Aussie Lawyers Directory

Australia's biggest online lawyer and legal services directory. http://www.aussielawyerdirectory.com.au

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How Lawyers Can Enhance Their Relationship with Clients

It is okay to disagree with your clients if you believe there is a better solution to the problem. On the other hand, it is critical for lawyers to pay attention to their clients’ needs and address them accordingly.

Trust me; you can easily achieve the results your clients want when you pay keen attention to their problems. In addition, you should make an effort to go further and know your clients into personal details. Listening to what your clients need is critical, although it may sound easy for some lawyers.

Please note that every client has a unique problem and it’s upon you to figure it out. Hence, creating a positive connection between you and your clients is important if you want to achieve tremendous results.

Do not dwell only on the facts that are relevant to the case but also ensure that you get to know the client more. Always dig more to know something new about your clients whenever you meet.

Listening is what will lead you to the real facts about your client. You don’t have to ask about their hobbies or what they love most. Listen to what your clients often talk about. Do they talk about their new baby/the Vikings/their dog?

Once you take note of the things they talk about more often, you can go ahead and talk it out with them. This way, you will start building a friendly connection between you and your clients. And the more you ask them, the more you know them as a person and as a close friend. In the long run, you will get more satisfied clients because you already fostered more trust between the two of you.

Ask for feedback

Asking your clients for feedback is the most effective way to determine if they are satisfied with your services or not. However critical the feedback may be, just ask for feedback from your client and thank them for their cooperation.

Yes, feedback is the breakfast of champions and you can get a share if you are truly determined. Never make excuses and never get defensive. Please note that your clients’ feedback is critical because it can help in building the future. Also, take note that the best ideas come from negative feedbacks from clients. It is advisable that you embrace situations that aren’t going well and view it from a positive perspective.

Accept Responsibility

Accepting responsibility means that you should be ready to be held accountable for the outcome of your actions. For example, if you make a mistake, it is advisable that you tell it to your client one on one. It will be great if they hear about whatever you did wrong directly from you. It’s okay to make mistakes because we all do make mistakes. Ask your clients if there is any way you can help them. You may be surprised to find out that you had the solution to their problems right at your finger tips.

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We Back High Court Challenge to Marriage Equality Postal Vote, says ALHR

Last week, the government issued a statement that it will go on with the nonbinding, non-compulsory postal vote.

“We back the constitutional challenge that is expected to be heard on 5th and 6th September,” said Nicholas Stewart, co-chair of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights.

Mr. Stewart said that the organisation condemned the proposal because it was likely to cause more harm than good. It will encourage hate speech against the community members, their children and their families at large. Hence, the postal vote will not produce a statistically meaningful outcome.

The co-chair has called upon all Australians to come together and question the government’s intention for funding the postal vote. ALHR has taken this brave step to support the current constitutional challenge to the funding of this ridiculous and divisive proposal.

The organisation claimed that it is not right to decide human rights issues by using some Australian voters to get voluntary postal response. Mr. Stewart said that the proposal cannot be voted in or out of existence because it does not favour the fundamental principle that human rights derive from human dignity.

Mr. Stewart also added that the Minister for Finance is not allowed by the Australian Constitution to fund such proposals.

Please take note that no funds can be drawn from the Consolidated Fund, thanks to s83 of the Constitution.

ALHR questioned the government’s decision to make some powerful moves beyond the Constitution. “What precedent is the government setting for the formulation of government in the future if it is prepared to embrace voluntary postal opinions on such a crucial human rights issue?” said Mr. Stewart while speaking to Aussie Lawyer Blog.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has also gone ahead to provide what is beyond their role.

“I believe that the funding of the postal vote by the government is unconstitutional,” said Ryan Goss, senior lecturer in Law at the Australian Nation University.

Mr. Gross said that the government may need to pass legislation approving the expenditure on a postal ballot unless it is able to bring the polls within a narrow range of exceptions.

Many opinion polls have consistently shown that more than 60% of Australians support same-sex marriage. With $122 million to be spent on the exercise, ALHR views this as wastage of taxpayer money.

“In my view, I think the non-compulsory, nonbinding vote may not provide a positive or meaningful result,” said Kathryn Cramp, co-chair of ALHR’s LGBTI committee.

She added that the concept of a voluntary postal vote is fundamentally flawed because it cannot produce either a genuine statistical survey or an electoral vote.

Mr. Stewart said that the postal vote will not be subject to control by the Australian Electoral Commission and will not involve all voters. Mr. Stewart noted that back in 1997; Prime Minister Turnbull himself opposed the postal vote system with an argument that it will disenfranchise voters and contravene basic democratic values.

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Victorian Legal Profession is Ready to Welcome the Next Chief Justice

Marilyn Warren AC is the incumbent Chief Justice of Victoria. She is expected to pave way for the next CJ Anne Ferguson.

Hence, the news confirms that Anne will be appointed to head one of the most crucial judicial offices in the state. It is only one month to go for Victorian Supreme Court to swear in a new Chief Justice.

Justice Ferguson worked as a partner and solicitor at Allens before sitting at the Supreme Court bench in back in 2010. Later in 2014, Justice Ferguson saw her way into the Court of Appeal as a commercial and insolvency litigation expert.

She will set a record as the first solicitor to get appointed as the 12th judge in Victoria and top judge to hold the position.

Earlier this week, an announcement was made about the next chief justice for Victoria. The Judicial College of Victoria, the Australian Bar Association, and the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) applauded Justice Ferguson’s future appointment by issuing their welcoming statements.

“I am happy to see a solicitor being appointed to the highest judicial office in Victoria,” said LIV President Belinda Wilson. She added that the highest jurisdiction in the state needed great leaders like Justice Ferguson. It’s a great thing seeing a former solicitor getting appointed as the Chief Justice.

Ms. Wilson said that she has interacted with Justice Ferguson for quite some time. During her years on the Supreme Court bench, Justice Ferguson showed that she knew her job well. She has a strength of character, personal work ethic, and formidable intellect.

“I have always known Justice Ferguson as an exceptional choice,” said the president of Australian Bar Association and Victorian barrister Alstergren QC.

Justice Ferguson has always proven to deliver excellent work as an appellant and trial judge. She is therefore expected to bring her experience and outstanding knowledge regarding the law. Indeed, she perfectly fits the role of chief justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Mr. Alstergren said the Australian Bar Association is ready to welcome Her Honour’s appointment with great enthusiasm.

“We will miss Chief Justice Warren’s passionate and authentic advocacy for learning in the judiciary,” said CEO Samantha Burchell while speaking of the incumbent CJ.

The Judicial College praised the good leadership of Chief Justice Warren.

“I look forward to working with the next Chief Justice in the coming years,” said Ms. Burchell. As a member of the Judicial College board, Chief Justice Warren demonstrated great leadership skills and expertise in the area of judicial education.

Take note that Marilyn Warren has served as the Victorian chief justice for 15 years. Mr. Alstergren congratulated the incumbent chief justice for her great service to the Victorian judicial system. He expressed profound respect for Her Honour’s leadership on behalf of the entire legal profession.

The Victorian highest court has benefited from an exemplary leadership delivered by Chief Justice Warren. Now, the state is preparing to swear in a new Chief Justice in October.

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A quick dive into the millennial legal market

Millennials are increasingly changing how the legal market operates. They are breaking the rules and applying their own tactics. Yes, they are embracing advanced technologies to enhance their legal services.

The legal profession is experiencing changes due to the seismic shift being driven by millennials. In this post, I am going to discuss 10 ways in which they are indeed changing the rules.

“The legal market is changing from an individualistic, low-tech, dormant system to a collaborative, high-tech, and dynamic one,” said Jordan Furlog, a legal market analyst.

Law firms have noted that clients are beginning to demand more and they are seeing the transformation already. Hence, this means that the market is becoming more sophisticated as the buying power increases.

Here are some of the characteristics experienced among millennial clients:

Customisation of services

You cannot fit all using only one size. Bespoke is the word of the day. It has been confirmed that clients want services that are tailored to meet their specific needs.

The millennial client wants to be given chance to participate in the process. As a matter of fact they expect to be given what they want immediately after requesting for them.

Hence, this means that law firms should be equipped enough to attend to immediate issues brought to them by their millennial clients.

Experts say that millennials want to be treated more than just a client. They wish to be treated like partners.

Choice

Choice is what millennials want. At this age, millennials have been exposed to many choices whenever it comes to making consumption decisions. And the same applies when they seek legal services from law firms.

Research shows that the loyalty that was put in law firms is now fading as people prefer individuals with special expertise.

Many law firms have stated that some of their clients prefer setting their own dedicated legal service team. They may go as far as choosing them from different law firms.

The main reason why millennial clients demand choice is that they want to determine the best option available to them.

Flexible pricing

Millennials don’t like time-based billing, hence that’s the reason why they prefer flexible pricing models. But I figured out it is not millennials alone – I mean, don’t we all dislike time-based billing?

Clients are increasingly using analytics to measure productivity and cost. Professionals say that this will put pressure on lawyers and law firms to provide high-quality services.

Law firms should ensure that their On Call retainer pricing and their On Site fixed pricing matches their clients’ needs for both pricing and flexibility.

Multidisciplinary

In order to achieve the best results, law firms will be required to include non-legal specialists into their legal team. Also, this is important because businesses and deals become complicated.

For example, a legal specialist confirmed to us that they are already witnessing an increase in the need for compliance and regulatory professionals.

The pure legal partnership is expected to be a dinosaur when millennial-led law firms will strategically align with other specialists.

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ALHR Speaks Regarding Alleged Killing of Afghan Civilians

The allegations were exposed by ABC who claimed that they received leaked information that confirms Afghan civilians, including women and children, got killed by the Defence Force members.

The ABC stated that there is a certain document that specifically demonstrates established cultural differences within the Australian Defence Force members. The ABC has stated that they are currently investigating possible unlawful killings.

ALHR’s spokesman, Hector Sharp, said that he’s deeply shocked with the reports published yesterday by the ABC.

“The report released by ABC was deeply shocking and we understand the allegations could comprise serious infringement of the international humanitarian law,” said Hector Sharp.

He added that if confirmed, then the Defence Force members will have caused a great breach of IHL.

The allegations are extremely serious because they show how negligent and reckless the Australian soldiers are. The reason behind this is simply because they were reckless to the extent of causing a large number of deaths among Afghan civilians.

We urge the Inspector-General of the ADF and the Australian Federal Police to carry out an investigation on the allegations reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation,” said Mr. Sharp.

The ALHR spokesman also added that the organisation is mainly concerned by an event which took place back in 2012 that saw an Afghan teenager Khan Mohammed get shot.

ALHR said that there was need for military targets to be distinguished from civilians and civilian objects. This way, they can easily stay away from danger and military targets. The IHL said that this tactic is known as the principle of distinction.

As a matter of fact, war crime may arise as a result of intentionally directing attacks against civilians.

It is considered unlawful to use force targeted at civilians without distinguishing them from military targets.

There is no flexible approach when it comes to application of crucial IHL principles. However, defence forces should ensure that they don’t cause disproportionate civilian casualties.

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4 Ways to be more confident as a lawyer

Confidence is a powerful word that helps people overcome many hurdles. As a lawyer, one often encounters moments when they feel like they can’t take it anymore. The feeling of low self-esteem is sometimes experienced amongst lawyers. While many people may assume the negative effects of low self-esteem, it is important to take note that you need to have confidence as a lawyer. And yes, there is power in self-confidence.

Look at yourself in the mirror. What do you see? An ambitious lawyer ready to conquer the world? No? If you don’t believe you can accomplish great things then there are very minimal chances you ever will.

You don’t have to be a great lawyer already, but you can work towards gaining more experience and becoming one.

Here are 7 ways that can help you build your confidence as a lawyer:

Strengthen your mind

Strong mental health is essential for anyone aspiring to be a lawyer or would want to work in the legal space.

Also, having a strong mind helps you become self-confident. Self-confidence is a state of mind that can be controlled and achieved through intentional action.

There are various ways that one can spend their time to nurture their mind. Many people prefer spending at least one hour every day meditating, exercising and reading in the morning.

You should take control of your life and not allow other things or people shape your view of the world.

Discard negativity in your life

Negativity is a silent killer that draws away our attention to negative things that keep on affecting us negatively. As a lawyer, you need to be aware of negative things around you and eliminate them instantly.

Yes, it’s true that insecurity and negative thoughts often pop up in our lives like pimples, but it’s upon us to entertain or discard them.

Learn to treat your thoughts as tools because that’s what good mindfulness practice advocates for. Discard the thoughts that you don’t need while on the other hand you strengthen and use the ones you need.

Embrace self-improvement

Personal growth or personal development is what you should always strive to embrace all times. As a lawyer, there is need for you to shape your life in a manner that reflects who you want to be in future.

Practice good habits that will ensure that you grow daily. Many people have confirmed that having professional relationships and putting themselves into courses has helped them generate humility and confidence.

From professional seminars to physical programs to leadership programs to therapeutic programs, committing to this kind of regular growth are keys to gaining confidence as a lawyer.

Dress for success

Yes, your dress code plays a big role in ensuring that you land the right clients. Study shows that many clients often judge lawyers depending on their dress codes and first impression.

There are some people who don’t care about what they wear. But regardless of the business you are running, it is important that you dress for the client you want rather than the client you have.

Looking good translates to feeling good and being more confident. So, why dress for less while you can dress to impress and even win that dream client?

As a matter of fact, the most successful lawyers get up early and dress like they are off for a day at the office.

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We will focus on Implementing Bill of Rights, says LCA

Last week included a lot of legal activities. The major activity was that of LCA – a leading body for Australian lawyers. The Law Council of Australia has claimed that there have been many issues regarding human rights that needed immediate attention. Hence, they have decided to put the bill of rights on top of their task list.

The LCA has stated that they will focus on the legal profession and human rights. They have put it out clearly that they are in the process of advocating for a federal charter or bill of rights.

The Law Council of Australia has also urged the states and territories that haven’t developed their own charters to come out and join hands with the legal body.

The reason why LCA is pushing for a national bill of rights is because many Australian states haven’t created their own charters. As a matter of fact, there are only two states that have developed a legislative instrument that outlines its citizen’s rights. The states include ACT and Victoria.

“We are glad that our new statement is in line with the good timing of Australia’s bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council,” said LCA President Fiona McLeod SC while speaking to Aussie Lawyer Blog.

In the recent past, Australia has been actively involved in human rights issues and the nation has made advancements regarding the issue.

Now, the LCA has come out to push for awareness of human rights in every state.

The LCA believes that Australia should be part of the UN Human Rights Council. That’s why they are endorsing a constructive and central role for the nation in the international human rights system.

Ms McLeod said that it is important to implement and execute the commitments and legal principles on human rights. She added that this will help Australia show its boldness on the human rights bill as the nation seeks a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.

Last week, the LCA’s council directors approved a statement prepared by the council’s human rights committee.

“We already have a Policy Statement on Human Rights and the Legal Profession. Its main purpose is to provide a clear framework for examining the achievements of legal practice, policy, and legislation,” said Ms McLeod.

The LCA president said that the Law Council believes all human rights are interrelated, interdependent, indivisible and universal. She added that they are ready to work with organisations that are familiarised with international law and practice in regard to human rights.

She said that the Law Council’s tasks in the policy space, from metadata to marriage equality to asylum seekers were guided by the principles in the human rights framework.

Hence, the Law Council will always work to ensure that government action and legislation gets implemented in line with human rights.

The Council’s statement also urged all Australian corporations and other business entities to play their part in accordance with the UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

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SA Legal Body Questions Government Move

SA Law Society claims that the government’s move should be looked into deeply.

The legal body stated that making the Land Services Group private raised eyebrows because there is minimal transparency of the privatisation process.

The legal body added that lack of transparency showed that there may be increased consumer costs, lower quality service or risk of compromised security of data.

SA Lawyers have backed their counterparts saying that the community impact should be fully disclosed and the process of privatising SA’s Land Service Group must be completely transparent.

In addition, the Property Council of South Australia has joined hands with the legal body. Together, the duo claims that they will stand strong to ensure that the process becomes transparent if the government insists on going ahead with its plan of privatising South Australia’s Land Services Group.

They claim that they are disappointed with the quality of information offered to the public in regards to the tender process.

The Law Society president Tony Rossi said that the government hasn’t shared with the public any information regarding the project’s long-term impact. “It is important for the public to get a clear view why the government needs to privatise their community’s Land Service Group,” said Mr. Rossi.

He added that the government should come out clear on this issue and give the public tangible information on why they made the decision. “I am surprised there has been next to no public information from the government about the proposed sale.

“The reason why we are standing firm on this issue is because it has huge implications for the South Australian residents and it is one of the biggest government transactions in recent history,” said Tonny Rossi.

As a matter of fact, last year’s budget bill buried deep a line that gave the government permission to make such a crucial decision. And in this case, selling this essential service,” said Philip Page, chair of the Law Society’s Property Committee.

Mr Page said that it is surprising to see the government outsource a land title registration system to a private operator. To make the decision more questionable, the Land Service Group has been operating efficiently in the state for more than 150 years.

Hence, Mr Page concluded that the government should explain how outsourcing such a crucial service to a private operator (motivated by profit) would benefit the public in the long run.

Compromising the ownership information of land is serious because land is the biggest asset most people will own. Hence, it is important that the privacy, accuracy, and security of land owners’ information don’t get compromised.

To make matters worse, title insurance may be needed to protect assets, which is not the case now. It is also expected that the private operator will look for ways to benefit from the sale of land data. And in the worst scenario, they may increase fees for unregulated services.

“Such issues should be considered and looked at deeply. I am seeking an assurance that local jobs will not be lost in any restructuring of this service,” said Daniel Gannon, Property Council SA executive director while speaking to Aussie Lawyer Blog.

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3 Ways That Law Firms Can Effectively Market Their Legal Services

The main reason why many law firms lose or get few clients is because they don’t engage in realistic business development activities. In such cases, you will find that some lawyers often fail to authentically connect with potential clients or they waste time on the wrong activities.

In this new age, it is equally important for lawyers to familiarise themselves with effective ways in which they can market their legal services. I decided to conduct a research where I asked marketing professionals and partners to find out how they get great clients through effective law firm marketing. Here are three ways that you can effectively market your law firm to reach a larger audience:

  1. Ensure that Your Law Firm Has an Online Presence

You should make your legal services visible to a larger audience, including the online platform. Hence, the importance of choosing the best infrastructure for your law firm’s online presence.

Making your law firm visible to the online community will not only bring you tremendous results but it will ensure that you maintain your credibility. For this I recommend that you use Aussie Lawyer Directory. This website is powered by Aussie Lawyer Directory, as are many of the most successful law firm websites in Australia.

And it’s no coincidence, because Aussie Lawyer Directory Team is made up of lawyers who have practiced for more than a decade. They work closely with their customers and they take legal marketing very seriously.

  2. Put High Quality Content on Your Blog

Once you set up your online presence, it is important that you pick relevant topics to post on your site’s blog. Blogging is one of the most effective ways to reach prospective clients while marketing your legal services.

For your law firm website to be successful, you have to put high quality content that will keep readers coming back to your blog. Written content is king and one of the most important ingredients for your law firm marketing.

Just ensure that you write what is addressing your clients’ needs and that it addresses those needs accurately. That way, you will have an easy time marketing your law firm because top quality content will automatically drive relevant traffic to your site.

  3. Only Spend On Effective and Measurable Marketing Strategies

It is critically important to observe the kind of marketing strategies that you implement. Spending money on applications or software that do not benefit your law firm in any way is the worst mistake that you can ever make as a lawyer.

Test different marketing software and measure the results that they bring to your law firm. If the result is nowhere near positive, then simply ditch the idea. You should know the best ways that make your marketing succeed.

It is advisable that you double down on what works and eliminate what doesn’t work. For example, you can measure your blog activities to see the number of readers that visited, including the number of comments if there is any.

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Australian Family Lawyers Praise an Innovative Approach

The event took place on Wednesday. The Family Advocacy and Support Service (FASS), was launched in Western Sydney by the Commonwealth Attorney-General George Brandis QC.

FASS will be responsible for recruiting new lawyers who have experience in family law and have tackled several issues in the state.

On the other hand, the lawyers who get appointed will be responsible for helping people with various family law issues. They will also help the victims with other related legal needs.

The initiative shows that the government is working towards ensuring that there is minimal discrimination against women and their children.

The Commonwealth funded Legal Aid NSW to establish the FASS under the National Plan to Eradicate Injustices subjected to women through domestic violence.

While speaking to Aussie Lawyer Blog, Kylie Beckhouse said that there are very many stakes when it comes to parenting disputes involving allegations of family violence. Kylie Beckhouse is the current Director for Legal Aid NSW Family Law.

She added that the initiative would help many victims get justice faster because coming to court can be a tremendously stressful experience.

“With an emphasis to keep families safe through practical measures, this approach will keep parents and their children safe by offering effective support at the right time,” said Ms Beckhouse.

She said that the FASS duty lawyers will take the task of helping people with related legal needs such as obtaining domestic violence orders. However, their main duty will be assisting victims with issues such as disputes over custody and child abduction.

Ms Beckhouse added that the approach was very innovative because it will ensure that the victim’s voice is heard by the courts through the help of the dusty lawyers. They will help their clients in critical situations such as representing a parent in an urgent situation or even help gather evidence to show the courts a clear picture of the situation.

“Family Advocacy and Support Service lawyers will have to learn more about their clients in order to have an upper hand when it comes to representing them in court,” said Ms Beckhouse.

This may go as far as helping the clients in areas where they have been mostly affected. Hence, they may be forced to offer complex non-legal needs in areas like mental health and housing.

Australian Family Lawyers were extremely pleased with the government’s effort to support Family Law by its announcement this month of the first extensive review of the Family Law Act in 40 years.

In addition, they were impressed by the government’s $80 million commitment in the federal budget to fund family law services.

Ms Beckhouse concluded by saying that they are planning to reduce the pressure on the courts by introducing extra family consultants and parental management hearings.

There are more serious cases that needs the courts’ attention but they are being distracted by smaller parenting disputes,” said Ms Beckhouse.

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Spent conviction scheme should be introduced in Vic, says LIV President

The Law Institute of Victoria claims that other states have created their own spent conviction scheme; hence the state government of Victoria should do the same.

Convictions covered

Offences that can be considered as minor include charges such as fraudulent use of a state transit concession card, possession of cannabis or shoplifting.

The main objective of this scheme is to allow people with minor offences to get their names cleared off from the criminal records.

For a person to be qualified or be eligible for the scheme, then they must have spent a number of years in a recreational facility. In addition, the individual should not have committed another offence during the waiting period.

Here are the conditions that cover convictions for a State offence:

A regulatory or stator exclusion does not apply;

The individual has not committed another offence during the 10-year waiting period;

The offender wasn’t sentenced to imprisonment for a period exceeding 30 months;

It has been 10 years from the date of the conviction

Take note that the scheme also applies to convictions that have been pardoned or set aside under Part VIIC of the Crimes Act 1914.

Other states have reported that since they introduced the scheme, it has helped offenders participate fully in the community by finding new employment opportunities.

“I believe that the time has come for Victoria to introduce such a positive scheme, just like the rest of Australia,” said LIV president Belinda Wilson.

Ms Wilson added that many Victorians have been exposed to discrimination which has undermined their ability to fully participate in the society’s activities. The reason behind this is because there is lack of a formal spent convictions scheme for Vic as a state.

Ms Wilson made it clear that she was not against the initial punishment imposed for a proven offence. But her main issue with the state government of Victoria is that they prevent an offender from reintegrating and rehabilitating into society even after serving their punishment.

Ms Wilson said that charges removed under the scheme would relate to behaviour that occurred during a phase of a person’s life, mental health issues, a period of difficulty, or during a lapse of judgment that they have moved on from by the time they appear before the court.

The LIV president said that it was sad to see that in Victoria, all crimes will still show up on an offender’s record, even in cases of non-conviction. In worst cases, you will also find pending cases still appearing on an individual’s record, even if they have not yet been found guilty.

She also urged the state government of Victoria to change the fact whereby police in Victoria have the discretion to choose which parts of an individual’s criminal record appears on their criminal check.

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Lawyers Have Been Urged to Avoid Anxiety and Depression

The problem is urgent for many lawyers especially the ones who work on tedious cases. Unlike the general public, lawyers are three times more likely to suffer severe anxiety or depression.

Experts say that the main cause of depression among lawyers is because they always strive to be perfect. Many lawyers often think that they were careless with something or they didn’t work hard enough. Slowly, they start practicing perfectionism which later results in depression when things don’t go as expected or planned.

The worst case is the fact that perfectionism transforms into a feeling that everything is not all right. Hence, it should not be taken to the extreme. Some lawyers think that they are expected to predict the future and solve every problem that comes their way. Well, that’s not right because this only leads to more problems.

“Lawyers should take note that mental health disorders can profoundly affect their daily functioning,” said Mr. Alexander McKenzie, a young practitioner from Burnie in Tasmania. There are many side-effects of anxiety and depression, including muscle tension, fatigue, sweating, heart palpitations, sleep disturbances, a sense of impending danger and worry, difficulty concentrating, feelings of inadequacy, obsessive thoughts, and irritability.

In worst scenarios, some lawyers go to the extent of self-medicating themselves with hard drugs and alcohol. Others withdraw from family, friends, and peers. Some attorney may assume that this is a normal feeling, but it isn’t. They should quickly look for effective ways to stay away from depression and anxiety.

Avoiding Depression

Yes, depression can be easily avoided only if the victim agrees to stay disciplined and implement effective measures that will keep them mentally strong. Here are some of the best ways to avoid anxiety or depression:

  Have easy, regular conversations with clients

I understand that it is important to put your clients’ satisfaction ahead, but you should be keen not to overdo it. The good news is that there are proven tactics that lawyers can implement to avoid anxiety and depression. One of them is having easy, regular conversations with clients.

  Learn what triggers your anxiety

You can easily deal with anxiety and depression when you learn and understand what triggers them. Is it school, family, work or something that you can identify? Learning what triggers your anxiety is the first step towards fighting depression.

  Embrace and maintain a positive attitude

A positive attitude is very crucial when it comes to staying mentally strong and avoiding depression. Don’t let negative thoughts dominate your mind. Know when it is the right time to say ‘no’ and create those boundaries for those who try to bring you down.

  Take deep breaths and meditate regularly

Inhale and exhale deeply whenever you feel stressed or nervous. Do this for at least 10 minutes every day. Meditation is key to a strong mental health.

  Get enough sleep

I believe you have heard about this somewhere else or during one of those personal development talks. Yes, sleep is essential for a healthy lifestyle and everyone should get at least 8 hours of sleep, including lawyers.

  Eat well-balanced diets

What you eat determines your overall health and that includes our mental health. Eating a well-balanced diet gives you all the nutrients you need to stay mentally strong and healthy.

  Exercise regularly

Exercise is what you need in order to keep the blood pumping and also keep unnecessary diseases at bay. Exercise can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and make you feel good all the time.

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Government Announced New Changes to Australian Citizenship Laws

Migrants will face tough new questions on cultural values under a major shake-up of Australia’s Citizenship test.

“New migrants must prove their commitment to the nation and embrace Australian values,” declared Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Some of the key factors that will be considered regarding the new laws include:

Increasing the application process for permanent residents’ eligibility for citizenship to four years

Introduce more components for English language test

Banning of migrants with a history of organised crime or family violence

Mr Turnbull explained that the reason for tightening the test was to ensure that the nation did not harbour criminals.

Although Labour described the new laws as satisfaction to the right wing of the Liberal Party, the opposition leader Bill Shorten said many of the questions were reasonable.

The new laws will see migrants undergo tougher citizenship test which will assess their attitudes to gender equality and religious freedom, while observing their commitment to Australia.

Applicants must demonstrate how they have integrated into the Australian community by showing proof that their children are getting better education, by providing evidence that they are employed or even by joining clubs.

Also, the government may deny citizenship to applicants who have a history of organised crime or domestic violence.

More components will be added to the English language test in order to assess the applicants’ listening, writing and reading skills.

Instead of the current one year wait, migrants who are granted to be permanent residents will have to wait four years before applying for Australian citizenship. Indeed, this shows how the new laws have been tightened for screening new migrants.

Not as if that is enough – an applicant will have to wait another two years to apply for citizenship if they fail the test three times.

Those who plan to apply for citizenship may be subjected to the new rules if the coalition manages to pass the changes through Parliament.

Minor offences such as domestic abuse and social welfare fraud, and others that are not consistent with Australian values would be looked at more deeply through the new test.

The new test will also include questions focusing on religious issues. The questions will be carefully designed in such a way that they show appreciation of Australian values.

Some of the potential questions that are expected to be asked include whether the principle of religious freedom allowed for prohibiting girls from school, abusing a spouse, genital mutilation and children to marry.

The decision to update the Citizenship laws was arrived at due to the current global threat of terrorism. The main reason why the changes were made was to strengthen the commitment to Australian values and support democracy.

“The Australian community needs to put effective measures in place in order to combat the recent terrorist attacks around the globe,” said the Australian Prime Minister.

He added that this was the best time for Australia to reaffirm its increasing commitment to shared values, opportunity and democracy.

Therefore, aspiring citizens must demonstrate their allegiance to the nation’s values and be ready to positively contribute to the Australian community.