Engaging a lawyer can be a daunting experience. Not only is it emotionally challenging, but it can also be a considerable financial strain.
We understand this at Barker Evans, and we take great pride in our commitment to providing high quality legal services while maintaining cost transparency, efficiency, and accessibility for all our clients.
Transparency:
We firmly believe that transparency is a basic foundation for establishing a strong lawyer-client relationship. From the very beginning of our engagement, we make it a priority to discuss and outline all potential costs involved in a client’s case. This includes a clear breakdown of the following:
- Our Fees: We are upfront about our billing structure, what we are billing you for, how will bill via 6-minute increments called “units”, and how to save on costs.
- Disbursements: Our clients are informed about any additional expenses related to their case, such as court filing fees, barristers, or other relevant disbursements.
- Estimates: While legal costs can vary depending on the complexity of a case, we provide our clients with realistic cost estimates to help them plan accordingly.
- Regular Updates: Throughout the legal process, we keep our clients informed about any changes in costs and explain the reasons behind them.
Cost Minimization Strategies:
Understanding that legal representation can be a significant financial burden, we adopt various strategies to keep costs to a minimum while ensuring the highest quality of legal service:
- Collaborative Approach: Our lawyers work collaboratively, leveraging each other’s expertise and knowledge, resulting in cost effective, comprehensive and effective legal representation.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): When appropriate, we explore ADR methods like mediation and arbitration as cost-effective alternatives to traditional litigation, saving our clients time and money.
Access to Legal Finance:
Given the nature of Family Law, it is often the case that only one party may have access to the funds that both parties have accrued during the relationship. Recognising that not all clients may have immediate access to funds for their legal matters, we have established partnerships with reputable legal financiers such as Plenti and JustFund. Both Plenti and JustFund aim to allow anyone going through separation or Family Law proceedings with a quality lawyer of their choosing.
If you have recently separated or wish to obtain advice as to your family law matter, please don’t hesitate to contact us on (02) 8379 1892 or nevans@barkerevans.com.au.
