This week on The Happy Lawyer Happy Life podcast, I had the greatest pleasure of chatting with The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG. Anyone studying law will be very familiar with Michael, who is well-known throughout Australia for his amazing career in law and in particular his passion for justice and equality.

I was lucky enough to sit down with Michael, aka ‘The Great Dissenter’, to ask him about his hugely successful career that saw him begin as an articled clerk before becoming a solicitor, a barrister, Inaugural Chairman of the Australian Law Reform Commission, Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal, and Justice of the High Court of Australia.

How has Michael achieved all this (and more!) in his life, yet remained so level-headed, humble and kind?

We discuss all that in this latest episode, as well as:

Staying grounded in a very difficult industry

The different values that can affect us as individuals, and how to avoid allowing them to blind you to the law

Michael’s family life and the golden path that led him to receive all his accolades

Tips to having a successful career in law

How to approach life with the right balance of gratitude and attitude

Overcoming workplace problems, and how to let them go

The challenges Michael has faced throughout his extensive career, as well as the highlights

His recent groundbreaking work with the United Nations

How to find happiness and contentment in the face of adversity

The importance of hard work, and a late-night biscuit jar

Michael’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.   

In this week’s episode of the Happy Lawyer Happy Life podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with employment lawyer,  Belinda Hapgood. 

Belinda has enjoyed a vastly successful career, and in the past 12 months has decided to go it alone and open her own firm to accommodate her growing family. In this way, she really represents what so many people across all industries are doing, so it was fascinating talking to her about how she went about this. I wanted to understand her motivations behind the move, the tech she uses to enable this lifestyle and how feels moving from big law to being a solopreneur.

Belinda also shared many tips on managing time, stress and getting the best out of your law career.  She is just fun to be around and I know you will enjoy this interview.

 

In this conversation, we get into all of this…

What Belinda would be doing if she weren’t a lawyer

The link between the legal industry and the performing arts

The benefits that life experience can have on your career as a lawyer

Why fun and passion are so important – not just in your career but in every aspect of life

The role that exercise plays in Belinda’s routine and how it contributes to her happiness

Making the time to satisfy all aspects of your personality

The important role that creativity can play in your day-to-day life

The benefits that come from disconnecting from your phone and email once in a while

The invaluable experience that Belinda would recommend for all young lawyers

The reasons why Belinda set up her own firm

Belinda’s virtual team and how she manages them

The pros and cons, and ups and downs, of employment law

Belinda’s tips on happiness in law

Belinda’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.   

My guest in this week’s episode is Richard Gifford. He’s a young lawyer in Brisbane working as a Legal Officer at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Queensland. But when I bumped into him at an event in Brisbane in December, I was struck by his involvement in the non-profit organisation called The Legal Forecast that is moving all over the country. Richard is the Deputy Director and, along with his co-founders, he focuses on thinking about and planning for what is the future of law. We had an insightful conversation about the organisation’s work in innovation, tech, and collaboration.

I really enjoyed hearing his ideas about innovation in law, but we also focused on the world of wellness. As a recent graduate of the College of Law in Queensland, Richard had great comments about what’s happening for young students and lawyers, what we can change what we are doing and what we should be doing.

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

The beginnings of The Legal Forecast and how they have grown

Concerning stats of the high risks of lawyers for being diagnosed with a mental health illness

Evaluating why mental health seems to affect lawyers more than other professions

Why wellness is a needed conversation to include when discussing tomorrow’s lawyers

Thinking about the long game in your career to make sure you don’t burn out

The difficulties that law students face in gaining work experiences versus financial/academic realities

Strategies to balance confronting nature of work versus home life

The humility that develops from working in criminal law

Why innovation can be prohibited by fear of irrelevancy

Increasing access to justice in the future years

The need for the human lawyer that can demonstrate empathy and compassion

 

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 week’s episode of the Happy Lawyer Happy Life show, I’m honoured to welcome the recently retired former Justice Margaret McMurdo AC. Margaret leaves a legacy as a trailblazer in law particularly in Queensland as she was the first female District Court Judge in Queensland, the first female president of an Appellate Court in Australia, as well as President of the Queensland Court of Appeal for nearly 20 years. Fellow lawyers and colleagues regard her warmly, lauding her talent, moral fortitude and devoted energies to indigenous issues.

We didn’t just talk about her amazing career and professional story, especially what it was like to be a women in the field of law in the early 1970’s. Margaret also shared great advice about balancing work with motherhood.

We also got into all of this too…

What Margaret would be if she weren’t a lawyer

The unexpected reason of how she stumbled into studying law

Two specific events that solidified Margaret’s commitment to pursuing criminal law

Margaret’s passion for social justice and advocacy

The backlash and discrimination she faced early on in her career for being a women

Her 40+ year partnership with her husband and fellow lawyer Justice Philip McMurdo

Loving her time working at the Public Defender’s Office for nearly 14 years

The crossover between law, psychiatry, social work and human frailty

Workplace considerations that women must undergo when starting a family

Navigating the guilt some may feel of managing family and career

The story behind Margaret being named first woman judge in Queensland

Highlights at every level of her extensive career

What Margaret plans to do in her retirement

 

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.   

My guest in this week’s episode is someone who calls himself ‘The Happy Elder Lawyer’, and not because of his age but because of his niche in law land. His name is Brian Herd, and he’s a partner at CRH law, a firm where he’s worked for over 28 years. Brian specialises in Elder Law, an area that has taught him a lot about many different things in and outside of law land.  

I’ve been itching to get Brian on my show for ages now, because not only is he a fantastic legal professional, he’s also an outstanding musician who thrives off of his pursuits outside of his career.

In this chat, we talk a lot about the business and marketing side of law, but also about passion. Brian is a really passionate guy, and so it was great speaking to him about the relationship between his music and his successful legal career.

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

What Brian would be doing if he weren’t a lawyer

Why ‘Elder Law’ is resistant to the increasing presence of virtual law

The importance of niching in law and what it can do to advance your career

The challenges and joys that come with running a business

The steps Brian goes through to identify different target markets

How Brian found his passion and why it increases every year

The link between your client’s happiness and your own

Brian’s passions outside of law

The influences who have affected Brian in law land

Brian’s tips for people starting out in the legal industry

Brian’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.   

This week’s guest in The Happy Lawyer Happy Life Podcast began work as an accountant, but transitioned into the world of law in an unconventional way. Today, Phil Looney is a QC who works across various jurisdictions, and is in a constant state of learning and exploration. An incredible lawyer, one of the things I admire about Phil is that he understands the importance of balance. Enjoying life, he says, is so much more important than work.

In this podcast, Phil and I talk about how he manages to do serious work while still having fun and enjoying life. To me, Phil’s ability to see the service in his work and his intention of creating outlets in his life where he can let off steam are exactly why he has managed to create and maintain such a successful and diverse career.

One of the things Phil does outside of work is dance, which I love so much about him. A ballroom and latin dancer, Phil exudes enthusiasm for life, once again proving how anyone, even a QC, can really do it all. Dancing, for him, is one of the many ways he unwinds and relaxes outside of work. Following your passions in life, yes, seems to be key to living a full, happy, and wonderful life.

In this episode, you’ll hear about…

How Phil’s ability to be a self-motivated, self-starter got him to his dream job

The importance of not saying ‘no’ too quickly

Why Phil believes in embracing all opportunities that you are presented with in life

The power of potential and how not limiting yourself is key to success

The many different hats Phil wears and why he believes it’s important to living a happy life

Why Phil believes the end goal in life has nothing to do with work

The magic of surrounding yourself with positive people

The reason why Phil enjoys being in a constant state of learning

Phil’s belief in working hard while making sure to take time each day for fun

How just one hour of doing something you love can change your entire day

And, of course, Phil’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.   

This week’s guest on The Happy Lawyer Happy Life podcast is Anna Lozynski, general counsel for L’Oreal Australia/New Zealand. Not only are Anna’s drive and passion contagious, but what I learned about the L’Oreal company and the innovative work they do made this interview especially uplifting.

Born in Poland, Anna grew up in Melbourne, learning English from school and Sesame Street. In school, she studied what she loved, like writing and humanities, knowing that she wanted to be a lawyer from a relatively young age. As a lawyer, she relishes being surrounded by people she can learn from and challenging herself intellectually. Her ability to create networks throughout her career has provided her with connections and opportunities that she credits to helping her get to where she is today.

Managing an intense, stressful job doesn’t have to mean that your life is difficult. Anna is proof that you can thrive in a fast-paced, corporate environment without making the sacrifices that so many of us assume are necessary. In the end, finding balance in life and surrounding yourself by people that inspire and encourage you are the keys to being happy.

In this episode, you’ll hear about…

Anna’s journey to becoming a lawyer

Why it’s important to take advantage of every opportunity you get

The importance of being a constant learner

How to balance a busy schedule, and why working a lot doesn’t have to be stressful

Why utilising the time you have is so important for success

How incorporating fun into your life helps you manage stress

Why creating a network is key to making connections – and a sure way to get you on your way to success

Keeping your life balanced is necessary in order to be happy

The people you surround yourself with will determine how much you enjoy what you do

The L’Oreal company and how they are innovating in today’s corporate world

Why breaking down and understanding challenges will help you overcome them

The importance of celebrating small wins and the simple things in your life

Anna’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.   

In this week’s episode of The Happy Lawyer Happy Life podcast, I had the chance to interview one of my all-time heroines – Ann-Maree David. Ann-Maree is an amazing mentor of mine, and has constantly been so generous with her time and advice. Her current roles as Director of The College of Law (the show’s sponsors!) and President of the Australian Women Lawyer’s Association mean she has some fascinating insights into law land that I’m sure you’re going to get a lot out of.  

Ann-Maree is also a massive advocate for wellness and resilience. From her platform, she offers so much support to everyone in law who reaches out to her, particularly those of us pushing boundaries and trying to innovate and change.

In this episode, she shares her story with me, her tips for lawyers and students of law alike, plus all of this stuff too:

In this episode, we get into all of this…

The importance of diversity and eclectic experience in your career in the legal industry, and how it can help you to better understand your clients

Why so many law graduates leave the legal profession

The many different ways that you can be a lawyer, and how women in the industry are leading the charge

The problem with the competitive nature that is inherent in the legal profession

Why resilience has become such a focal point in legal education

Why client care is becoming an increasingly important facet of working in the legal industry

The changes Ann-Maree thinks are necessary in undergraduate law degrees

The commercial realities of the legal industry, and the need for young lawyers to acclimatise themselves to that

Ann-Maree’s tips for staying healthy and optimistic

Why Ann-Maree places so much value in networking – not just for your career but for your happiness too

Tips on how you can find the right mentor for you

Ann-Maree’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.   

My guest in this week’s episode of The Happy Lawyer Happy Life podcast is Bev Reaston – a lawyer who’s managed to overcome adversity, be successful and love her work, and all the while raise a wonderful, happy family.

Bev has spent 37 years as a lawyer and, in 1980, was one of the first female solicitors to be admitted in North Queensland. In that time, the legal industry was very different to how it is now. Women struggled to climb the career ladder, and the idea of having a job and a family was actively discouraged.

This was a really inspirational conversation for me because without trailblazers like Bev, women would still be struggling to achieve success in law land. I think you’re going to really enjoy hearing her story, as well as the tips and wisdom that she offers to all of us.

In this episode, we get into all of this…

What Bev would be doing if she weren’t a lawyer

Bev’s experience being the first solicitor in Cairns to go into court pregnant!

The real-life juggling of raising a family and maintaining a successful career, and the steps Bev went through to manage both

The moment Bev was given the ultimatum to either become a partner at her firm or keep having children

The team you need around you to help you function as a lawyer

The constant changes in the legal industry, particularly in family law

What Bev loves about working in law

The traumatic experiences in Bev’s career and the long-term impact they’ve had on her life

Bev’s tips for young people working in the legal industry

The life-threatening accident that changed Bev’s outlook on life

The big mentors who’ve helped Bev through her career

Bev’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’m recording this episode of The Happy Lawyer Happy Life Podcast on International Happiness Day, and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate guest to be interviewing on such a day than Stuart Loudon. Stuart is a litigation lawyer based in Brisbane in his day job, but in the evenings he’s a ‘slam poet’. Now, if you’re like me, you’ll have no idea what that means. But don’t worry, because Stuart tells me all about it, plus how he got into poetry in the first place.

We also talk a lot about what Stuart’s learned from following his passion and how it’s affected his happiness, with his family-life and work-life.

Stuart’s such a great example of someone who’s managed to incorporate everything they value into their life, and be happy as a result. It was a great conversation, and I learned a lot from it. So, give the show a listen to find out more.

We get into all of this…

How Stuart got started in poetry slams

The skills that you need to know in law, but that aren’t taught in school

Why a varied and colourful background is invaluable for your career in the legal industry

Stuart on working full-time, while studying and raising a young family

The inspiration Stuart draws from his wife and kids

Stuart’s pitch as a commercial lawyer

What Stuart loves about being a lawyer

The transferable skills Stuart learned in his career as a social worker

Being true to yourself and breaking away from facades

The need for openness and compassion in the legal industry

Stuart’s poetry community and the connectedness it brings to his life, in and out of work  

How Stuart manages to balance his passions, work and family

How unhappiness can affect your performance at work and how Stuart changed his approach after realising that

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.