a friend who's on your side

Whether something has gone wrong, or you want to make sure it doesn't, we can help.

When something has gone wrong. You have received a complaint, or the regulator has raised a concern about your practice. We help you understand where you stand, respond well and move forward.

Getting your practice right. You're setting up a law practice, or want to check your existing practice is compliant. We help with practice set-up, compliance reviews, trust accounting and costs disclosure that works for you and your clients.

A quick answer to a tricky question.  Not sure what the rules require, or what the right thing to do is? We give one-off ethical and practical advice, so you can act with confidence.

OUR SERVICES

What service suits
your scenario?

Whether you’re seeking support for a complaint, a regulator's audit, reworking your costs agreement, reassurance you’re operating compliantly, or even a tough ethical question, consider us your go-to.

A Prosecution

Supporting you with kindness and expertise through the most difficult time in your career.

A Compliance Audit

Compliance audits are not familiar to many lawyers - trust us, they can be a minefield. If you're dealing with a compliance audit, we give you expert advice so you can understand the issues and respond effectively. We then help you with remedying any compliance problems as quickly as possible.

A Disciplinary Investigation

Disciplinary complaints and investigations can be tricky - we help you to understand the regulator's concerns and how to frame your response.

A Costs Dispute

Objective, calm and sensible advice so you can respond well and minimise your stress.

A Trust Account Issue

Need some advice regarding a tricky trust account issue? We know the regulatory standards and how you can best respond in your situation.

Admissions, Suitability and Disclosures

Things can sometimes go wrong in your life and this can impact your ability to practice. Your regulator might ask if you are 'fit and proper' because of a past or current issue, including criminal charges or mental health issues.

Proactive Consulting:
Compliance & Client Communication

Our proactive compliance guidance doesn't just safeguard your law practice, it strengthens your client communication and relationships.

A 360° Practice - Risk Assurance Check

A holistic compliance review of your practice with risk recommendations

Costs Agreements

Get a costs agreement that's tailored to your needs to give you confidence and your clients clarity.

Trust account desktop audit

Many law practices are making significant errors in their trust accounting processes without even knowing it. It's not always clear what the regulator expects, and sometimes external examiners can get it wrong too. Take advantage of our expertise, gleaned from reading many of the VLSB trust records investigations and compliance audit reports. Get a fixed fee desktop audit - a great investment for your peace of mind. Starts at $3300 (inc. GST).

Pricing Strategy

Do you want to ditch the timesheets? We'll show you how to move to value-based fees confidently, without undercutting yourself.

AI Best Practice

Implement AI safely, knowledgably and ethically with our law practice policy and expert training (1 CPD point)

Ethics and Complaints Policies

Ethics policies to keep your vision clear and complaints policies to get you back on track.

Team based - CPD Education

Training: Ethics, Trust accounting, AI, Supervised legal practice, Costs disclosure - any regulatory topic where you and your team need to learn.

Law Practice Policy Revamp

Take your policies from the bottom drawer and make sure they provide living and practical guidance. We can review and revamp your policies - and your risk management culture - to help you and your staff stay on the same page.

Online Advice:

One-off/Multiple Sessions

Consider this 'The Lawyer’s Friend' on demand. For a reasonable fee, book a one-off or multiple discussions, to problem solve your matter:

An Ethical Dilemma

Have a specific issue where you'd like to lean on us as a sound-board, to plan your path to a wise resolution?

A Regulatory Issue

Whether it be a query about your trust accounting processes, making a disclosure or responding to regulatory concerns, we can help.

Money & Pricing

Trust accounting problems, costs questions, compliance and communication

A Dispute with Another Lawyer

Take an outside perspective, get a sanity check and work out a way forward.

Idea & Innovation Sound-Boarding

Understand the compliance nuances when implementing something new in your practice.

Starting a New Practice

When you're starting out, it can be overwhelming to understanding 'compliance best practice'. You want to set yourself up for success and keep your practice risk management under control. We'll guide you, step by step.

Applying for Exemptions

Exemptions to streamline your trust processes

OUR RESOURCES

DIY tools & templates: for small law firms

We’re really good at dismantling stuffy and legalese style documents that undermine your clients' understanding. And now we’re making this advice accessible for small practices.

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MEET OUR DIRECTOR, JENNIE PAKULA

“Working predominantly with small practices, I’ve seen the dedication of lawyers serving individual clients, as well as the challenges and the friction that can arise. My goal is to help you where you're at - whether it's dealing with regulatory stress or proactively wanting to avoid it. My goal is to work with you to embed clear compliance and client communication foundations - not merely to avoid complaints, but to ensure your relationships and your firm thrive.”

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

I cannot recommend Jennie highly enough. I approached her feeling anxious and uncertain about my professional circumstances, and she immediately put me at ease. She was compassionate and generous with her time, providing clear, practical advice. I came away feeling reassured and much more confident about my next steps. What particularly stood out was Jennie's genuine care and willingness to go above and beyond to help me, even after our consultation had ended. Her kindness and professionalism exceeded my expectations, and I am incredibly grateful to have found her. Thank you again, Jennie!

Sandra

In legal tech, bridging the gap between a visionary product and its practical execution is crucial. Jennie's advice was instrumental in helping us navigate this journey. From our first meeting, Jennie's intimate understanding of the Australian ethical and regulatory landscape (cultivated through speaking with thousands of Aussie lawyers) was immediately evident. The advice she provides is not just theoretical, but grounded in solving the real-world challenges faced by lawyers and their clients. There is no better person to talk to when ensuring your product is accessible, intuitive, and compliant.

Will
Founder, Habeas.ai (Sydney)

Our Team engaged Jennie to undertake an update and refresh of our engagement process for our valued clients. Jennie’s experience and expertise were invaluable. We feel confident in the product that has been produced that it aligns not just with our values and vision but also meets all of the essential requirements of a client engaging our firm. The presentation provided to staff really assisted in bringing the whole team along the journey. Would highly recommend Jennie’s services to anyone who is in startup or growth phase.

Michelle
Sole principal, Regional Victoria, Family Law

Jennie was easy to work with, efficient and her common sense approach and genuine understanding of the client-lawyer relationship meant that she was easily able to translate what we needed into functional client engagement documents. We cannot recommend Jennie highly enough.

Kate
Principal, Family Law & Criminal Law

As a sole practitioner to me it is a priceless commodity to be able to receive detailed and clear advice delivered in a way that makes me feel like I am chatting with a friend. In my experience Jennie’s service is exactly that priceless commodity! I highly recommend all sole practitioners to include Jennie in their list of ‘go-to people’.

Bonnie-Jean
Lawyer, Holistic Counsellor, FDR Practitioner & Mediator

If you want to make sure you have compliant costs disclosures then, unless you have a good few months to spend researching and drafting your own, Jennie’s service is well and truly worth investing in!

Samantha
NSW Regional – Family Law Practice

I recently engaged Jennie to prepare costs documents for my sole practice, and the entire process was straightforward and easy. I am very happy with the final result and highly recommend The Lawyer's Friend for your compliance documents.

Bec
NSW Sole Practitioner – Criminal Law

I was privileged to not only receive incredible legal advice and services from Jennie, but the kind and generous support she gave along side it. I was facing an incredibly stressful time in my legal career, and Jennie guided me through it with kindness and compassion, and without judgment. I will forever be grateful for her assistance.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Jennie has provided Lawlux with critical advice that’s given us the confidence to bring our Australian-first legal technology to market. Her advice is technically sound, delivered quickly and is overlayed with her invaluable practical insight into the Uniform Law and how it’s enforced. We’re incredibly lucky to have her in our corner.

David
Managing Principal, Lawlux
WE PROUDLY PARTNER WITH:
Leo Cussen
Habeas
Clio
Lawganised
Law Institute Victoria