Non-profit model urged for family law system

New Way Lawyers

A leading Brisbane lawyer says a non-profit model should be adopted by all law firms providing services in family law and child support.

Carolyn Devries, CEO of New Way Lawyers, is urging a recently announced joint federal parliamentary inquiry to back the non-profit model as part of urgently needed family law reforms.

“I don’t have any problem with law firms operating commercially in areas of law such as conveyancing or business law,” says Ms Devries.

“But families are special and when they face situations like separation and divorce, these painful and emotional experiences should not be seen as a commodity or a way for shareholders and partners of law firms to make a profit.”

Ms Devries pioneered the non-profit model, establishing New Way Lawyers as Australia’s first non-profit law firm in 2009. It is now one of the largest firms practising exclusively in family law and estate law, with offices in Indooroopilly, Capalaba, Burleigh Waters and Brisbane City.

Ms Devries is encouraged by the parliamentary inquiry’s reported focus on addressing the impact of legal proceedings on families and reducing the high cost.

“With a non-profit service model, there is no motivation to generate profit or financial gain because there are no shareholders or partners,” she says. “This means there is a greater focus on client care and the fees are more affordable, generally about 30% less than those charged by normal law firms operating on a commercial basis.

“Legal fees can be confronting and it is difficult to see money go to benefit shareholders and partners when it is so badly needed by a family in the process of rebuilding following separation.”

Ms Devries says the non-profit model is currently alleviating the gap in legal service provision where people are not eligible for government-funded legal services, such as Legal Aid or Community Legal Clinics, but also cannot afford the services of a private law firm. Adoption of the non profit model on a broader scale would however significantly improve access and affordability to justice.

/Public Release.