11 Nov 2013Despite all the technological developments and changes to the law the community based law firm Stacks is well positioned to meet the challenges ahead thanks to the core values set by its founder ago 82 years ago, chairman Maurie Stack OAM said at the firm’s 2013 Summit.
Mr Stack said technological changes are impacting on the way law has been traditionally practiced and there is growing pressure by cashed-up, super-sized law corporations on smaller community based firms.
“Despite these pressures and changes, Stacks is growing in strength by sticking to our core values of providing expert, friendly and cost effective advice to our clients,” he said.
“No matter what happens in the business side of the legal world, our clients always come first, second and third.”
Mr Stack is son of the firm’s founder, Edward Raymond Stack, who opened his law office in 1931 in the small rural town of Wingham, 335 kilometres north of Sydney.
“He was the son of farmers in the tiny village of Bogan Gate, population 200, west of Parkes. He was raised in the Australian spirit of helping out one’s neighbours and taking a caring, friendly approach to anyone who sought out his legal expertise.
“It was a tough time – the Depression had sent many farmers broke, but he never refused anyone because they were stretched for money. Plenty of times he had to accept payment in produce – we were never short of potatoes. I’m not suggesting we accept potatoes as payment today, but those values are at the core of Stacks Law Firm best summed up in the words ‘expert, friendly and cost effective’.
“Despite all the changes that happen our values must never change. Our reputation rests on every single individual who comes to us seeking help.
“Expert means specializing in the areas that you practice, but if you lack that expertise refer them on to someone in the Stacks group who has that expertise, or occasionally outside the group.
“Friendly means treating clients as you would treat a friend, as you would treat your own family, as you would want to be treated. It means making sure to provide them with a complete solution to their legal challenges.
“Cost-effective means the legal service must be proportionate to the problem; that the solution you provide is appropriate given the challenge at hand.”
Maurie’s son Ben, chief executive of the group, said being based in 20 offices in regional centres across NSW and Queensland meant legal teams were all active members of their local community.
“We are deploying industry-leading technology to allow our lawyers to quickly plug into the extraordinary wealth of knowledge and expertise that exists in our legal teams.”
