Family Lawyers Wollongong & Illawarra

Why choose Watts McCray Lawyers in Wollongong & the Illawarra?

Jessica has a passion for family law and a strong commitment to the local community and has helped thousands of clients through what can be one of the most challenging periods of their life with empathy, professionalism and an outcome-driven approach. 

Similarly, she brings a wealth of experience, having worked in various roles in the legal industry in the Illawarra since 2003. She studied law as a mature-aged student and brings her life experience to her role as a solicitor, both as a mother and a stepmother.

Jessica’s extensive legal experience in administrative roles in different areas of law, including administrative support roles, accounts, property, commercial, estates and estate planning, conveyancing, personal injury, criminal law, and employment law enables her to bring a broad understanding of the practical aspects of other areas of law when advising family law clients.

Jessica has worked predominantly in family law since her admission to practise as a solicitor in February 2015. Her wide range of experience and expertise as a family law solicitor includes negotiations, mediations and representing clients in complex court matters in the Federal Circuit Court, Family Court and more recently, following the Court merger, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in Wollongong, Sydney and Parramatta registries. She has also represented clients in other regional Courts, including Dubbo and Newcastle. 

Moreover, not only is Jessica a brilliant and highly skilled lawyer but also a well-known and respected community member who volunteers her time to not-for-profit organisations both locally and throughout NSW. She supports and mentors young lawyers and in 2022, completed the Leadership Illawarra Program, through which she was able to further develop her skills as an employer and community leader. 

Community is important to both Jessica and Samantha, and they strive to give back to the Illawarra. Both Jessica and Samantha were born and raised in the local community and now raise their children in Wollongong. Some of the notable community work they’re involved in is:

• Legal Aid Family Law Panel
• Coffee for a Cause
• Women of the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre
• University of Wollongong’s Lucy Mentoring Program
• Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal

Learn more about Jessica and Samantha’s community involvement here.

Giving back in the community

Our Wollongong team recognise the importance of giving back to our community. Our Practice Leader, Jessica Koot is the Chairwoman for the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre. The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre are establishing Australia’s first Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre after obtaining funding from the government. Jessica Koot is also the immediate past Chairwoman of the Wollongong Chapter of the Women Lawyer’s Association of NSW. Each year, Jessica Koot and Samantha Thompson volunteer at the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal.

What types of family law matters in Wollongong and the Illawarra are most common?

As some of the best-rated family lawyers based in Wollongong and the wider Illawarra, we deal with a wide variety of circumstances in family law, from simple matters to complex matters.

Jessica Koot says “The Illawarra is a diverse region with a variety of family situations, there are many stay at home parents, work from home parents, parents working in the Illawarra region and parents who travel outside of our region for work, including to Sydney, the Shoalhaven, and further afield, with fly-in and fly-out arrangements.

It’s a diverse population and we support all types of circumstances in the realm of family law, no matter what aspect our clients need professional guidance in. As the Practice Leader in Wollongong, regardless of the financial circumstances of our clients, they generally are wanting the best outcome for their children and the ability to move forward following the relationship or marriage breakdown, both emotionally and financially. Furthermore, most of our matters settle through negotiations or other alternative dispute resolution, including mediation. Many clients are wanting certainty around parenting arrangements and representation in their property settlement matters to ensure they are best placed financially into the future. We also regularly represent clients in complex family law matters, which at times are before the Court, including parenting matters involving mental health challenges, risk and safety problems, substance abuse issues and where there has been a history of family and domestic violence, and property matters with complex asset pools including businesses and trusts.”

Jessica Koot and the Watts McCray Lawyers Wollongong, Illawarra team are skilled in a wide range of matters relating to family law. For more information about what our Wollongong family law team can help with, please see our legal services page.

What Court hears family law matters in Wollongong & the Illawarra?

Family law matters are generally listed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) in Wollongong. The Wollongong FCFCOA is located at the Commonwealth Government Centre, Level 1/43 Burelli Street, Wollongong. Complex matters may be transferred to the Sydney Registry.

Post COVID-19 lockdowns many Court matters remain listed via video link and some via telephone. There are also instances where the Court requires an in-person appearance. We will represent you at Court and will explain the processes to you.

With a national team of family lawyers, we are experienced at representing our clients in Courts across Australia.