A good law firm doesn’t run itself. There are many people behind the scenes ensuring all the wheels are constantly in motion so that the lawyers can consistently strive for excellence. One of the many faces behind the scenes at Waters Lawyers is Office Manager, James. It started as a university internship and now, 15 years later, James can’t see himself working anywhere else.
‘I always say the same [to that question]: I love my job because I get to see family, friends and I really just love doing what I do,’ says James when asked what has brought him back every day for 15 years.
Although many might see working with family everyday as a challenge, James wouldn’t have it any other way. And it’s not just his brother, Simon, and mother, Liz, that he calls family; it’s the whole team – blood relative or otherwise. Seeing his family strive to help the Cranbourne community inspires him to do the same.
‘I help people in my own way. It’s not like the lawyers and conveyancers where they see people directly; I’m in the background helping [the lawyers and conveyancers] to make sure they can help others as best they can. It’s a flow on effect, and I love that about my job.’
James has been a driving force behind positive change at Waters Lawyers. Leveraging his university degree and personal passion for IT, he has been able to streamline their services using digital platforms to improve efficiency and client service. Understanding that seeing a lawyer often comes with stress and hardship, James is always thinking of innovative ways to support clients during their challenges.
‘There’s always a constant strive to do things more thoroughly; a constant strive to improve,’ says James. ‘It aligns with our mission statement. We don’t want to remain stagnant.’
His personal mission statement, however, is to treat everyone the best he can.
‘If someone comes in screaming at me, I’m still going to treat them the best I possibly can. It’s just good morals and ethics, and that’s the cornerstone of a good law firm, isn’t it?’
James acknowledges, albeit hesitantly, that part of that desire for continuous improvement is inspired by his older brother and Co-Director, Simon.
‘He has high expectations. Actually, he has justified expectations. They’re realistic and logical,’ says James. ‘And he provides the platform and mentorship for us to be able to reach those expectations.’
In his time working in family law, James has started a family of his own, with him and his wife welcoming their son into the world a few short years ago.
‘It makes me work harder,’ says James when asked how becoming a father has changed his approach to work. ‘It’s a matter of working hard to set an example, but then also setting boundaries to make sure there’s a balance between work and family.’
Although James fears that his son may take over his job one day, AI doesn’t pose a threat to him at all.
‘There always has to be a human element to what we do. It’s so regulated and has to be perfect, and I don’t think AI can replace that.’
However, he does hope that Waters Lawyers can widen their service area and open a second office one day. Maybe James can work with his son, and the ‘family’ in the family law business can continue to grow.
‘I think it’s not out of the question.’
