5 Lessons We’ve Learned From 50 Years of Legal Support in Melbourne
As we mark 50 years as Melbourne lawyers, we reflect on five decades of helping locals prepare, prosper, plan and protect what matters most.
You could say good business comes down to timing or luck. Sure, those things help. But the real force behind McManus & Co’s success? Dogged determination.
It all started in the early ’70s. Beate McManus was 25, working at a mid-sized city law firm – one of the very few women litigators in Melbourne at the time. After a long day wading through personal injury files, she discovered that office clerks were earning twice her wage for half the hours. Frustrated (and more than a little outraged), she vented to her mother with an offhand comment: she could do better working for herself.
A few days later, her mother handed her a stack of signed paperwork – a seven-year lease on an office at the soon-to-be-built Highpoint Shopping Centre. And just like that, it began.
It was the mid-70s in Melbourne; a time of AC/DC, post-Whitlam political turmoil, soaring interest rates and economic recession. But tucked away in her Highpoint office by day and studying business by night, Beate barely had time to notice. The western suburbs were booming with migrant families building new lives – and they needed help setting up their future.
This is how McManus & Co. began: one determined woman in a growing corner of the city offering practical support to families navigating big decisions. That humble Highpoint office laid the foundation for a firm that has stood the test of time, guiding generations with clarity, compassion, and care for 50 years and counting.
Beate’s belief was simple: legal services should be approachable, compassionate, and accessible.
That same vision remains at the heart of the firm today, now led by her daughter Gabrielle and a dedicated, highly skilled team of legal professionals. All of them, just like Beate, are doggedly determined.
From that single suite in Highpoint, McManus & Co has grown into offices in Edgewater and Queenscliff. The firm has evolved alongside its clients, proudly delivering specialist wills and estate support, conveyancing, and notarial services across Melbourne’s west and beyond, grounded in care, clarity, and strong community connection.
Over five decades later, we’ve learnt a thing or two – not just about the law, but about what really matters in building a practice that lasts. Here are five lessons we’ve learned in 50 years.
1. Longevity Matters
In a world where businesses come and go, there’s something deeply reassuring about a law firm that has stood the test of time, assisting clients day in, day out for generations.
It signals stability, which is so important in moments of uncertainty or personal stress.
We won’t pretend it’s all been smooth sailing because it hasn’t. And honestly, don’t the best life lessons come from rougher waters? There were days when the to-do list never ended, and nights spent in the office weren’t uncommon. Court deadlines, sick kids, understaffing – life didn’t pause. And there were seasons when personal hardship and professional pressure arrived hand in hand.
But we kept showing up – for our clients, for each other, and ourselves.
That’s why longevity is valued. Because it takes grit and determination. That’s what built the trust we hold today. And it’s why we’re still here.
Trust takes time. A man recently came in, saying his mother once told him, “If you ever have trouble, go to B.A. McManus – they’ll help.” We know that kind of trust is built by showing up, listening, and keeping promises through generations.
Continuity provides comfort. In emotionally challenging times, clients don’t want to explain their story from scratch – they want someone who already knows it.
Clients want to know you’ll still be there. Whether it’s writing your Will, buying a home or setting up an estate plan, these are decisions made for the future. Working with a firm that’s already weathered decades of change offers quiet reassurance that they’ll be around for whatever comes next.
2. Good Legal Support Is Grounded in Empathy
We’ve learned a lot over the years, not just about the law but about people.
People remember how you made them feel. It’s not the paperwork they remember; it’s peace of mind. The gentle honesty. The sense that someone had their back. That’s what sticks, and it’s why people come back.
Clarity is everything. Legal advice is only helpful if it makes sense. We’ve always believed in legally sound but plainly spoken advice that you can understand and use.
Empathy matters more than jargon. Clients aren’t just cases. Whether it’s a Will, a property sale, or the loss of a loved one, we meet every client with capable, compassionate support.
3. Legal support has changed since 1975
The legal landscape has shifted dramatically since we first opened our doors. Families look different, property is no longer simple or affordable, and life planning has grown more complex. To give our clients the best possible legal support, we’ve had to develop deep expertise in our focus areas.
Estate planning is no longer one-size-fits-all. In the 1970s, it was relatively straightforward: nuclear families, a house or two, and a will. Today, second marriages, de facto relationships, stepchildren, IVF, superannuation, and family trusts all complicate estate planning and make careful, personalised planning more important than ever.
Property transactions are far more complex today. Back in the ’70s, settlements involved an exchange of cheques and paper titles at settlement rooms that often felt more like the bar scene from Star Wars—chaotic, noisy, and full of characters. Everything is done online, tax implications are more intricate, off-the-plan contracts can run over 400 pages, and owners corporations add another layer of regulation. Buying or selling property today demands sharp legal attention to detail.
Clients need more. Whether navigating aged care contracts, planning for the succession of SMSFs, or protecting digital assets, modern clients need legal advice that’s strategic, clear, and built for the long term.
4. You Have to Evolve to Stay Relevant
At McManus & Co, we’ve never stood still. The world has changed—and so have we.
Our core values remain unchanged, but we continue to evolve.
We adapt with one simple goal: to find better ways of meeting client needs.
Deep expertise: Over the years, we’ve sharpened our focus on the areas that matter most to our clients: wills and estates, powers of attorney, estate administration, trust and SMSF succession planning, will challenges, conveyancing, property transfers, and retirement living. These aren’t just legal processes—they’re deeply personal, often emotional milestones. And they demand clarity, compassion, and sharp legal insight.
We’ve modernised how we work. Whether you prefer in-person meetings or online forms, we’ve made space for both. We’ve embraced the tools that allow clients to engage with us however suits them, like secure digital forms, video calls, and online bookings.
We’ve stayed committed to people first. We’ll always pick up the phone to answer your question. A relationship with us lasts generations, not just a few days. Being a lawyer for life isn’t a slogan – it’s how we get better outcomes for our clients.
5. It’s About People, Not Paperwork
After nearly five decades, one thing has become crystal clear: what people remember most isn’t the legal work – it’s how you made them feel.
We’re here to support you through life’s legal moments. To offer practical, personalised legal help and be the firm people feel comfortable returning to and recommending again and again.
It’s a privilege to help people navigate life’s challenges and milestones. Whether you’re writing a Will, settling an estate, or buying your next home, we’re here to provide you with caring and clear legal support when you need us.
Ready to Talk?
Book a one-hour consultation or get in touch with the team to see how we can help you move forward with your plans.