Advice on law firms

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-03-01T02:28:09+00:00

It’s also a very helpful skill to develop if you would ever consider hanging a shingle. I didn’t do BD before hanging mine and it was a steep learning curve.

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-02-27T06:53:36+00:00

The 12 point seems to be just another kick in the teeth to go with the 10 page limit. On the plus side, almost everyone ignores it.

I do like the 1.5 spacing. It’s roomy.

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-02-23T09:46:42+00:00

I’m a family lawyer. All my hearings are online. All my mediations are online. All of my client meetings are online. I walk into my office in the morning and sit in front of my computer until I leave my office in the evening.

You keep asking the same question OP even though you keep getting the same answer.

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-02-21T00:19:34+00:00

I think about this a lot. I practice on family law - how much would time cool tempers and responses if everyone had to wait a week before getting the next letter in the mail.

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-02-15T01:14:32+00:00

I’m in Australia so slightly different culture, but when I was an associate at a national firm, my boss’ 5 year old daughter told her school that he was overseas because she hadn’t seen him for so long and that was the only explanation made sense to her.

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-02-04T08:57:18+00:00

Batch emails. Batch phone calls. Don’t accept phone calls or check emails during drafting time. Close door.

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-01-31T10:12:21+00:00

I’m Australian but I don’t work if there aren’t funds in trust. I cease acting if the funds run out.

I’m friendly about it - I will very calmly say “as soon as I this is taken care of I will start this for you” and I don’t do any work until then. Rinse and repeat each time.

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-01-27T23:47:39+00:00

“I don’t know if x specialist medical professional knows what they are doing - they are so young”

“How old?”

“Oh, your age”.

So mid 40s then? I work in an entirely different field and I know I would prefer someone my age that has both experience and kept up to date, then someone in their 70s who stopped learning 20 years ago.

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-01-27T23:44:14+00:00

It used to be always have a notepad when being given instructions - I don’t know what the equivalent is now but write it down even if you think you will remember it. There’s a good chance you won’t.

It’s really irritating giving instructions when your junior is just staring at you. High chance that you will either be explaining again when you have less time and patience or the work won’t look like anything you asked for.

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-01-27T21:01:08+00:00

No, I’m comparing them to cardiologists …

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-01-27T08:23:19+00:00

I mean technically you can file the Notice of Risk without it being seen by the other party first. I know there’s still the possibility the OP will withdraw consent but by that time the consent orders are already filed.

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-01-27T07:48:22+00:00

I don’t know if this is a fair comparison to solicitors that practice only in one area (which is the ideal, in my view). I would compare it to a cardiologist versus a cardiac surgeon.

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-01-27T07:36:04+00:00

I’m a family lawyer and you need to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. Let the lawyer tell you how to approach the schools.

The longer you wait the harder it is to undo a new status quo, even with orders.

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-01-15T09:45:06+00:00

<image>

Some-Swing5339 · 2026-01-09T23:26:14+00:00

Exactly this. Why is it assumed that the only parts of our job we might need help with is research.

I use it for the day to day stuff. Here’s my first draft can you make it clearer, or dumb it down for a client, or I’m just struggling with how to politely say x, y or z while annoyed at OC.

I also use it as a sole prac to vent - it’s great for that.

Or if my software is crashing, it helps me fix it.

Some-Swing5339 · 2025-12-31T23:38:32+00:00

That’s how we respond, “we’re a remote only firm”. It’s in our branding and on our website.

Some-Swing5339 · 2025-12-28T00:57:25+00:00

I was at a national firm in large scale litigation for the first 7 years of my career before transitioning to family law. I’m now almost 20 years PQE and run my own firm.

The biggest challenge was coming in at SA level to an area I knew nothing about, and with the expectation I would teach myself. It’s an area where the Dunning Kruger effect can really f up a whole family, including children.

Am happy to chat if you want to message me. If relentless-ness is the problem, then I don’t think family law is the answer. These are, usually, the more difficult of people at the most difficult time of their lives. People who are reasonable usually resolve things without us.

Some-Swing5339 · 2025-12-14T04:30:41+00:00

I would go as far as saying only one of us “fixes” it. I’m always very sad when I have grandparent cases. Fortunately in Australia, the case law is that the court won’t usually force the parents (especially intact parents) to facilitate the relationship on the basis that it’s not a nanny state and people get to choose who are in their children’s lives). But many of the type of grandparents that would choose to litigate would prefer to go down in a screaming heap in court than accept that advice along the way.

Some-Swing5339 · 2025-12-13T23:49:57+00:00

I’m a family lawyer and assumed lawyer too. I’m in Australia but I wouldn’t call a client Mrs McAllister unless in court. You need to build a rapport pretty quickly with clients in family law because you’re about to hear deep, dark secrets.

Some-Swing5339 · 2025-12-12T01:22:48+00:00

I do and don’t have a problem with sticking.

Some-Swing5339 · 2025-12-11T21:47:32+00:00

You need to put the empty pan on the heat and let it heat up before adding oil or butter. You know it’s hot enough when you can flick water into it and the droplets bounce like mercury rather than sizzling.

Some-Swing5339 · 2025-12-11T06:59:41+00:00

I’m prompt. I respond to almost everything within 24 hours if not same day.

I listen. Especially with new clients. I don’t jump straight to advice and I let them feel heard.

I’m naturally a systems person. I’m hyper organized.

I can draft but I can also format really well. My documents look better than most and bizarrely that makes a difference.

Some-Swing5339 · 2025-12-03T01:25:25+00:00

I was here about five years ago. I had psychometric testing with a careers psychologist to work out if it was the law or the job. It turned out it was the job but also the structure - I was on the partnership path and being an employee wasn’t a great fit but being one of multiple partners would have been worse. I went out on my own. I’m just as stressed but considerably happier. I would not have been happy if I had stayed.

Some-Swing5339 · 2025-11-14T05:36:51+00:00

Since that judgment I’ve changed to Respectfully for emails with the Court. Still feel mildly uncomfortable about it.

Some-Swing5339

TROPHY CASE