In the often complex and emotional landscape of family law, ensuring the comprehensive and accurate exchange of financial information in matrimonial matters is paramount. Enter Disclosure Ready, the latest innovation from Legal Ready, designed to streamline and enhance the disclosure process.
Stephen Foley, a Melbourne-based technology visionary, explains Legal Ready’s mission:
“We have a very simple philosophy: build products that are easy to use for all members of the profession, secure, cost-effective and make the practice of law more enjoyable.”
Legal Ready’s first product, eBrief Ready, is a cloud based electronic briefing platform. Launched four years ago, it has taken the Australian legal market by storm, now with more than 45,000 users. eBrief Ready takes preparation of and collaboration on legal briefs to a new level for both barristers and solicitors, earning accolades for its intuitive design and powerful features.
Building on this success, Disclosure Ready embodies Stephen Foley’s people-focused approach to product development. It’s been built from the ground up in close collaboration with a Family Law Advisory Board composed of large and small family law firms, working together to revolutionise how legal professionals handle financial disclosures in family law cases.
Efficiency and accuracy: A game changer
Disclosure Ready is designed to facilitate the gathering, organisation, analysis and presentation of relevant documents in a structured manner. Leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, Disclosure Ready automatically categorizes and indexes a wide range of document types commonly encountered in family law proceedings. This advanced technology significantly reduces the chances of errors or overlooked documents, ensuring that all relevant information is disclosed promptly and accurately.
Stephen Foley explains:
“This efficiency not only speeds up the legal process but also ensures that clients and legal professionals can focus on the substantive issues at hand rather than getting bogged down by administrative tasks. Disclosure Ready’s streamlined workflow reflects Legal Ready’s overriding commitment to enhance the practice of family law. We will be building in more AI functionality over time.”
Transparency and trust: Building stronger cases
Transparency is the cornerstone of any fair legal proceeding. By using Disclosure Ready, parties can demonstrate their commitment to full and frank disclosure in a timely manner. This transparency fosters a sense of trust and cooperation between the involved parties, which is crucial in mitigating conflicts and reducing the friction that often accompanies the resolution of marital disputes.
Disclosure Ready’s structured approach to document management ensures that all financial information is readily accessible and verifiable. This level of transparency is not only beneficial for the parties involved but also for mediators or the courts, as it facilitates a smoother and more efficient adjudication process where needed.
Compliance audit trail: Ensuring accountability
One of the standout features of Disclosure Ready is its ability to create a complete audit trail of when documents have been sent and received. Stephen explains:
“Our Family Law Advisory Board prioritised this as a critical feature. Ensuring compliance with legal requirements for disclosure and avoiding potential legal pitfalls associated with non-disclosure is paramount for practitioners. By maintaining a comprehensive audit trail, Disclosure Ready helps prevent adverse inferences that can arise from incomplete or untimely disclosures. This feature is vital in ensuring that settlements are based on accurate information, thereby promoting fair and just outcomes in family law cases.”
Cost-effectiveness: Reducing the burden
Legal disputes, especially those involving financial disclosures, can be lengthy, manual and costly. Disclosure Ready addresses this issue by streamlining the disclosure process, reducing the time and costs associated with these disputes. This cost-effectiveness benefits not only the parties involved but also mediators or courts, making the entire process less burdensome.
For clients, this means a less stressful and more manageable experience during what is often a difficult time. “Legal Ready’s focus on reducing costs and improving efficiency highlights our dedication to helping lawyers provide the best possible client service,” said Stephen.
Client service: Easing the stress
Divorce proceedings are inherently stressful, and providing disclosure documents can add to this burden. Disclosure Ready alleviates this stress by making it easier for clients to provide necessary documents in a structured, secure, and timely manner. This client-centric approach ensures that clients can focus on moving forward with their lives, knowing that their financial disclosures are handled efficiently and accurately.
Upholding the principle of full disclosure
The principle of full, frank, and timely disclosure is fundamental to family law across various jurisdictions, not only in Australia, but globally. Courts in Australia, the US, Canada, and the UK have consistently upheld this principle, recognizing that transparency is essential for fair and equitable financial settlements.
By facilitating transparency, efficiency, compliance, and client service, Disclosure Ready ensures that justice is served in both complex and non-complex divorce proceedings.
Disclosure Ready launched in Australia on 1 August 2024. You can try it out on up to 3 matters at no charge. Get free training or a demo at disclosureready.com.au.
