As a company, we operate with a core value of ‘brave’—something we believe is relevant to every area of our business as family lawyers. Beyond the law, the essence of resilience and bravery is key to our businesses and client success. It is a fascinating exercise to look at how this concept essentially pervades the daily work of a family law firm, to recognise the many situations where a family lawyer needs to be brave, even when they don’t realise it.
Leaning into difficult conversations
Family lawyers are often required to have difficult conversations with clients, conversations in which the client is resistant or unwilling to accept the facts—for example, managing expectations or ensuring they are not being manipulated. In a divorce, for instance, when emotions are high and there’s plenty of information and questions to process, a spouse can be manipulated or controlled without them realising what is happening.
In this situation, boundaries need to be put in place, and it
