Claire Bousfield
Lawyer
Claire joined the Balance Family Law team in February 2022. Claire was awarded her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2023. She was admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of the ACT in October 2023.
Drawing on her studies of law and psychology, Claire understands that family law issues often leave clients feeling broken and vulnerable. Inspired by an understanding of how psycho-social factors influence a person’s experience of family breakdown and their interactions with legal processes, Claire is committed to taking a holistic approach to assist her family law clients. She intends to assist clients in a legal sense whilst also providing the support and knowledge that enables clients to negotiate their legal and personal situations confidently and capably. In this regard, she has completed the Introductory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Training through MELCA Academy.
During her time at Balance, Claire has noted the clear advantages of ADR as a primary pathway to resolving conflict and its ability to provide positive outcomes for clients. She is particularly committed to the incorporation of Child Inclusive Practice as an important means to consider children’s voices in parenting matters. Claire also has a particular interest in supporting families impacted by domestic violence. Claire has identified clear opportunities for legal reform in this aspect of family law, in particular, the intersection of coercive control and animal welfare in family law matters.
Claire is the immediate past President of the Canberra Law Students’ Society at the University of Canberra. In 2022, she was a recipient of the University of Canberra Ambassador of Change Award for recognition of her work in promoting equity and social justice at the University of Canberra and in 2023, she was nominated as a finalist in the Australian Law Student Association Female Law Student of the Year Award.
In her spare time Claire enjoys keeping active, an occasional Netflix binge, and spending time down the coast with her family (including her golden bundle of Labrador joy, Henry).
