Clarissa Rayward

Clarissa Rayward, is the Director of Brisbane Family Law Centre and is also known as the ‘Happy Family Lawyer’. As a Divorce Lawyer, Clarissa specialises in helping separating families stay out of the Family Courts and stay friends as she believes that a divorce can be a positive end to a marriage.

Over the past 13 years Clarissa has worked as a specialist family lawyer and in that time, has helped over 2,000 Australian families through their divorce. That experience has only reinforced her belief that traditional legal processes do little to help separating families find a positive future after divorce. It takes more than lawyers and Courts to help families through divorce and separation in a way that ensures a positive end to a marriage. For this reason Clarissa established Brisbane Family Law Centre, a multidisciplinary practice where lawyers work alongside counsellors and financial planners to ensure that clients receive the holistic support they need at this challenging time.

Clarissa is determined to change the way Australian families experience divorce and separation for the better. She is the author of the successful ‘Happy Family Lawyer’ blog, providing weekly commentary and tips on issues relating to life, love, relationships and divorce.

Clarissa has also started an online education series ensuring separating families all over Australia can share in her knowledge on how to experience a dignified and positive divorce. Clarissa is also the Author of the book, ‘ Splitsville – How to separate, stay out of Court and stay friends.’

In 2015 Clarissa was awarded the Lawyers Weekly ‘ Thought Leader of the Year’ Award for her work in opening a dialogue for better ways to support families experiencing divorce and separation. Clarissa is also the current President of the Family Law Practitioners Association of Qld- the representative body for over 900 Family Law Professionals throughout Queensland.

In 2016 Clarissa has launched a podcast- 'Happy Lawyer, Happy Life' opening a positive dialogue about health, wellness and happiness in the practice of law.

Clarissa Rayward is a family lawyer, wife and mum who is passionate about relationships, people and family. Clarissa uses her industry knowledge and skill to change the way Australian families experience divorce and separation. She is known as ‘The Happy Family Lawyer’ as she believes that your divorce can be something that you can look back on with some pride.