Divorce lawyers busier than ever after couples cracked under lockdown pressures

While firms across the globe brace for a slowdown in client demand, a tiny corner of the law has experienced an unprecedented boom in the wake of lockdowns: Divorce.

Mike and Annie Cannon-Brookes recently announced their split.

Family law services have seen an unprecedented uptick in business over the past six months following a wave of divorces sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic, sustaining legal practices through tough economic conditions.

The Australian’s Legal Partnerships survey reveals family law – along with cybersecurity, property, construction and ­energy law – have experienced an increase in business, while ­demand for more traditional areas such as corporate M&As and litigation have eased off substantially.

Worsening financial circumstances exacerbated by Covid placed increased pressure on households, leading to an elevated number of relationship breakdowns and subsequent litigation, industry leaders said.

Family law experienced a boom, following 56,244 divorces being granted across Australia in 2021, an increase of 13.6 per cent on 49,510 in 2020. While more ­recent data isn’t readily available, Lander & Rogers head of family law Mark Parker said his division had just experienced its busiest month on record.

“People were exhausted by Covid, even in ways we may not have come to grips with yet. They were worn out emotionally, psychologically,” he said.

“They lacked social interaction, going to work, talking to people. So they started thinking more about, what’s life all about? Do I really want to be doing what I’m doing in a relationship I don’t feel 100 per cent fulfilled by?”

Lander & Rogers head of family law Mark Parker.

Mr Parker said it wasn’t until couples emerged from lockdown that they realised how tired they were and sought to pursue a change in lifestyle.

“I have had so many couple tells me they had given 150 per cent during Covid and then once they were out of it realised they didn’t have a lot left,” he said. “It was a huge event for people and they just came out the other side of it ready for change.”

Aside from the pandemic, however, Mr Parker said societal trends were showing people were less inclined to devote themselves to a relationship than they had been in the past.

“People are just thinking much more that they have one crack at life,” he said. “There’s so much more social platforms to get on to, so much more access to ­surveys, to wellness, to self-­fulfilment.”

Financial empowerment is ­another reason Australians have been looking to divorce as an ­answer, Mr Parker said. Having made millions in property development and acquisition over the past five to 10 years, people feel ­financially comfortable in leaving a relationship.

“There’s just been a lot of money floating around,” he said. “People are saying look, if we separate, we are going to be OK.”

Divorces aren’t the only aspect of family law that have seen an uptick. Mr Parker said the introduction and wide adoption of ­financial agreements such as prenups had helped keep the industry afloat during trying times.

“A real explosion in financial agreements have been used in second and third marriages. People are saying ‘I’ve been around the block once, I don’t want to do it again’,” he said.

Graeme Walsh, CEO of family, insurance and health law firm Barry Nilsson, said his firm had also maintained a steady flow of family law cases. “Our workflows have been strong across our ­practice areas,” he said. “We have no reason to think this will change in 2023.”