By RUSSELL BENNETT
FOR any local young families experiencing the hardship of a relationship break-up, young Olinda mother of three Lauren Dixon has a simple piece of advice: always look at what’s in the best interests of the children.
Ms Dixon recently joined local law firm Falcone and Adams as a family lawyer, having previously worked in another private practice, and for 10 years prior to that with Legal Aid in Ringwood.
In her current role she’s working with the Casey Cardinia Legal Service and the family relationship centre on educational programs talking about her experience as an independent children’s lawyer.
And recently Falcone and Adams – which has offices in Emerald, Pakenham and Narre Warren – ran information sessions through the Emerald Community House to provide general family law advice for local residents.
With the south east becoming such a hotspot for young families to move into, Ms Dixon’s role will become increasingly pivotal.
“I’ll be working with the lawyers from the Casey Cardinia Legal Service and talking about what happens if the matter is in court and an independent children’s lawyer gets appointed; what that role is; what I look at in terms of the children and what I’m meant to be presenting to the judge so they’ve got an understanding of it all,” she said.
“Sometimes when that happens, particularly for people who are self-represented, they don’t have their own lawyer to explain it to them.
“They won’t really understand what the role of the lawyer is.”
For young couples who have never had to seek out a lawyer before, Ms Dixon said: the most important thing is, firstly, to “take care of yourself from an emotional perspective”.
“In terms of a legal perspective it’s important to have a mindset that you get what you’re entitled to in terms of a property settlement – that you come to a fair and reasonable settlement,” she said.
“That’s the most important thing – people not wanting to cause difficulties by making things worse for the other side.
If you come to an agreement that’s fair, then the relationship you have to carry on as separated parents then hopefully isn’t too damaged.”
