What's your job about?

Simpson Grierson is a leading commercial law firm in New Zealand. I am a year-one solicitor in the commercial team in the Christchurch office. Our team here is pretty varied in the work we do. We advise on a wide range of commercial and private client matters.  Every day is different, but in any given week I can be involved in a number of tasks, from drafting contracts or agreements on a range of commercial matters and transactions, registering easements, and residential or commercial property settlements to drafting wills, enduring powers of attorney, and trust deeds. Our work is very broad and varied, which is great for a junior lawyer as it means you develop a wide range of skills in a number of different areas of law.

What's your background?

I was born in Auckland but moved to Christchurch when I was around 2 and have been here ever since. I attended Riccarton High School and achieved NCEA level 3. After school, I lacked a sense of direction and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I decided to get into the workforce and worked full-time for three years, mainly in administration/reception and customer service roles. Personally, I didn’t find these roles very fulfilling. I wanted a challenging and meaningful career, which I knew would be achieved by obtaining a tertiary qualification. Having no idea what I wanted to study but having always been a crime junkie whose favorite thing to do is watch true crime documentaries, I decided to enroll in the Bachelor of Criminal Justice. The first year of this had an overlap with law papers. Having enjoyed these papers and achieving pretty good results in them, I decided to switch to a double and enrolled in a law degree.

Fast forward 7 years, and I have never once regretted my decision. I love how much law challenges you, how you are always learning, and how varied the career options and pathways are. There is so much you can do with a law degree. I applied to be in the commercial team at Simpson Grierson as a graduate in 2021. I am currently in my second year of work as a year one solicitor. No two days are the same, and I love how challenging and stimulating the working environment is. There is never a day when you do not learn something new.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Absolutely! As long as you have the qualifications (a Bachelor of Laws), I think the main thing is having a positive attitude and being willing to give everything a go. Not all areas of law are interesting, and not everything you do is enjoyable, but that’s the same with any career and anything you do. You never know until you try!

What are the limitations of your job?

Being a lawyer can be a pretty demanding career. You are constantly engaged in challenging (but interesting) work with a team of high performers. I don’t think university prepares you for being a lawyer. What you learn when studying is so different from what you do on a day-to-day basis. It is pretty easy for imposter syndrome to kick in, especially in your first year, when you feel like you are in over your head most days. Just remember that everyone started at the same place. A lot of it comes with experience. Don’t be afraid to lean on people in your team; I am sure everyone has experienced similar feelings and been in your shoes before.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

• Make the most of student life! It can be stressful and hard, especially financially, but it offers so much flexibility. Enjoy the midday appointments and catch-ups with friends and the late morning gym sessions while you can.
• Be open-minded. The law can be a super competitive industry, and it can be hard to secure a job. Don’t pigeonhole yourself into a certain area. You don’t really know what you will enjoy until you’re actually doing it—get a foot in the door and go from there.
• Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone! I would never have imagined I would be capable of getting a law degree, let alone practicing law, and yet here I am, loving every minute of it. You can really limit what you achieve in life if you doubt yourself or refuse to step outside of your comfort zone. As cliché as it sounds, anything that you set your mind to is possible.