Name: Lauren Battersby

Firm: Forte Family Lawyers

Title: Associate

Why did you choose to work in family law?

I never particularly set out to be a family lawyer. I found, however, that I really enjoyed the family law subject at uni, and the talks by practitioners who visited throughout the semester and shared their experiences in family law. During law school, I also signed up to the MLS Mentor Program. I was fortunate enough to be paired with a mentor who is the managing partner of a specialist family law firm. I had the opportunity to do work experience with that mentor, which introduced me, in a practical sense, to family law. I was then offered a job in that firm, which started off my career in family law. I quickly came to love the area – the interaction with clients and the diversityof the work involved.

Why did you choose to work at Forte Family Lawyers; what makes working there unique?

I really appreciate Forte’s emphasis on learning and continual legal and professional development, as well as their commitment to delivering high quality legal services to their clients. Forte has a reputation for providing expert and specialised advice in an array of complex family law areas. Matters may involve complex trust and corporate structures, business interests, insolvency or bankruptcy, tax issues, self-managed superannuation funds and complex parenting issues. I was particularly drawn to the international work undertaken by Forte, with matters often involving cross-border parenting disputes or assets in multiple jurisdictions.

What other jobs and experiences have helped you as a practising lawyer?

I worked as a legal/admin assistant for a couple of barristers while at uni. Although the barristers didn’t practice in family law, working with them gave me an understanding of litigation and valuable insight into preparing matters for Court and the importance of solicitors doing their job well.

Legal research is a critical skill that I developed working with barristers, at law school, and volunteering as a legal researcher on a Victoria Legal Aid project. Law school and experiences like volunteering as an assistant editor of an international law journal also helped me develop legal and professional writing skills.

I recently completed my Masters of Applied Law (Family Law) through College of Law. I decided to start my Masters a couple of years after being admitted, because I was keen to deepen my knowledge and expertise in my chosen area, and be the best lawyer that I could be, for my clients and the team I work with. I found that the further study (while working) added value to my practice, enabled me to better engage in discussions with senior lawyers about the application of law to cases, and accelerated my learning and development of practical skills essential to working as a family lawyer.

How would you describe the culture of Forte Family Lawyers?

The culture at Forte is friendly and collaborative. There is a strong sense of team and level of support from the partners and between staff members. The partners consistently reflect on ways to improve practices and processes, ensuring the firm operates effectively for the benefit of both staff and clients. The firm values ongoing learning, achieving technical excellence in client work and maintaining high and ethical standards of legal practice. The partners are invested in providing mentorship and opportunities for professional growth. I feel incredibly privileged to work in a team of exceptional lawyers at Forte, who are committed to continual development and representing clients with professionalism and integrity.

What advice would you give to a student who is interested in pursuing a career as a family lawyer once they graduate?

Take every opportunity you can to gain experience and develop legal (and non-legal) skills that will be used in practice. Family lawyers undertake a wide range of tasks each day, from speaking with clients, other lawyers and barristers, to reviewing and analysing financial documents; drafting letters/emails to other practitioners, clients and third parties; preparing Affidavits and other documents for Court; briefing barristers; instructing Counsel or appearing on behalf of clients at Court; and participating in mediations and other forms of dispute resolution. This requires family lawyers to have a broad skill set. The skills gained from experiences such as clerkships, volunteering, editing journals, mooting/law school competitions and part time jobs at law firms or with barristers while at uni, will help prepare you for starting out in family law.

To find out more about Forte Family Lawyers, you can visit their website here.