John Hall

Family Law Mediation - by Accredited Family Law Specialist and Nationally Accredited Mediator

EXPERIENCE

With over 37 years of experience as both a Barrister and Solicitor in Victoria and Queensland I am presently practising as a Barrister at the Victorian Bar with chambers in Melbourne.
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Having been involved in litigation all of my legal life, I understand the importance of alternative dispute resolution, and the process.

Currently our legal system, particularly in Family Law matters has lengthy delays, and high costs which can spiral quickly out of control.

I believe that given common sense and a willingness to explore compromise, any dispute can be resolved, particularly if the parties mediate EARLY, before they get entrenched in the legal quagmire of our adversary system, incur huge costs, and once in, struggle to settle!

​I can help you with a solution through mediation.
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NOT JUST a Lawyer?

Apart from the Law, I have practical, "hands on" building and commercial construction experience. I have owned and run building companies, project managed commercial and residential developments, and understand the building process having been involved in the construction industry for much of my working life.

I am also a sailor - and have sailed all of my life.

I have also participated in Sailing Club and Representative body administration Yachting Queensland, various Yacht Clubs, Class Associations and Industry representative bodies.

I have been fortunate to have  worked with and represented people from all walks of life since i turned 7!

I am married and have three children all now adults and finding their way in the world.

Recently (2019) I completed a circumnavigation of Tasmania with RYCT and RGYC - a lifetime goal and extraordinary experience.
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EARLY career

​Prior to working in the North East, I was at the Queensland Bar 2008 - 2012. Before that, I ran my own legal firm for 13 years on the Mornington Peninsula, and before that practised as a barrister from
1982  - 1989, and during that time established my barristers practice in Sale, Gippsland.

I completed my first ADR/Mediation training in 1996, and updated my mediation qualifications in 2013, and am an accredited NMAS Mediator.

I also completed Specialist Accreditation -Family Law in 2013, and qualified as a Family Law Arbitrator on the AIFLAM List of Arbitrators pursuant to Regulation 67B, Family Law Regulations (1984).
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CAREER -  in a nutshell

 Admitted Barrister and Solicitor  - Supreme Court of Victoria 1981

 Graduated with Commerce and Law degrees from the 
​ University of Melbourne in 1979

 Articled in Frankston with Principal Barney Rockman having worked
 with his firm during university vacations from 1975 until graduation

• Called to the Victorian Bar 1982 and read with Brian W Collis QC.
• Established chambers in Sale (Gippsland) with the approval of the Bar Council in 1984
• Common-Law  - "Industrial Accident" and "Running Down" Jury trials in Bairnsdale, Sale and the LaTrobe Valley
• Left the Vic Bar 1989 to practice as a solicitor consultant 
• 1993 purchased a practice on the Mornington Peninsula and operated it until 2006, having grown to employing 3 solicitors and 10+ support staff
• 1996 I was accredited as an ADR Specialist L.I.V. (Law 2000).
• 1996 - 2006  - "Hall Solicitors - The Law Firm" at Rye and then Mornington
• Completed legal matters in all jurisdictions and was involved in Timeshare, on the board of ATHOC, and spoke at many State and National Conferences
• 2006 Sold my practice to my then partner, and took sabbatical leave sailing up the East Coast of Australia, ending up at Southport, Queensland
• 2007 admitted as a solicitor in Queensland, and practised with a firm on the Gold Coast
• 2008 called to the Queensland Bar, with chambers on the Gold Coast, Southport
• September 2012 - June 2014 - Slater & Gordon Lawyers Senior Consultant based in Albury, and conducting Family Law for their Albury, Wangaratta and Wagga Wagga offices. The FCC sits in Albury on circuit from Paramatta (NSW).
• 2013 I qualified as Nationally Accredited Mediator (NMAS) after completing an accredited course with AIFLAM
• 2013 qualified as Accredited Specialist Family Law (LIV) 
• 2014 - re joined the Victorian Bar in December, and have practised since from chambers in Melbourne since
• I have completed many Mediations as Mediator mainly in Family Law matters, though I have also been involved in Commercial matters as Mediator, and in Estate matters as a party's representative
• 2016 - Further training as a Family Law Arbitrator (AIFLAM)
• 2017 - present, I assist the Vicbar Lawyer's Mediation Certificate by coaching and assessing candidates for the certificate which enables them to be nationally accredited as NMAS Mediators.

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"I can help you with a solution
​through mediation"