What is your job about?
I am a solicitor in Lane Neave’s Christchurch employment team. In this role, I assist on a range of employment-related matters for both employers and employees. A typical day might involve drafting a personal grievance, undertaking legal research, or providing advice on a workplace investigation. Employment law is all about people, which means that our team is always on the phone, or in and out of meetings with our clients. Employment law is also extremely varied – each client and their issues bring new challenges and learnings. In particular, I’m always learning about the nuances of our client's respective industries. No two days are quite the same!
What’s your background?
I was born in Christchurch and have stuck around ever since. I attended Burnside High School and knew from early on that I wanted to pursue a career in law. I then enrolled at the University of Canterbury, where I finished my studies at the end of 2020. Throughout my studies, I enjoyed a bunch of extracurriculars, such as playing Canoe Polo, youth leading at my local church, and starting CurrySoc – a university club that gave me and my friends an excuse to eat too much curry. In my final year, I sat on the Board of Directors of our Students’ Association as the Finance Officer. This insight into governance has helped me better understand the needs of a number of our corporate clients.
During my studies, I was fortunate enough to gain experience clerking in a few different law firms. From a smaller suburban firm in Christchurch to a large firm in Auckland, I learnt that no two firms are alike. I also learnt that company culture can differ significantly between employers. Ultimately, I decided to take a grad role with Lane Neave, which I knew had a strong employment law practice. I clerked with the firm in the summer of 2020/21 and started as a graduate in March 2021. I completed profs a few months later and was admitted in September.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Absolutely! In fact, I think it’s crucial that lawyers’ backgrounds are as varied as the clients that instruct them. Of course, there are a few necessary key skills – namely an eye for detail, an ability to problem-solve, interpersonal skills, and love for (or at least the ability not to loathe) writing. Beyond that, I think that everyone’s personal background brings a diversity of thought to a profession where people are constantly collaborating and bouncing ideas off one another.
What’s the coolest thing about your job?
Working with other people. Employment law, like many areas of law, involves constant communication with clients and colleagues alike. Whether it’s sitting down with a client to fully understand their issue or working with a senior colleague to prepare for mediation, not a day goes by without working with others. Because of this, you soon learn that everyone has an interesting life story or anecdote tucked up their sleeve!
What are the limitations of your job?
The biggest limitations in the legal profession are the tight deadlines and somewhat unpredictable work hours. While clients are usually realistic with their expectations, occasionally you will have to work past 5 pm to get the job done. The flipside of this is that the work is almost always rewarding!
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student?