The First Appointment

From the first appointment you will know your family law entitlements and options.

Gordon Lawyers will recommend the next step, but the action taken after the first appointment (if any) is up to you.

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• Your appointment will be with David Gordon, solicitor, who is accredited by the NSW Law Society as a specialist in Family Law.

• Normally the first consultation takes about 90 minutes. Sometimes they are shorter, sometimes longer. We do our best not to schedule appointments straight after each other to allow extra time if needed.

• You wont be asked what caused the breakup as family law is no-fault based.

• You will be given Gordon Lawyer's exclusive and tailored information pack.

• There is allot of information, so we follow up the first appointment with a letter summarising the issues. There is no additional cost for this letter.

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We ask that you do not bring the children to the appointment (or to our office at any time). In Family Law, the solicitor is never allowed to interview or speak with the children of the parties.

There is also a firm principal in Family Law that the children are to be kept away from the legal issues as much as possible.

{slider Don't bring the Ex|blue|} Don't bring the other party. We cannot see both spouses together or separately. We can only represent one person, to do otherwise creates a conflict of interest. {slider What you can bring|blue|}

• At the first appointment there is a lot of information. It's okay to bring a support person, but they need to keep things to themselves as confidential advice will be given. It's okay to take notes or bring a list of questions.
• Make a list of your main assets and debts, if you would like to discuss a property settlement.
• Bring any relevant documents, letters, child support assessments, any letters from other lawyers etc, that you have. If you don't have any or many documents don't worry.
• Download and fill-in a brief info sheet. CLICK HERE to download.

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• It is a strict duty and obligation on lawyers to keep secret what is told to them by their clients. Gordon Lawyers take this responsibility very seriously. Lawyers can be subject to disciplinary action if they breach this duty. This means what is discussed in a lawyer's office stays in a lawyer's office. Gordon Lawyers have have taken additional steps...
• No client's files or documents are kept at reception
• The office walls have extensive sound proofing
• The entry to our office can be hard to find, but it is also discrete
• Unneeded documents are securely destroyed
• We only write (post and email) to clients at approved addresses and contact them on approved phone numbers.
• If we meet you in the street we will not talk to you about your matter unless you raise it first (please don't think we are rude)
• When we write to you our envelopes will not say who the letter is from, only a return to sender PO Box number
• Appointments are scheduled whenever possibly to have a half hour gap between appointments. This also results in minimal waiting time (if any)

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• Gordon Lawyers charge a fixed fee for the first consultation of $330.
• We ask that this this fee be paid at the time of the appointment. If this causes a problem let us know.
• Credit card facilities are available. Some prefer to pay in cash so an entry does not appear on a statement.
• Every case is different. The costs will depend on what is needed.  During your first appointment David Gordon will discuss the legal costs and payment options if further work is needed.

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