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Show Notes

Maria is a mother of three, a family law specialist, and a partner with HNT Legal in Parramatta, where she has worked for almost 11 years.

After working in a few areas of the law, Maria found her passion centred on family law. She felt she could make the best contribution to family law.

Family law can be emotionally taxing; therefore, it is essential to separate work from personal lives. Maria is passionate about family law because she helps families pick up the pieces during the breakdown of a relationship and focus on how to resolve things rather than fixating on why things broke down.

The primary focus is to ensure children do not become collateral and remain intact.

Remembering her “Why” helps Maria remain focused and not get caught up in the trauma and stress of her work.

Maria’s company focuses on employee mental health and work/life balance. Employees are actively discouraged from combining work and personal life. Keep the two separate.

During COVID, the legal industry moved online. Communication with staff was open and honest about the knowns and unknowns. Above all, the leaders were present and supportive of the team.

Following COVID, HNT Legal has followed many other employers and adopted a hybrid work environment. However, younger staff and junior lawyers must see and model off an older mentor. The younger staff are encouraged to come into the office as often as possible to experience courtrooms and legal negotiations in person.

Technology is changing the way the law is conducted. Applications are available to assist with the laborious process of discovery. The technology can almost replace paralegal work and present the documents organised chronologically and ready for the lawyer to analyse.

All property law is done electronically via PEXA and signing documents using applications like Docusign. Paper handling is minimal.

However, mediation via Zoom removes a lot of the human elements. Therefore, face-to-face negotiations and meetings in family law remain the preferred approach.

Continuing professional development for lawyers is rigorous and audited by the law society. The range of training is varied and can count towards the re-certification as a lawyer each year.

Leaders should not be put on a pedestal. The notion of a leader can be feeling a fear of something new but doing it anyway while being open and honest with your team. The leader needs to be vulnerable and relatable to the group members.

Drawing boundaries between professional and personal can be difficult. Don’t get too comfortable with the people you are responsible for leading. When it comes time for a difficult discussion, friendship or closeness can get in the way.

Advice for young people starting a legal career is not to have the idea of a lawyer looking in a particular way. When Maria began in law, she had an image of herself; haircut, clothing & jewellery.

She was young, ethnic and a woman working in an environment that did not have many role models like her. However, just because you cannot see it does not mean it cannot happen. Maria’s personal and professional life has evolved in a very different way. Life happens, and being a lawyer or any other profession is just a part of this, not the entirety of who you are.

In summary:

How do you deal with a workplace with inherent dangers? Many people work in an environment with emotional pressure. This pressure impacts their ability to function in their personal and professional life.

Be clear about why you are doing the role. Bring some clarity to the stressful environment. Do your role and divest around the emotional part.

Mental health is managed by separating work and home life.

Unexpected events can cause added stress. Leaders need to admit they don’t know everything and be present to support their team.

Young people are at risk and need workplace learning by being in the office with mentors and experienced leaders as much as possible.

Setting boundaries provides protection.

Leadership is about feeling fear and anxiety and showing vulnerability but finding a way to achieve and lead your team.