Putting People First

Putting People First: Why Team and Client Well-being Matters at Garling & Co.

As Principal Lawyer at Garling & Co, I’ve always believed that a successful law firm isn’t just about winning cases; it’s about genuinely caring for the people we represent and the team who makes it all possible. That’s why we’ve made a firm commitment to prioritise well-being, both for our clients and our staff.

We understand that our clients come to us during some of the most challenging times in their lives. They’ve suffered serious injuries, often accompanied by trauma, financial stress, and uncertainty about the future. Many are facing the difficult reality of not being able to return to their previous work. This is a heavy burden, and we recognise the importance of providing not just legal expertise, but genuine support.

Partnership with Transitioning Well

That’s why we’ve partnered with Transitioning Well, a leading organisation specialising in trauma-informed care. This partnership allows us to equip our team with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate difficult conversations with sensitivity and understanding. We learn how to recognise and avoid re-traumatising our clients, and develop strategies to provide the best possible support.

Our training is ongoing, building upon a strong foundation of knowledge to achieve a high level of expertise. We regularly participate in professional development sessions led by Gagan Mudhar, Organisational Psychologist and Head of Organisational Services at Transitioning Well.

We value our team and supporting them with tools in this stressful environment is important. Our clients are seriously injured and this brings with it significant trauma. If through our training we are able to better support our clients with supportive communication this works for both our team and our clients and leads to better outcomes for all.

Gagan Mudhar shares this sentiment, stating, “It’s great to see corporate partners investing in their teams and clients to support their well-being. This proactive approach is for the betterment of all and leads to a better work and client experience.”

Ongoing Training

Our team has undergone specific training in areas such as:

Navigating Emotional Conversations

We’ve all had moments where our communication falls short. This training serves as a crucial refresher on best practices for handling challenging and emotionally charged conversations. We focus on applying best practices to ensure client safety and well-being, whilst also empowering our team to make a genuine impact. We explore how to identify psychological vulnerability, and how to initiate productive conversations, even when these are difficult

Trauma-Informed Practice:

Exploring compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma, understanding the risks and developing strategies for prevention and management.

We recognise the emotional load our team carries, and prioritise self-care and building resilience. Learning how to differentiate between stress, burnout, and vicarious trauma, and understand when to seek professional assistance. We explore the critical difference between empathy and compassion, and learn how to shift from empathy into compassion to protect our own mental health, whilst still providing excellent client service. We also develop self-management tools, including prioritising self-care, building support networks, and enhancing active coping skills.

By investing in our team’s well-being, we’re ultimately investing in our clients’ well-being. We understand that a supportive and empathetic approach leads to better outcomes for everyone.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured and needs the support of an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law, please don’t hesitate to contact Garling & Co today.

Visit our website: www.garlingandco.com.au

Or call us on: (02) 8329 9500

We’re here to help you navigate this challenging time and work towards a brighter future.