As a family lawyer, Selina built her career guiding her clients through life’s most challenging moments.
Over time, she realised she wanted to take things further – to set up her own practice, shape its direction and build something of her own.
To achieve that goal, she knew she had to learn the ropes of running a business. That’s where the Legal Practice Management Course (LPMC) came in.
Our thanks to Selina for sharing her story.
Building a career in family law
I’ve been a family lawyer my entire career – just over 16 years now.
As an accredited family law specialist, I’ve spent that time advocating for clients when they need it most and helping them find a way forward.
Early on, I was drawn to the courtroom side of things. But as the years passed, my focus shifted.
I realised that what I loved most was working directly with clients –supporting them from their first appointment to the moment they walked out the door and could move on with their lives.
Seeing that transformation really motivated me and ultimately led me to set up my own firm, Divorce Legal.
Preparing for the next step
I initially undertook the LPMC because it was a requirement for my role at a mid-size full service firm.
But in the back of my mind, I knew I wanted to open my own practice one day. So, I saw it as more than just a box to tick. It was an opportunity to prepare for my role at that time – and my future role as a firm owner.
I did my master’s at the College of Law and had a positive experience, so it was always a strong contender when choosing an LPMC provider.
But in the end, the College’s South Australia LPMC course structure is what clinched it for me.
I knew I wanted an in-person course so I could meet people, including other business owners, build a network and hear from different experts firsthand. The College’s format was ideal: it ran over one intensive week, with interactive workshops and guest speakers, followed by time to complete assignments independently and submit them electronically.
Taking time out for the LPMC while keeping clients happy is a juggle, but this structure made it much more manageable. It gave me the in-person engagement I wanted while allowing me to balance study with work commitments.
The most valuable lessons
The LPMC taught me many essential and practical lessons about starting a firm.
Of course, financial management is the backbone of any business. So the modules on trust accounting, budgeting and forecasting were invaluable in helping me build a sustainable practice.
But my biggest lightbulb moment came for me during the marketing module.
I’ve always been interested in marketing, but I don’t have any formal training. Before the LPMC, I relied on what felt natural – taking people out for coffee, building relationships – but I wasn’t sure if I was missing a trick.
This session really opened my eyes. The expert running the marketing module reviewed our LinkedIn profiles beforehand and came in with tailored insights on the image we were projecting.
She told me my online presence said, ‘I’m a high achiever’. While that’s fine for many areas of law, it made me stop and think. In family law, where clients are often in emotional situations, was that the message I wanted to lead with? Or did I want to focus more on showing my warmth and empathy?
It was a powerful lesson that has shaped how I position my firm today and present myself to potential clients.
A blueprint for business success
Perhaps the biggest benefit of the LPMC was the business plan we had to create.
I put a lot of thought into it, knowing I’d use it when I eventually opened my own firm.
What made it even more useful was having experts – people who had successfully set up their own practices themselves – review it and provide feedback.
Their insights helped refine my approach and gave me the confidence to turn my plan into reality when I launched Divorce Legal.
A network of support
Beyond the course content, the LPMC introduced me to an incredible professional network.
I met other lawyers in the same position as me – some just starting firms, others preparing to. These connections became my support system. Having people to bounce ideas off, share experiences with and turn to for advice has been so helpful.
It was also invaluable to connect with practitioners who were a little further along in their journey. Seeing others successfully build their own firms gave me the reassurance that I could too.
Some of them have even turned into referral partners – we’ve sent a lot of work each other’s way!
Making it happen
In November last year, I officially launched Divorce Legal – a big step, but one I felt ready for.
I was fortunate to have a strong client base following me, which made the transition smoother. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that running a firm is about so much more than practising law. I’m drawing on the expertise I gained in financial planning, trust accounting, marketing, HR and client management every day.
The legal side of things will always be familiar, but business ownership was a whole new challenge. The LPMC gave me the tools, insights and confidence to navigate it – and the connections I made along the way have been just as valuable.
Inspired by Selina’s story? Take a look at our course guide to find out where the Legal Practice Management Course could take you.
