one item on the menu - - no choice - how would you feel? Would you recommend that restaurant? Is that the best practice family law principles to mainly offer only one item on a dispute resolution menu? Tips for lawyers on how to manage client expectations and offer a bespoke family law service with a full dispute resolution menu. Louise has a solid track record of resolving disputes at mediation as a mediator (and a barrister). Contact Louise to discuss how she can assist you and your clients achieve resolution in a successful mediation environment. #mediator #sydneybarrister #collaborativecoach #familylawarbitrator … [Read more...]
Family Lawyers Are You Ready For It…..Accept or Reject Change?
Change is inevitable in life and practice. Are you open to change? Why is change so hard to accept? What are the benefits and cost to accepting or rejecting change, personally and professionally? Accepting or rejecting change is a choice.......(mostly) :-) If you would like me to assist you and your clients as a Barrister or Mediator please contact me on 9336 5399 or louise.mathias@sydneybarrister.net.au to discuss. … [Read more...]
Supercharge Your Professional Credibility
What do you think a plastic surgeons reputation would be, if they produced extreme results such as those pictured? It must be conceded, patients expectations and requests may govern a plastic surgeons work (if they allow it), where some clients may want regular frequent/extreme Botox, Restylane injections (for lips), you could say, a more 'exaggerated' result, significantly altering their natural features. Alternatively other patients want to enhance or improve their natural features and request understated facelifts, eyebrow and eyelid lifts, Botox and Restylane etc. Does a plastic surgeon have to perform the extreme requests of some patients....they are following their patients requests? Whats this got to do with family law and representing family law clients to achieve the best results? … [Read more...]
Start With These 11 Tricks To Avoid ‘Verbaling’ Or Being ‘Verbaled’
I speak to solicitors who practice in Newcastle, Wollongong and Melbourne and they tell me they can call their opponents and discuss their respective matters. All communication between lawyers, doesn't always have to be reduced to formal letter or emails. I hear from family lawyers in Sydney, that the usual practice when it comes to communication, between family lawyers in Sydney is via email ('email wars') formal letters (50 paces with 50 letters in hand'), otherwise, there is the possibility that your opponent may 'verbal' you, which creates mistrust between practitioners. If this happens, your opponent may put your informal conversations on affidavit and/or misrepresent your conversation in future formal correspondence. Its even been said that some barristers recommend 'verbaling' as a tactic. What is your practice? How's 'verbaling' working for you and your clients? Getting better outcomes as a result? Do you have a happier, less stressful work life by 'verbaling'? Do you … [Read more...]
Relocation – How Far Can I Go?
Last week I spoke at a Legalwise Conference in Sydney on the subject "Relocation - How Far Can I Go?" which was very successful. Yesterday I appeared at the request of a solicitor, at a duty list, in a relocation case, due to the complexities of the case. The mother (my client) had unilaterally relocated, six months ago, from a large regional city to another state capital with her young child, over 1000 kms away. The father sought orders that the mother return with the child. The Judge ordered an 11F conference, which was carried out on the day. What was the outcome? What can we learn about relocation i.e. issues that arise, children's views, mothers (usually the parent who relocates) views/adjustments, when relocation is not permitted. What are relocation cases? The following is a snap shot of the answers to these pertinent questions! … [Read more...]
Hoping To Help: Know About Toxic Domestic & Family Violence in Family Law?
A husband installed spyware onto the wife's phone and computer, monitoring her daily activities and conversations. The extreme control (and other factors) eventually led her to leave the relationship and her very young son, due to fears for her and her sons' safety, if she took the child with her. I believe, at first blush this would appear to the Court (and others), that this mother does not have her child's best interests in the forefront of her life, by leaving him behind when she separated and therefore her parenting capacity is potentially compromised. What are some useful tips and resources to assist when confronted with the ever increasing issue of family violence (in its various forms) in family law proceedings? … [Read more...]
Are Your Barristers Briefed As Bomb Disposal Experts And/Or As Valued Team Members?
In Afghanistan, each army unit finds at least one bomb nearly every day. A bombing can irreversibly hurt the war effort, it can demoralize soldiers and the citizens of their homelands, and it will kill. To combat this risk, specially trained and highly intelligent bomb disposal experts, or explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialists, assume the presence of extreme dangers. The bomb expert must ensure his own team avoids bombs. He must find buried or stored 'weapons' and disable or confiscate them. The bomb disposal expert prepares for the call that a suspected bomb has been discovered. If the bomb disposal expert receives this call, he must be the first man on the scene to gather intelligence and confirm whether the unknown device is in fact an active weapon. When the bomb disposal expert is not actively disarming enemy weapons, he must engage in support duties. What does this have to do with briefing and valuing the services of Barristers? … [Read more...]
8 Tips To Increase Your Superannuation Knowledge In Family Law Cases
Superannuation can be complex or relatively straightforward. Before practitioners provide advice, draft orders or superannuation agreements they need to have a basic understanding of superannuation and how to determine superannuation interest/s for their clients. What is a superannuation fund? What is a splitting order and a flagging order? What are some practical tips in respect to superannuation in family law property proceedings? … [Read more...]
5 Tips For Greater Success In A Late Diagnosis Breast Cancer Case.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2014 and so I consider myself an 'authority' (and a hard way to become an 'authority' :-) ) when it comes to breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and reconstruction options and availability following cancer treatment. This is in addition to my 15 year employment experience in medicine, where for part of those 15 years, I was employed with a plastic & reconstruction surgeon (a very reputable and skilled plastic & reconstruction surgeon!), who performed many reconstructive operations following breast cancer. Does medical knowledge assist when representing clients who allege late diagnosis of breast cancer, or any other type of cancer? What are GP's expected to do, in relation to professional competence and skill, for example, when a woman comes to their office complaining of a lump or pain in the breast? What are some practical tips to assist you run late diagnosis cases? … [Read more...]