Timothy Nicholls

Tim returned to DDCS in early 2022 (having worked with DDCS as a law student). He graduated from the University of Canberra in 2016 with a Bachelor of Laws and that same year, graduated from the College of Law with a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. Tim was admitted as a solicitor of the ACT Supreme Court and High Court of Australia in June 2016. In 2018, he was awarded a Master of Laws (Applied Law) specialising in family law and in 2021, he successfully achieved Specialist Accreditation in Family Law (NSW).

Tim has been noted as one of the highest performing candidates in the 2021 cohort sitting for Specialist Accreditation in Family Law. The feedback was of such quality, one of his assessment pieces will be used as part of the Assessment Sample Kit to be made available to future candidates, demonstrating the standard required to achieve specialist accreditation in Family Law.

Before his return to DDCS, Tim worked in specialist family law firms in both Sydney in Canberra. Tim has developed a reputation as a solution focused, approachable and perceptive lawyer.

While working in Sydney, Tim was appointed to both the Family Law Committee and Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Law Society of New South Wales. He is an advocate for equality and inclusion.

Tim has expertise in both complex parenting and financial matters. He is committed to finding the right solutions, with clients, when facing challenges and complexity in their personal circumstances. He is particularly sensitive to the additional challenges arising in complex parenting matters, dealing thoughtfully with issues informed by persistent parental conflict and family violence and other risk considerations.

Tim is an experienced litigation lawyer and regularly appears as solicitor-advocate in both divisions of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and in the ACT Magistrates Court, when acting in family violence matters. He has also engaged in appellate advocacy.

Tim works hard with our clients to find solutions to disputes as a real alternative to litigation. He will frequently engage in alternate dispute resolution, where it is appropriate and safe for our clients to do so. His experience in mediation and arbitration means he will continue to look for ways to resolve complex problems, even when a court process is underway.

Tim has found, in family law, his passion.

We know our clients will find him to be warm and engaging. He is proactive and focused on finding solutions and optimal outcomes for clients and brings energy to all that he undertakes.

Tim is a member of the ACT Law Society and the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.