Keeping up with the family lawyer
Many will have seen or heard of Suits, Ally McBeal, the Good Wife and the Split. We now have the new legal drama “All’s Fair” on Disney+ in which Kim Kardashian has taken up the role of a divorce lawyer.
Kardashian, who has been divorced three times herself and has been studying to be a lawyer, has said “I don’t think I can ever really do family law.”
As with a lot of legal series, this is a glamourised, exaggerated and over-emphasised version of what really goes on.
As family lawyers, our job is often much more than just explaining the legal processes involved, whether that be through divorce, financial remedy or child arrangements.
Unsurprisingly, there is a lot of emotional strain when it comes to dealing with the range of family matters and dealing with the dynamics of different families. For this reason, we try to offer a holistic service and often encourage our clients to make use of other professionals who deal with other aspects of family breakdown. This helps our clients feel as supported as possible through what can sometimes be a very long, drawn-out process. We explored this in our recent article about the emotional barriers to divorce.
Television dramas and social media often portray legal disputes as battles won with a single clever argument or surprise piece of evidence – the classic “gotcha” moment. In reality, family law rarely works that way. There are no instant victories and very few moments where one party walks out having “won” it all.
Family law matters, whether they involve child arrangements, financial remedy proceedings or cohabitation disputes are rarely resolved overnight (or by quickly jumping on a private jet). Family lawyers need all the information and disclosure available to be able to properly advise on a particular matter. Picking up a file with a few pieces of paper and strutting into court is something only seen on the television screen.
These matters can take time and careful preparation, and often a great deal of patience. The law aims to achieve fair, practical outcomes for everyone involved, not to deliver sudden triumphs or taking one person “to the cleaners” over the other. This is why it is important for us to remain realistic and manage clients’ expectations throughout.
Judges and family lawyers understand that personal disputes are complex and emotionally charged. The court looks at the whole picture, not just one message, document, or position. The Court will consider your needs and circumstances but also those of the other person and any relevant children.
At Geldards, we focus on helping you navigate the process with clarity and confidence. Rather than chasing a quick win, we work toward meaningful, lasting resolutions that allow you and your family to move forward. We want you to feel supported throughout the process and we aim to do our best to remove the hostility and aggression that may follow separation. Although this makes for an exciting watch in the big legal dramas, it does little to effectively progress matters for you and will only make matters worse.
Please do get in touch if you have any family law issues and would like genuine and professional advice.