Bernadette Smyth

Bernadette will be working across the Sydney and Parramatta offices to service her valued clients.

SPECIAL EXPERTISE

One of Bernadette's many strengths is her ability to communicate effectively with her clients in order to understand their concerns and needs. She enjoys working with people and assisting them to resolve what often are difficult and sensitive issues arising from a relationship breakdown.

Bernadette enjoys advocacy work which includes appearing for clients in all types of family law proceedings at court. The respect Bernadette has achieved from Registrars, Judges and other members of the legal profession within the family law arena is testament to her skilful and honest presentation of client cases which are not able to settle, and which require judicial determination.

In late 2006 Bernadette undertook Collaborative Law training. Collaborative Law is an approach to the resolution of legal disputes in family law which involves parties' solicitors working together outside of court to secure an outcome to a legal matter which suits each party's needs, and otherwise fosters the ability of parents to co-parent their children on an ongoing basis once their legal issues have been resolved.

CLIENT BENEFITS

Bernadette is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and was admitted as a solicitor in 1992. She commenced practising law in Newcastle in 1995, initially as a member of a suburban legal practice with a general and family law focus, and then with a community legal centre. In 1998 Bernadette commenced practising law in Sydney almost exclusively in the area of family law. Since specialising Bernadette has gained considerable practical experience in managing all types of complex property and parenting matters.

Bernadette regularly appears in both the Family Court and the Federal Magistrates Court and is well regarded amongst the legal profession for her practical approach to resolving legal issues, all the time bearing in mind the needs and the interests of her clients.

BACKGROUND

Bernadette was born in Wollongong and completed her Arts Degree at the University of Wollongong. She then undertook her Law Degree on a part-time basis through The University of New South Wales whilst raising a young family.

Bernadette has practised in both Parramatta and Sydney since 2001 and has had experience in working for some of Sydney's leading firms with specialist family law practices.