The New Lawyer Podcast

This is part 2 of my conversation with Tayla and Adair, solicitors at Kāhui legal, in which we talk about issues and experiences in law that matter most to them. These include their experiences of admission, of some misguided and tokenistic ways firms attempt to improve diversity in the profession, and of bringing te reo and Tikanga Māori into the way they practise.  They were so generous with their perspectives and experience and I loved it all. Tayla and Adair also contributed a chapter to my book The New Lawyer Companion: Essays on law, life and humanity, available to the public later in 2021.

This episode is Part 1 of a two part conversation with Tayla and Adair, two solicitors at Kāhui Legal.  In this part we talk about their experiences of law school and their careers so far - what it has been like (excellent!) and how they made the decisions they did (through thoughtful experimentation!). Tayla and Adair also contributed a chapter to my new book The New Lawyer Companion, which will be available to the public later in 2021.    Part 2 of the conversation will be available on 5 April 2021.

There is news in the New Lawyer Project world: LexisNexis has published a book by me!  It is called The New Lawyer Companion: Essays on law, life and humanity and collects her previous writing together with new work. Listen to the episode or read the brand new "book" page on the website for more information.  Available to the public later in 2021!

Amanda Smidt is a careers practitioner at the Career Development Company and spends her work life shepherding others to authentic and sustainable career decisions.  She loves crossroads conversations almost as much as me.   We discussed her career, how she leads career conversations with her clients, and the best work you can do to find the best work situation for yourself.  

In this episode I talked with Damian Hanna, a long time specialist in legal recruitment in New Zealand, about how he does his work, how he sees the landscape of legal recruitment, and what he loves to find in a job candidate.  

In this episode host Katie and returning guest Cassandra offer company to you listeners as we all try to figure out what all this means and how to handle life and legal practice during Covid times. Sign up for Katie's letters at tinyletter.com/tinyeyecontact.

In this episode I chat with Sarah Alderson from PocketLegal about her ten years in practice in New Zealand and Australia, including how she went about finding jobs throughout, leading to her recent move to establish her CPD and networking business. It was so lovely to talk about finding fit and non-formulaic ways through one's career, and how she is going about improving the experience of legal practice for New Zealand lawyers now.  

In this episode Sacha Judd, a lawyer for 20 years turned innovation and technology advisor, talks technology law, non-linear career choices, and the systemic nature of legal culture, not to mention practice in Hong Kong and Singapore, study at LSE, and partnership at 32.  No introduction needed! You can read The Spinoff's reproduction of Sacha's speech to the Auckland University Law Review Alumni Dinner here.

In this episode I spoke to Cassandra Kenworthy, a junior barrister from Wellington, about almost everything in the world.  We went from her science background to how she found law to academic writing to animal law to participation in legal profession groups to practising with a chronic illness to networking without networking to all kinds of other things.  I'm such a fan.  

John Mackintosh talks Stepping Up and choosing sole practice, law-adjacent paths, and bringing your outside passions into legal practice.  Click here to get details on John's webinar for new lawyers "Making your way in your first law job", coming 20 February 2019 from CCH.

Zoë talks independent legal research work, the stories of women lawyers, and human rights law in disguise.

This is a tiny wee update episode to let you know about the changes that are a-coming, and where to find other New Lawyer-related work that you mind enjoy.

Grad solicitor Alice talks finding a job, the transition from law school to practice, and the value of cultural know-how. Read this episode's blog post here, sign up for a monthly digest of columns and podcasts here, or submit a question for LexisNexis' Dear Katie over here.

In this episode Auckland-based family lawyer Sharon Chandra talks family law, the role of happiness in productivity, and the legal culture utopia we might face towards.

In this episode I talked to Duncan Webb, MP for Christchurch Central and co-author of your ethics textbook, about his career as a litigation lawyer, academic and now Parliamentarian.  We talked about how you can make a difference in non-traditional routes, what he wish he'd known from the beginning (nothing more than he did), his work for Christchurch homeowners in earthquake cases, how he once took down a gaming trust, and much more.

This episode was so full of joy, and has filled my mind with all kinds of sparks and excitement since we recorded it a few weeks ago.  Lisa is the Director of Defence Legal Services and Military Prosecutions and boy does she have an interesting career to talk about.  We talked how law is used in the army, military codes, international law, Lisa's experience as a woman of colour in the army, and how studying things you love can bring unexpected joy later down the line.  It was wonderful, and I am so grateful to Lisa for sharing her insights into this very different way of using one's law degree.  

Zylpha is a second career lawyer who now works for the Law Society in its Canterbury-Westland branch office.  She is also one of five people manning NZLS' new Law Care phoneline (0800 0800 28).  We talked a lot about bullying and harassment and the complex ways of responding to a complex systemic problem, and it was STILL really fun. 

In this episode I speak with Justice Kós, sitting President of the Court of Appeal, and at different times a litigator, an academic, and a teacher.  We talked about his reasons for becoming a lawyer (another count for "good at English"), and his reasons for staying one (law as vocation); his perspective on the bench, both from appearing in front of it and sitting behind it; reforms to the civil system that promise increased access to justice and reforms to the criminal system that promise greater justice full stop; how his upbringing as the child of a refugee helped form his view of New Zealand and the importance of its democratic norms and institutions; and what he has learned as a student of those who came before and a teacher of those who are coming up the ranks now.   You can read more at the blog post for this episode over here, and sign up for monthly digest emails for the podcast and New Lawyer columns here. 

Episode 21 - Shaun talks big workplaces, second careers, and how to handle mistakes - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 18 - Julia Batchelor-Smith talks construction law, non-linear careers and hard core self care - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 17 - NZLS President Kathryn Beck talks employment law, the future of New Zealand lawyers, and loving your work - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 16 - Anna talks all-or-nothing in practice, the work of a litigation solicitor, and what great law firm culture looks like - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 15: Psychologist Mike talks burnout, the gentle antidote to an extreme lawyerly personality, and tools for sustainable achievement - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 14: Eric talks Community Law, attitudes to mistakes, and idealism vs realism in legal practice - The New Lawyer Podcast [Includes minor illustrative profanity]

Episode 13: Mahafrin talks immigration and refugee law, the young woman migrant lawyer experience, and career advancement in litigation - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 12: George talks alternative summer clerking, the life of a barrister and competitions - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 11: Clayton talks quarter-life crises, unorthodox career paths, and practising with depression - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 10: Solicitor General Una Jagose QC talks Crown Law, the LGBT lawyer experience, and what lawyers look like - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 9: Josh Pemberton talks Supreme Court clerkships, Harvard University and the Pemberton Report - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 8: Coroner Elliott talks the virtues of barristership, therapeutic jurisprudence, and being wrong - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 7: Tom talks criminal defence, workload management and job-hunting - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 6 - Robin talks second careers, mental health and the importance of morning tea - The New Lawyer Podcast

Episode 5: Justice Glazebrook talks gender diversity, how to respond to feedback and expectations of your new lawyer job - The New Lawyer Podcast    

Solicitor of 10 years Sam Benton talks to Katie about his career in human rights law and later regulatory enforcement, moving from New Zealand to practise in the UK, musical theatre, male mental health and access to justice issues. 

Host Katie chats with Brannavan, a senior solicitor in Buddle Findlay's property and litigation teams, about big law, checking your ego, and how to balance creative passions with legal practice. 

Host Katie chats with guest Emily, a private client solicitor in her sixth year of practice, about what makes a good junior, how to manage stress and wellbeing, and issues for women in law.  

S2 Nicole from a mid-size provincial firm talks confidence as a new lawyer and practice in the provinces.