I often say family law is more than just the law. It is about the emotional connection you make with the client to deeply and truly understand what motivates them, what matters most to them and to help them achieve their best outcomes by helping them prioritise and plan. In this article, however, I want to emphasise the law. That is, how important it is to be advised by a lawyer who is specialist in their field. 

Lots of lawyers these days are specialising; long gone are the generalist lawyers who know a bit about everything. Not surprising either. Why would you want a lawyer to advise you about a specialist issue only to know the area at a surface level? People these days can get basic knowledge online, so, when they want specific legal advice, they want specialist advice from lawyers that they can be confident will know everything about that field. 

The Law Institute of Victoria offers a program for family lawyers practicing in family law to qualify for an accreditation as a specialist in family law. This is a gruelling process of study, assignments, exam, and interview. There is a 70% national fail rate. Once accredited, you join the elitist group of family lawyers in Australia with the badge of honour and hold the symbol as an accredited specialist. 

I graduated the program many years ago now, but I still remember the feeling of relief, gratitude, and satisfaction I felt when I got the news. I had finally made it to the big time. At that time, there were just a handful in SA.  

At Resolve, I make it a prerequisite of employment that my lawyers attend a master’s program at the College of Law and then go on to apply to become Accredited Specialists, because only the best will do for us. 

Now both Chanel Martin and Vanessa Camerlengo have been through the Accreditation process, and were successful in achieving Accreditation. 

That makes us 3 Accredited specialists in Family law, the highest number in SA in one firm! 

I need to scream this from the rooftops; Its not just an achievement of skill, aptitude, and ability; but it is an achievement of success for our team who are not only motivated to give our clients an emotionally supported experience but also and importantly, the most specialist, competent and highly qualified knowledge of family law.