For the past eight years, Lyn Lucas has been on a mission to keep clients out of the Family Court. With over 25 years of experience in family law, Lyn became disillusioned with the processes of the court and the detrimental effect it was having on clients.
Lyn said the current system creates long delays in hearing matters, and this causes a great deal of stress to couples wanting to finalise their property settlements and move on with their lives.
As a result, Lyn launched an online family law practice that now has clients across Australia.
For a long time, Lyn had separated couples coming to her for assistance, not wanting the expense of two lawyers, and being able to finalise their settlement within a short period of time.
The new service caters to these clients and takes into consideration the fact that the Family Law Act is applied across Australia, using the digital world to help people nationally.
“Once I finished my training as a Mediator, I realised I was much more comfortable in that role, rather than the role of a Litigator,” Lyn said.
“A client who is going through a separation and property settlement is often in a place they never imagined they would be, so to me it is important to provide a service to these clients that will involve the least amount of stress, the ability to complete their settlement in a short space of time, and a fixed fee so they know upfront how much the settlement will cost.”
Communicating with her clients by phone, email and video conference, Lyn now operates her practice from home, keeping overheads to a minimum. She works on a fixed fee basis which appeals to clients who can budget for their fees and know the cost upfront.
In 2016 the Law Society of NSW held a FLIP (Future of Law and Innovation in Practice) Inquiry, and Lyn was asked to give a presentation. When the FLIP report was later released she received four recommendations for having an innovative practice and for her use of technology.
“Having listened to video presentations recorded during the FLIP Inquiry, I realised I had commenced a NewLaw practice before the term was even born, without fully realising it. The term NewLaw was coined in 2013 and describes a burgeoning category of alternative legal service providers that sets itself apart from BigLaw or TradLaw providers. These firms are disruptors, willing to make changes – they mostly use fixed fee structures, client-focused delivery methods, are willing to innovate and have flexible staff arrangements, to name a few.”
In her online practice Lyn assists couples who have agreed on their property settlement by drafting a Binding Financial Agreement and assisting with transfer of real estate, splitting of superannuation, estate planning etc. Lyn is also a trained Mediator and uses her expertise to assist clients who are close to agreement, and just need to tie up the loose ends of their settlement.
This year Lyn will launch her Family Law Practice Blueprint membership site where she will train likeminded family lawyers to build a now proven business model online practice and to be proactive in keeping clients out of the Family Court.
IMAGE | Founder of Online Divorce Lawyer, Lyn Lucas.
