When it comes to family law, Simon describes his ideal client as ‘no one’. That’s not because he’s itching for an early retirement; quite the opposite actually – Simon doesn’t see himself ever wanting to retire.
Rather, Simon describes his ideal client as no one because it would mean no one is going through a divorce or separation. No one is trying to navigate child custody arrangements. No one needs to divide their property, their assets, their lives. Everyone is happy. Everyone is healthy.
This idea of helping people reach emotional and financial freedom for the next chapter of their lives forms the foundation for Simon’s lengthy legal career.
‘It’s being able to make a real difference in a person’s life who’s at their lowest point and dealing with something out of their depth,’ Simon explains when asked what continues to drive his passion for family law almost two decades on.
‘It’s a combination of being able to help individuals and also to continue to develop legal skills and knowledge. There’s a personal element and a professional element that go together and complement each other.’
Simon always knew he was going to be a lawyer (yet he insists both his parents being lawyers had no influence over this), and although his legal career began over two decades ago, it was 15 years ago, when he partnered with Noel Waters to become Co-Director of Waters Lawyers, that he realised his true purpose in the profession.
‘I worked in the city in bigger firms, doing fancier work for larger clients, resolving disputes and acting in court proceedings. And then when I joined the partnership in Cranbourne, [I realised] that was the work that needed to be done and those were the clients coming to the firm needing help,’ says Simon.
‘I just took to that like a duck to water and found something I really enjoyed; that I could deal with people one-on-one and support them through a difficult time, and use legal skills and problem solving to help them make smart decisions and look after themselves.’
Rewind 15 years and Waters Lawyers was assisting clients with criminal matters too, but the decision to refine the firm’s offerings to family law, wills and estates, and conveyancing was a conscious one, driven by this desire to form long-term professional connections with clients.
‘They fit together nicely; they complement one another,’ says Simon. ‘We get to know people’s families and form long lasting connections. It’s a trusted advisor role.’
‘We get to know people’s families and form long lasting connections. It’s a trusted advisor role.’
It’s clear by the way Simon speaks that the passion is only growing stronger with time and experience. And although he’s seen many changes and advances, often for the better, there’s one development that will never sit right with him.
‘There is a push towards law being viewed as an industry, rather than a profession, which I don’t like,’ explains Simon. ‘I see a lawyer as someone who serves the community in the justice system, not an industry of profit or margins on work. You have people trying to turn it into an industry and use online platforms to take traditional legal work and monetise it, but they really need a personal or one-on-one approach.’
‘And life is so complex that every individual is unique, and you just can’t take that into account without that one-on-one approach, and you don’t end up making as good decisions as you otherwise would.’
Simon sees his clients as professional friends; a bond that he’s been able to build through empathy, vulnerability and expertise in his field.
‘You’ll find that if you take a cookie cutter approach and you have a system or procedure, you can’t bring any nuance or wisdom to your decision making. And life is so complex that every individual is unique, and you just can’t take that into account without that one-on-one approach, and you don’t end up making as good decisions as you otherwise would. It’s just too simple a solution to something that’s complex.’
So where does Simon see Waters Lawyers in another 15 years?
‘The firm needs to strike a balance between helping as many people as possible who need professional legal help, but not diluting it at the same time. Butter can only be spread so much. It needs to focus on growing the amount of clients it can help, but at the same time, preserving the benefits of being a smaller firm that relies on close relationships with clients.’
