The law and I, with Emalene Gemmell Family Law, Armidale

Emalene Gemmell was drawn to study law for as long as she can remember. Today, communities throughout regional NSW and the cities beyond are benefitting from her extensive professional expertise on a daily basis. 

Photography credit: Mike Terry
@miguelito_terry

When I meet Emalene Gemmell for the first time, I’m immediately grateful that people like her exist; people who make law their life’s work – to give the voiceless a voice and tirelessly advocate for the less advantaged. 

Because it’s not easy, forever striving to balance the scales of justice – particularly when it comes to Emalene’s focus in family law. Her practice, Emalene Gemmell Family Law (or EGFL), supports clients across NSW in all areas of family law – including property settlements, parenting matters and family disputes and divorce.  

“You wouldn’t specialise in this field if you weren’t passionate about it,” she says. 

“You learn pretty early on that you have to be tough, and accept the fact that you’ll never truly switch off – you are assisting clients at a time when they are at their most vulnerable. Their world is often turned upside down when we meet, but it’s my job to find the best possible outcome for whatever circumstances they’re currently facing and providing the best possible path to navigate their way out.”

It’s a role that calls for a special type of human, one who’s driven and strong – one who doesn’t back down from a challenge and who’s not afraid to put the time in when it comes to study. So when I asked Emalene about her schooling days, I’m not at all surprised to hear she embraced all it had to offer. 

“I boarded in Sydney during high school, then came to Armidale for my law degree,” she says. 

“The residential system at the University of New England was wonderful and I ended up staying for six years – completing honours and my Practical Legal Training with a local firm. It was an incredible environment, one that gave me the opportunity to nurture myself and my studies.”

Following her honours degree and graduate diploma, Emalene worked for a few years before setting sail for Aberdeen, Scotland. Her goal? To complete her Masters in Private International Law with a focus on Family Law. 

“That was a remarkable experience – full on, but fun. The subjects available, the exposure to our industry, the opportunity to experience study in another country as well as the travel – everything about it was entirely fuelling and set me up for my return to Australia.”

Which was lucky, because once back in the land down under, Emalene cut her teeth at a Specialist firm in Newcastle. The days were hard, fast-paced and would often see her racing from Children's Court, into the city to Family Court, then on to Federal Circuit Court. It served Emalene well on an advocacy exposure level, as well as arming her with some real hands-on experience – but four years spent commuting between Newcastle and her then home in Uralla was her limit. In 2015, she moved back full-time with a new plan. 

“My first child was born that year and my whole outlook changed,” says Emalene. 

“I wanted something of my own, something that would serve the community I’m proud to call home. So I did my sole practitioners course and started EGFL in our spare bedroom on 1 July – by December I could justify securing premises and built this incredible, all-female practice from there.” 

The best resolution

Today, EGFL is a thriving team of six who service clients throughout the New England, Western Plains and the Hunter, as well as those from further afield including Central Queensland, Brisbane, Western Sydney, Wollongong and Dubbo. Last year, Emalene added another string to her bow when she became the only lawyer in Armidale to become an accredited specialist in family law through the Law Society of NSW. 

“It’s a tough subject and a tough course, but it’s important too, and all adds to the tools we have to best navigate the system for our clients. We’re here to assist the party instead of being the aggressor – which is so unnecessary in family law, but you see it time and time again. 

“It’s not about the lawyers involved, it’s about finding the best resolution for the people who find themselves before the court system or in a world of discontent, which is the last place you really want to be. So while we’ll continue to arm ourselves and continue to grow, we’ll never lose sight of our personable approach. Our number one priority is to give our clients the best service, and that comes from the professional experience we’ve grown over the years.”

Need some sage advice?

Emalene Gemmell Family Law provides their clients with a fresh approach to Family Law by providing a flexible mix of good advice, strong representation and an understanding of the emotion involved. If you would like advice from Emalene and her team, you can find them in Armidale, Uralla and online. 

9/108 Dangar Street, Armidale
60a Bridge Street, Uralla
Egfamilylaw.com.au
@egfamilylaw  
office@egfamilylaw.com.au