Best Wilson Buckley Family Law

She may not have come home with the chocolates last Thursday night, but that doesn't mean we're any less proud of our Natalia Hutchison for her nomination as a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards! Although a graduate family lawyer by trade, Natalia is instrumental in BWB's continuous improvement initiatives. As a firm, we are always analysing our internal systems and processes and looking for ways that things can be done better, in a continued effort to provide more value to our clients. Natalia's passion for innovation and "thinking big" was discussed with Lawyers Weekly's Jerome Doraisamy in the latest episode of the Protégé Podcast. Check out the podcast ep here: https://lnkd.in/gifB3jeC.

Happy International Women's Day! This year, IWD is inspiring inclusion and celebrating diversity and empowerment in all aspects of society: social, economic, cultural, and political. A key pillar of IWD's theme this year is the promotion of diversity in leadership, as women continue to face barriers when seeking leadership roles. Although BWB is proud to have a strong female-led leadership group, there is still work to be done, particularly in the Australian legal industry. Today, on International Women's Day, we encourage our communities both on an individual and organisational level to think about how we can continue to support women and girls into leadership roles, ensure access to quality education and training, and provide equal opportunities across all societal aspects. As we celebrate International Women's Day in 2024, let us reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where all women are empowered, valued, and included. #InternationalWomensDay #IWD #InspireInclusion

It was in February of 2020 that Hannah was driving her three children Aaliyah, Laianah, and Trey to school when Hannah's estranged ex-husband doused their car with petrol and set it alight, resulting in the loss of all four lives. This tragic and insidious portrayal of domestic and family violence sparked a widespread outpouring of grief, as well as a greater focus on a form of family violence known as "coercive control". Now, in March of 2024, The passage of the Criminal Law (Coercive Control and Affirmative Consent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 (Qld) has introduced the offense of coercive control to the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld), carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. Our full response and explanation of the new legislation, penned by family lawyer, Natalia Hutchison, can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gRfVtDa6.

“My primary objective is to adeptly navigate families through their family law journey in a manner that is both efficient and cost-effective. By doing so, I aim to empower my clients to redirect their attention towards rebuilding or establishing other pivotal aspects of their lives, especially during what could arguably be their most challenging phase.” Say hello to Abigail (Abby) Johnson, one of our experienced Toowoomba family lawyers. Abby has been practicing exclusively in family law since 2017. Prior to working as a specialist family lawyer, she worked as both a paralegal and solicitor across various practice areas including litigation, property law, and wills and estates. This diverse experience aids her family law clients who benefit from holistic and well-rounded advice regarding their property settlement and parenting disputes. By drawing upon insights gained across a range of practice areas, Abby endeavours to offer clients nuanced solutions to their family law problems that extend beyond immediate legal concerns and help to build sustainable and future-proof outcomes to their family separation. Visit our website to find out how Abby can assist you or your clients through their family law journey: https://ow.ly/o1iR50QGu9T.

One week to go! Don't forget, from next Monday (4 March) you'll find our Toowoomba team at Level 1, 5 Kitchener Street.

We are SO excited to have welcomed the one and only Shaun Kolo to the BWB team last month. Shaun brings such a unique and valuable blend of professionalism and approachability to every family he works with. His deep understanding of the complexities of family law, gained over a decade of experience in the industry, enables him to provide tailored solutions and compassionate support to his clients. Shaun’s personable nature and strong history of positive client outcomes have earned him a stellar reputation as a trusted advisor and advocate. Having worked alongside Shaun in the family law industry for many, many years, we are so fortunate to now have his expertise in-house. We can’t wait for the Ipswich community to get to know Shaun!

We are on the move! Our Toowoomba office is making an exciting move to a brand new office in just two weeks. From Monday, 4 March you'll find us at Level 1, 5 Kitchener Street in East Toowoomba. Our Margaret Street office will be closed from 5:00pm on Thursday, 29 February with our teams working remotely on the Friday whilst we complete our move. We can't wait to show you what our new office looks like once we're settled in!

Congratulations and thank you to Alissa Tulk on reaching her five year service milestone with BWB!

Our grants are back! For the fifth year in a row, we’re inviting sporting and community organisations in the Western Downs, Toowoomba, Ipswich, and Moreton Bay council areas to apply for a number of small grants up to $1,000! Our grants program is the least we can do to say thank you to these wonderful communities for their support, and to give back and help these wonderful regions continue to thrive. Applications close on Friday, 1 March 2024. Visit our website today to find out more!

1800RESPECT has launched a discreet texting helpline. The texting service is an expansion of their counselling services which were previously only available via telephone or live chat. HOW DO I ACCESS THE SERVICE? Text “hello” to 0458 737 732. You’ll then need to agree to 1800RESPECT’s terms and conditions, provide a name (or a fake name if you prefer), and a location (just the state or territory) in case of emergency. To stop the chat, you simply text STOP or X. The conversation will also end if you don’t respond for more than 6 minutes. WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW? In order to keep users safe, 1800RESPECT urges users to delete the texts on your device after your conversation with the counsellor finishes. Unlike an online chat, your text message history will remain on your device unless you delete the messages. Some devices will also keep a temporary copy of deleted messages. If you are concerned your device is being monitored, you can call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for help. Remember to phone 000 if you are in immediate danger. 1800RESPECT’S new texting helpline means 24/7 counselling services are more accessible than ever. In addition to those who may be unable to talk over the phone, the texting helpline is also expected to meet the diverse needs of people living in rural and remote communities, and those who may have limited access to internet. Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth has confirmed that a video service will also launch in early 2024.