“Gas your friends up.

Gas strangers up.

Make people feel good,

It’s free.”

@confidentlywomen

Today I am all about ‘gassing’ up my friend! Because that’s what I do here in this space – I am the friend who mentions your name in a virtual room full of opportunities! Why? Because running a business can be lonely and it can be hard to find friends to talk to and share the highs and lows. Sometimes you just need one person to shout your name out loud and what a beauty I have for you this month!

I have known this month’s feature for many years. In fact, we first met sitting around a circle, bleary eyed and sleep deprived, at our first Mother’s Group. It now seems like so long ago but you never forget that wonderful time of life, when all you have to do is meet up with a group of women, drink coffee and sit on a couch nursing a baby. I was incredibly fortunate with the women I found myself grouped with and we became firm friends. But as it invariably does, time moves on and becomes full of work commitments, school bells and running around after kids. It’s often during this phase of life, that the busy Mum will start to look for the flexibility to balance family life with work.

The motherhood journey really is an incredible one – most notably it changes our brains, forever! Now, don’t quote me on this but some of those changes could include making mothers more disciplined and more ambitious, increasing our endurance and giving us a renewed sense of purpose in life. Suddenly, the things that we think are important become more clear, and we can (not always, there are no absolutes here!), be more determined than ever to start that “thing” that we’ve always dreamed but never dared, to do.

Welcome to The Bigger Picture; a blog that is all about building NETWORK and CONNECTION. Each month, I feature a woman in small business within my community with the sole purpose of showing support, building solidarity and sharing stories of passion.

I am so fortunate to be surrounded by incredible small businesses in the South West run by mums in their spare rooms or out in their gardens and they each have a unique story to be told; a BIGGER PICTURE to be discovered.

My feature for November is a woman who has dared to turn her dream into a reality. Born and raised in the area and a busy mum of three, she has just run her first marathon AND started her own business! I’m very pleased to introduce you to the very talented…

Amy Lane

Lane Family Law

Tell us about your business and what services you offer.

Lane Family Law is a boutique law firm based in the South West. I provide legal advice and representation for a whole range of family law matters (parenting disputes, property settlements, divorce), intervention orders and wills and estate planning.

Is there a story behind the name you chose?

The name is not particularly creative but I wanted it to include the type of law that I practise in so people know exactly what they are going to get when they contact me.

Where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration comes from a deep commitment to access of justice and a genuine passion for helping people navigate some of the most challenging moments in their lives. I’ve seen firsthand the difference that compassionate, high-quality legal representation can make. Being able to reduce stress, resolve conflict, and provide clarity during emotionally charged times is incredibly rewarding and that's why I do what I do.

What is your favourite part of your job

Gosh this is a tricky one. My job varies so much every day depending on the type of matters that I am assisting in and where those matters are at. I really enjoy mediations because the outcome is not yet in the hands of the court and if done well, both parties can walk away feeling satisfied and empowered. This is so important in say parenting matters where the parties still have to co-parent together for a number of years and it's certainly not in the best interests of the children to have feuding parents.

Having spent a lot of the past 4 years in a court room providing intervention order assistance, I also have to give a special mention to court work. In my more junior days, I remember being terrified of having to go to court and speak in front of a room full of people but these days I love the adrenaline rush that comes with it and the feeling of advocating well for a client who might otherwise feel unheard in the litigation process.

What do you offer your clients that no one else does?

I think my down-to-earth approach and flexibility are what make me stand out from so many other lawyers. You won't see me wearing a stuffy suit (except maybe if I'm at court), you won't hear me using technical legal jargon that none of us can actually pronounce and you will notice that I genuinely care about you and getting the best outcomes for you and your family.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt since starting your business?

The biggest thing I've learnt is to push through the self-doubt and believe that I can do this. As women, many of us grapple with imposter syndrome and starting a business really magnifies those negative feelings. As I navigate complex matters and help clients achieve incredible outcomes, I realise more and more that I am capable and I do have the skillset and knowledge to do this job well. So, my advice to anyone contemplating starting out - know what you are good at and then just trust your gut and go for it.

What a powerhouse Amy is! Starting your own business is no small thing but it’s one of the biggest personal development journeys you can embark upon. It’s exhausting, it stretches us to our limits, it’s rewarding, it’s hard and it’s fun, all at the same time! It’s freaking hard running a business and being a mother! But when you have something as special and important to offer the community, as Amy does, then it’s absolutely worth it.

Edwina xx

If you are in need of legal support or advice, then pop onto Amy’s website and look what Lane Family Law has to offer. For all FAQs, information and availability, give Amy a follow (and your support) on her social media pages…

Website: www.lanefamilylaw.com.au

Instagram: @lanefamilylaw