Do you sometimes feel like law might not be for you? Law students can often find they’ve become disillusioned with their studies or lawyers with the practice of law. If you’ve had thoughts like that before, then this episode of the Happy Lawyer Happy Life podcast is for you, because today I’m talking to Professor Nick James, Dean at the esteemed Bond University on the Gold Coast, about why it’s okay to change direction, no matter what stage your career is at.

Becoming Dean of a successful University wasn’t something Nick had ever aspired to achieve, but it’s a role he enjoys immensely. To him, teaching is all about educating the next generation of lawyers, not only in the theory of law but the practice as well. Nick believes it’s important to teach the students about what it’s like to be a lawyer, as well as how to accept that it might not be for you. We also discuss the challenges faced by law students and graduates, particularly around mental health issues, and how to overcome any challenges you are facing. Nick has a wonderful, positive ethos, one that I really admire, and it was great fun hearing his thoughts on everything from stress management to the most effective ways to teach law.

We also get into the big questions like:

Is the future for the teaching of law changing? How is it being taught differently now when compared to 20 years ago?

What does an employable graduate look like in 2017?

What should a law school take into consideration in order to provide the best education for their students?

How Nick became the dean at such an esteemed university

Why it’s okay to decide law might not be for you, and the different career options you can consider with your law degree

The anxiety and depression that frequently challenges law students, and why it’s so prevalent within the industry

What led Nick to choose backpacking instead of BigLaw, and how he came back into the legal profession after his round-the-world travels

How to go into law with open eyes in order to find the best career path

The impact of artificial intelligence within the legal industry, and why the world will always need lawyers

Nick’s Happiness Challenge!

 

Happy Lawyer Happy Life

Learn more here about upcoming events and courses and connect with Clarissa at the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre.  A community for lawyers who want to make the best out of their life in and outside of the law.   

 

If you’ve ever found yourself looking up at the stars and wondered about space law, then this episode of the Happy Lawyer Happy Life podcast is for you. My guest today is Milan Gandhi, a laugh-a-minute law student, entrepreneur and Director of The Legal Forecast (TLF), a not-for-profit organisation that aims to advance legal practice through technology and innovation. Milan stopped studying film in favour of law, a move which he credits to the need for intellectual stimulation and the desire to learn more.

Milan can certainly hold an interesting conversation, and in today’s episode we discuss all manner of things like his early years as a film-maker, studying space law in Vienna, the epiphany that led him to start TLF, and the way it is making waves through the legal industry, becoming a growing movement around the country. Milan also goes into detail about the Disrupting Law hackathon, a weekend that focuses on finding and expanding on opportunities within the legal industry. It is an amazing opportunity for all entrepreneurs and innovators across any industry, and tickets to this event which is here in Brisbane on the 4th-6th of August can be found in the links below.

Talking to Milan was such a joy. We got into all sorts of things, including:

The need to have variety in your work – laborious monotony is death to the creative spirit!

The importance of backing an idea that you have, even if it’s only in your head at first

How to take an idea and bring it to the rest of the world with confidence

Conducting your due diligence and ignoring the inevitable naysayers

Professor Richard Susskind and his influential book, Tomorrow’s Lawyers

The overwhelmingly positive attention Disrupting Law brought to him and his colleagues

How to have strength in your own abilities and to avoid biting off more than you can chew

Imposter Syndrome

The benefits that have been made possible for the legal industry thanks to advances in technology

Creating a community of people in law that differs from the way law societies are run, and the competition that is fraught within the industry

Milan’s Happiness Challenge!

Happy Lawyer Happy Life

Learn more here about upcoming events and courses and connect with Clarissa at the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre.  A community for lawyers who want to make the best out of their life in and outside of the law.   

Today on the Happy Lawyer Happy Life podcast, I have the immense pleasure of talking to Eoin Johnston. Eoin is a lifelong family friend, ex-tradie, barrister and local council member, and in this episode we discuss everything from depression in the legal profession to swimming with sharks.

Eoin is a testament to the fact that it’s never too late to change your career path if your heart isn’t really in what you’re doing. After 30 years of being in the floor and wall tiling trade, he made the decision to study law instead. Juggling three kids, running a farm alongside a full-time job and a jam-packed sporting schedule as well as the intense studying involved with learning law, Eoin is an inspiration to anyone who thinks they’re tied to just one career, or those who think they don’t have time to do what they love.

Join us in this podcast as we whale watch (yes, really!) while we discuss things like:

The importance of remembering where you’re from

My lack of understanding when it comes to football analogies

Eoin’s interesting path that led him to where he is today (including his travels around Africa)

What it’s like to study, work and raise a family all at once

Eoin’s love of helping people, and how that led him to put himself forth as a member of his local council (with a mere 4 minutes to spare before nominations closed)

How to overcome those feelings of depression that we all have

Why you need to take time out for yourself

The pro’s and con’s of a seachange

Keeping an open dialogue about depression and mental health issues, especially in the legal industry

Fitting all the jigsaw pieces together to create the best life for yourself and your family

Shark nets and ocean swims

Eoin’s Happiness Challenge!

Happy Lawyer Happy Life

Learn more here about upcoming events and courses and connect with Clarissa at the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre.  A community for lawyers who want to make the best out of their life in and outside of the law.   

 

I’ve talked to many lawyers on this show who lead a “dual life” in some ways and this episode with Mark Lombard is no different! By day Mark works as an employment lawyer but ‘by weekend’ he is writing & performing sketch comedy in Brisbane. It was great fun to get to know him and I’d love for everyone to support him in his comedy career.

Aside from his upcoming shows in Brisbane, we talked about why it should be expected that we all enter a preliminary learning phase before we become skilled in our careers. Mark also shared why he decided to seek flexible work hours and become a part-time lawyer so he could dedicate serious focus to his comedy career as well. In previous episodes, I’ve spoken with a number of women who have made flexible work hours a priority and it was refreshing to hear from Mark’s perspective as well.

Furthermore, we also talked about…

How it was a lucky accident that Mark went on to study law at uni

The impossibility of avoiding a challenging first few years at a new job

Valuing an apprenticeship phase on the way to mastery

The reality that you need to put in great efforts to be successful

What Mark finds exciting about employment law

Finding work as a lawyer overseas in London

How he slowly began to taught himself to write comedy

Why Mark thought it was important for him to work part-time as a lawyer

Mark’s ideas to turn his show Brisburn into a brand

The mantra to remember when transferring to a new job

Happy Lawyer Happy Life

Learn more here about upcoming events and courses and connect with Clarissa at the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre.  A community for lawyers who want to make the best out of their life in and outside of the law.   

In this episode, my best friend Melissa Nielsen, who is a partner at the Cairns firm Miller Harris Lawyers, joined me to talk about the great work she has been doing as a commercial and property lawyer. Melissa has been a partner for nearly five years at Miller Harris, which is a dynamic and prominent firm, and she has been leading the way in establishing charitable partnerships and advocating for flexible work practices. A happy lawyer, Melissa shares what Miller Harris has done to win the QLS Equity and Diversity Award for small/medium sized practices two years running.

We also talked about the need to build relationships with clients in a regional center like Cairns and the overwhelmingly positive atmosphere at her firm. Of course, promoting change in her firm as partner, being a commercial lawyer and raising three young children is no easy task, but Melissa explains how she manages to embrace her hectic lifestyle.

Furthermore, we also talked about…

The transactional and logical aspects about commercial law that Melissa enjoys

Flexible working practices allowing for high retention rates and a happy workplace

Advantages of being a partner in terms of advocating for change

Building relationships with clients or solicitors through phone calls, not emails

The unique qualities of working in a regional practice like Cairns

How office morale can be boosted through a charitable partnership

Looking outside your job to see how your skills can help you find a deeper connection

Embracing a hectic lifestyle to manage raising three young children and work

Why you should not be afraid to ask for help or in sharing a burden

The importance of taking your holidays

HAPPY LAWYER HAPPY LIFE

Learn more here about upcoming events and courses and connect with Clarissa at the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre.  A community for lawyers who want to make the best out of their life in and outside of the law.   

Today on the Happy Lawyer Happy Life podcast, I’ll be sitting down with my good friend Hannah Henley. Hannah is an estate lawyer, crossfit fanatic and lover of breaking the mould. After travelling around at a young age, from the UK to Saudi Arabia, Japan and then Hong Kong, Hannah came back to Australia to settle down with her family.

Hannah’s strong moral compass motivated her to complete a law degree in Queensland, and after some movement around a few firms, she decided to make the leap, becoming a solopreneur and setting up her own estate law practice. Now, Hannah focuses on maintaining happiness through her work and connecting closely with clients.

Listen to the episode to hear more about Hannah’s pathway to happiness. Her obvious strength and bravery (though I’m sure she’d disagree!) show through in her ability to discuss even the hardest of subjects.

We also get into all this too…

* The benefits of crossfit and cheesecake

* Finding your career groove

* What there is to love about estate law

* Why you need discipline when setting up your own business

* Being early to bed, and early to rise

* Why lawyers are people too

* The benefits of doing things your own way

* The importance of talking about mental health, and other ‘taboo’ topics

* Changing your life to find happiness, and why it’s never too late to do so

* Hannah’s Happiness Tip!

HAPPY LAWYER HAPPY LIFE

Learn more here about upcoming events and courses and connect with Clarissa at the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre.  A community for lawyers who want to make the best out of their life in and outside of the law.   

Solicitor, Stafford Shepherd, is my guest in this wonderful episode. Stafford is now the Director at the Queensland Law Society Ethics Centre but he previously ran his own small practice for 20 years. In today’s words Stafford ran a micro practice but a truly successful one at that.   What has made him a successful lawyer and being able to run his small business was his connection with his clients.  Stafford is and was an innovator before his time, running a truly client centric practice before those words had the hype they do today.   His genuine passion for giving the best opportunity for others shines through as an uplifting message for all us lawyers.

We also talked about the dynamic between being a lawyer with a private practice and being a small business owner. Stafford also covered his musings on the future of the profession and what his hopes are for young lawyers trying to find their way through. I loved his message that everything that lawyers do is value added to the lives of people, and I hope you find this episode with Stafford equally as inspiring!

Furthermore, we also talked about…

Stafford’s love of history influencing his practice of law

The philosophy of law being based around human relationships

The beauty in the opportunity to make mistakes

Lawyers not feeling conflicted about also being business people

Why the profession will never be replaced by artificial intelligence

How Stafford stays happy in his time away from his law work

Nurturing your “other life” detached from your life as a lawyer

The idea that there are more options for young lawyers than big firms

Importance of surrounding yourself with family and partners 

HAPPY LAWYER HAPPY LIFE

Learn more here about upcoming events and courses and connect with Clarissa at the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre.  A community for lawyers who want to make the best out of their life in and outside of the law.   

Criminal lawyer Julia Jasper joins me for a chat in this episode. We met 2 years ago as we were against each other in a child protection matter, and she really impressed me with her work. As I haven’t had many criminal lawyers on this show, I wanted to have a conversation with her to learn about what life’s like in the criminal world as a defence council. We talked about how Julia came to private practice ‘later in life’ after a very successful career in the Federal Police as an investigative Accountant. 

The amount of time, energy and depth in what she does in delivering her services shows her great care she has for her clients. Julia is a fierce advocate in a beautifully subtle way and gives us some insight into being a ‘happy’ criminal lawyer (as strange as that sounds!), the advantages of pursuing criminal law and strategies to set accessibility boundaries with clients.

Julia is a delight- such a fun person to hang out with and someone with so much to share when it comes to finding your place in Law.

We get into all of that and more, including…

The limited career options that clever students are pushed towards in school

Why pursuing what is most interesting or fulfilling to you will lead you to where you are meant to be

The concept that nothing, experience or previous careers, is wasted

Ironically why criminal law clients seem to be more accepting of advice than family law clients

Taking a leap of faith to go back to the beginning for a new career

How to build trust with clients to get them to divulge key pieces of information

Self-care for revolting and challenging criminal cases

Day-to-day life for a criminal court lawyer

Why there are not as many criminal lawyers out there

Struggling with the reputation of being a criminal defence lawyer

HAPPY LAWYER HAPPY LIFE

Learn more here about upcoming events and courses and connect with Clarissa at the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre.  A community for lawyers who want to make the best out of their life in and outside of the law.   

In this episode, I chat with Clare Dart, a family law barrister in Brisbane. Clare is such a delightful person and just hanging out with her makes anyone feel happy, we had a lovely conversation about her great career adventures so far. Although she is perhaps a traditional lawyer, her career shows us all the different steps and opportunities one can do in the field of law. Clare fills us in as well with some of her adventures overseas during a five-year hiatus of sorts in the UK and Swaziland with family law, human rights law and criminal law

We get into all of that and more, including…

Invaluable experience of being a five-year articles clerk

Why she recommends young people to embrace any associateship opportunity

The honest reason why Clare shifted from private practice to legal aid

How walking can be therapeutic and give much needed perspective

Clare’s five-year hiatus abroad during her early 30’s

Finding a domestic violence volunteer position in Swaziland

Respecting cultural customs when you are working abroad

The concept that there are so many ways to be a lawyer

Working to establish a work culture of friendliness, community and support

How Clare keeps her optimism and sunny disposition as a busy lawyer

 

 

HAPPY LAWYER HAPPY LIFE

Learn more here about upcoming events and courses and connect with Clarissa at the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre.  A community for lawyers who want to make the best out of their life in and outside of the law.   

This week I welcomed one of my favorite people in the whole world and a dear friend from law school, Nick Smart. Nick shared his story of leaving the law in Brisbane to opening a stunning perfumery import business in Sydney, Libertine. I really enjoyed hearing his beautiful reflections on how he sees the world now and how his start in law is such a big part of his success today in a totally different industry.

Nick is a great reminder that there are many ways to be a lawyer.  From taking over a law firm as a very junior lawyer to later becoming a massive distributor and seller of the some of the world’s most exclusive fragrances- Nick’s career is a fascinating one! The lessons he’s learned going from point a to point b reminded me that every professional career has its great challenges but law can provide a wonderful foundation to tackle those obstacles.

In this episode, we get into all of that and more, including…

How Nick and Clarissa both felt a bit different in law school

The value of learning on the job versus uni

Nick buying a practice from a retiring lawyer as a junior lawyer with one year experience

The decision that Nick made in his early 20’s that changed his life trajectory

How a side business can blossom into a career

The sense of higher pressures and higher stakes that current law students feel

The origin story of Libertine Parfumerie and how much Nick had to persevere

Why law students or lawyers stand out even outside of the profession

How the skills gained as a lawyer prepare you to run a business

Living a conscientious lifestyle

 

HAPPY LAWYER HAPPY LIFE

Learn more here about upcoming events and courses and connect with Clarissa at the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre.  A community for lawyers who want to make the best out of their life in and outside of the law.