Friends In Law Podcast

What does a fulfilling legal career actually look like when you're in it, not just planning it? In this episode of Friends in Law, Alex sits down with Georgia Huf for a conversation about career uncertainty, non-linear paths, and the decisions that quietly shape where you end up. Georgia shares how she didn't set out to study law, why her early exposure to the profession through recruitment changed the way she thought about "fit", and how she found her way into projects and construction law, an area most law students don't even realise exists. They talk about the reality of starting out in top-tier firms, navigating imposter syndrome, and learning that perfection isn't the goal. Instead, it's about curiosity, relationships, and being willing to try things before you feel ready. The conversation also explores what it means to build a career without a fixed plan. From working with barristers and mentors, to making the decision to move overseas early in her career, Georgia reflects on the moments that required her to trust her instincts, even when the path wasn't clear. Together, Alex and Georgia unpack the idea that there is no single way to "do" a legal career. They discuss why culture and people matter just as much as the work, how exposure to different areas shapes better lawyers, and why some of the most rewarding paths are the ones you didn't initially consider. Georgia also shares what surprised her most about practicing in Abu Dhabi, the pace and scale of projects work, and why saying yes to a single LinkedIn message can sometimes open doors you didn't know existed. If you've ever felt unsure about your direction, questioned whether you're making the "right" decisions, or felt pressure to have everything figured out early, this episode is a reminder that you don't need a perfect plan to build a meaningful career. — Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest : Georgia Huf Friends in Law is edited and produced by Dayera Creative

"I wouldn't take it back for all the money in the world." That's how Marcus Payne chooses to reflect on his role as Chief Counsel for Queensland Health during a global pandemic. "It was a wonderful experience in terms of the pressure and what I learnt but would I choose to go back and do it again? I'm not sure!" Now Head of Legal at Urban Utilities, Marcus clearly likes a challenge - in September he completed a bucket-list goal, swimming across the English Channel in 14 hours and 29 minutes. "I'm a pretty firm believer that anyone can do amazing things, it's just about having the right approach and not trying to do too much too quickly." The "right approach" to something as difficult as swimming The Channel includes training in the cold and dark from three in the morning, ahead of a busy work schedule. But most importantly, it involves a team of motivators. "You're not allowed to wear a watch either so I very quickly found myself surrendering to the fact that I didn't know where I was, I didn't know how long I'd been out there, I didn't know how long to finish - I just resigned myself to be very present in each moment." In this final episode of Friends in Law for 2022, Marcus explains the lessons such a huge physical challenge share with the daily challenges of life and career, the role senior lawyers must play in a post-pandemic office and the slowly tipping scales of work/life balance that can only come when you truly enjoy what you do. TOPICS LinkedIn for Lawyers (and all other professionals) Corporate Athlete Career planning Goal Setting Legal careers In-house legal career Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy! Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest : Marcus Payne Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb) Produced by Bern Young

Having a conversation with someone who's literally written the book on conversations should be daunting, shouldn't it? Bill Ash's professional experience is nothing short of impressive, from globetrotting corporate lawyer to highly respected counsellor/coach and now author of "Redesigning Conversations - A Guide to Communicating Effectively in the Family, Workplace and Society." But what's truly impressive is Bill's own mood contagion - one of generosity, observation and insight. In this episode of Friends in Law, Bill Ash shares some of his own work and life experience, his thoughts on leadership and seniority and navigating personal and professional relationships. He chalks it all up to "taking notice". "When I look back on my career, the important things have been the relationships I've had in that career - you know I've done this, that and the other projects but it's the relationships (that are important)." "I've been very lucky with the leaders I've had, they've probably never been to a leadership course in their life but they're fabulous leaders because they're human, experienced and relational." "I just encourage everyone to make those requests .. senior people love to be asked." TOPICS Leadership In-house lawyers Alternative careers Effective communication for life, work, and family Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy! Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest : Bill Ash Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb) Produced by Bern Young

Philosopher John Dewey said, "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." For Ann-Maree David, who once imagined she'd be a teacher, studying law is how she discovered her outlet to educate. The 2018 Agnes McWhinney Award winner is Executive Director at The College of Law where she has dedicated the past two decades to other lawyers' career paths. From the danger of perfectionism, to the nuances of networking, Ann-Maree tells Alex Correa about her own non-traditional legal career, her drive to boost equality and how the current generation simply won't follow the mistakes of the past. "We can actually be humans at work, that's a big lesson for people to learn and if you've been a career lawyer for 30-50 years that's not something you're going to give up readily because it's what you know." "That armour still exists .. We've seen a lot of people leave the profession over the last few decades because they couldn't maintain that armour, it was too heavy." "We can be very good at our jobs but we can also accept that we are fallible humans." TOPICS Career alignment through values and purpose Perfectionism in the workplace and the shift toward being our authentic selves Cultivating the next generation of legal talent Diversity & Inclusion Alternative careers in law Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy! Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest : Ann-Maree David Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb) Produced by Bern Young

"You don't have to do things the way people have done them for 50 to 100 years." "We've got legal rules that confine us, but we don't have to be confined with the way in which we deliver those legal services." And with that, Helen Kay set out to create a very different law firm from the ground up. The Managing Director of Rise Legal shares her journey from the UK to Australia, starting in one of the biggest firms and eventually working for herself as a sole-trader, only to find that what she needed, and wanted, was somewhere in between. "It started as a niggle and that niggle was, don't like the mahogany desks, I don't like hourly rate billing, I don't like this part of it." "I had a goal in mind and I needed to build a network of people who I knew, liked and trusted and who were going to know, like and trust me, ready for when I wanted to start my own law firm and I knew it was going to look different this time." "So I didn't say no to anything. That was a sort of taboo word .. even if I was exhausted, even if I had four other things on that week, I never said no." TOPICS Goalsetting and the business of law From big law to the evolution of new law Entrepreneurship, networking and building a profile Client service and KPI's - a new measure of success! Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy! Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest : Helen Kay Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb) Produced by Bern Young

When Antonia Mercorella first turned her back on a career in law to pursue a life in the arts, she couldn't have imagined her job title now - CEO of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland. "I got a clerkship at a highly regarded commercial law firm in Adelaide. But I really didn't enjoy it. And I left to join the State Theatre Company." "I remember people saying to me, you're mad. And a few times in my career that's happened, where people have judged me and said, 'What are you doing? You're all over the place.'" As the first female CEO of the REIQ, Antonia is determined to right the gender imbalance in leadership and thrives on settling the disputes that inevitably brings. QUOTES: "I feel a responsibility now as a CEO, I have women ask me, how did you do this and how do you manage it? And I try and be really honest about the fact that it's a real challenge. You know, juggling everything is a real challenge. And there's no perfection in any of it." "I have mixed feelings about it. At one level, I feel extremely privileged to be the first female in 103 years. And at another level, it really disappoints me that it's taken that long for a female to lead REIQ." "We were labeled anti-tenant, and we were labeled as heartless. And that was challenging because I actually have a very strong social justice slant." "Why are you apologising for being pregnant? There's no need for an apology. And I think it's really disappointing that that occurs, and yet I've been there myself, I'm guilty of it." TOPICS From private practice to the C-Suite and industry-shaping Authentic leadership, parenthood and quotas Diversity, inclusion and organisational change Traditional legal career path vs a flexible/divergent path This podcast tackles the topic of quotas for women. Visit Developing Talent if you are looking for fun and innovative ways to build confidence and capability around these issues of diversity and inclusion within your organisation. Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy! Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest : Antonia Mercorella Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb) Produced by Bern Young

Peter Smith spent almost half his career denying himself the chance to share who he really was at work, unaware that the truth would not only set him free, but lead the charge that was slowly taking over the corporate world. "You felt like you were living a lie everyday of the week .. it's quite exhausting." "Later when everything had changed, I remember a client for the first time ever said, 'So what's your partner Gregory doing?'" In 2020, Peter was named Queensland's Lawyer of the Year for Insolvency and Reorganisation by Best Lawyers. As a champion of change, Peter speaks candidly to Alex Correa about the real leadership required to achieve Diversity and Inclusion. His career also chronicles the trend away from litigation, so how does this litigator-at-heart find joy in his work? Key Quotes: "In my day if you picked up a CV and someone had moved three times you would not have looked at the person .. now it's actually a blemish on a CV if you haven't done a number of things." "We want really diverse teams because all the empirical evidence proves that if you've got a diverse team they do better than a homogenous team .. you can see the penny dropping when you see the proof of this." "Because I was openly out at work, it was no big deal so a number of us led that and that was just so successful across the firm and changed the way people were at work .. within a year or so everyone just walked the talk." "I wouldn't be surprised if there're a whole lot of women in a similar situation finding it really tough at home, particularly with a lot of littlies, but then having to come to work as if there's nothing wrong." TOPICS Diversity and inclusion in the law Career paths beyond partnership Health and wellbeing Alternative firms to big law This podcast tackles the topics of pride in law and health. Visit Developing Talent if you are looking for fun and innovative ways to build confidence and capability around these issues of diversity and inclusion within your organisation. Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy! Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest : Peter Smith Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb) Produced by Bern Young

Tara Hastings is a self-described sports fanatic, that is, she's a professional spectator. So a role as Senior Counsel at Cricket Australia was in many ways a dream job. But Tara's career is built on variation and versatility, whether it's in high viz at a gas plant or perusing supermarket shelves understanding the finer details of breakfast drinks. (That'll make more sense later!) Tara shares her career path overseas in a global business and then home again, with all the possibilities that have opened along the way. And she's candid about the pros and cons of working in the sports industry where everyone is passionate about the game. "The risk is that you fall in love with the glamour of sports law. It is for the most part, just like working anywhere else." "For me, what I am most passionate about is being an in-house lawyer .. you have to be prepared for everything." "You have to continue to believe in yourself .. you're never going to get it right all the time, no-one does." TOPICS The UK experience and making your way home again Finding your fit - in-house or private practice Developing a gut instinct Pros & cons of working in a field of passion like sport Versatility and adaptability when changing industries Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy! Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest : Tara Hastings Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb) Produced by Bern Young

The typical career progression for a barrister involves admission to the bar after paying your dues as an instructing solicitor. Margo Harris is not your typical barrister. Her work in-house, both in the highly specialised field of maritime law in London and as a generalist in Australia, has given her a depth of knowledge that is, without a doubt, an extra tool on her belt. It's not how she planned her career, because Margo never had a business plan for her career. Her move to the bar at a later stage in her life was the new challenge she craved and the opportunities that followed, include ticking off roles she'd only ever dreamed of. "I was wanting a change I wanted to do something different as a new way of refreshing or finding a new challenge" "As a young solicitor I thought wouldn't it be marvelous to work at the United Nations and how sexy that would be but how thrilling would that be to meet all those people from all over the world .. I just thought, I'm just a kid from the bush, as if I'd get a look in." "You can never have too much experience and whatever ghastly job someone asks you to do, instead of thinking how ghastly is this? Think about what I can learn from this." TOPICS Specialist versus generalist Women at the bar, do they get fewer briefs? The overseas experience - an Australian lawyer abroad and the return ticket Networking and finding the next brief The role of chance in career plans Transition from solicitor to barrister Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy! Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest : Margo Harris Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb) Produced by Bern Young and thanks to Amelia Rees for the inspiration and nudge.

How many people can honestly say they feel confident walking into a dangerous situation, knowing they have what it takes to get it under control? That was Carly Traeger in a former life and she loved every moment of it. So why did she walk away from her dream job to become an employment relations lawyer? A career path isn't a simple linear journey. There are pressures you can't foresee and hard decisions you have to make. In this conversation Carly talks a lot about confidence. She talks about having it, losing it and finding it again. She shares some of her greatest joys and her toughest times, in search of the secret formula to being a better wife, a better mum and a better lawyer. TOPICS Mid-career exit points for women climbing a career ladder and pursuing a family How do firms better manage a working parent's career progression Transition points and transferable skills Redundancy meets opportunity, dreams meet reality, hard times meet courage "I didn't want that label, I didn't have a mental health Issue. I was just someone who'd worked really hard and overdone it and was just exhausted and emotional." "My experience was not unique, it was actually quite common and everyone has their different ways of getting through it." "To be comfortable and confident in the advice that you're giving .. you need to be able to back yourself." "I learnt great interview skills, how to ask questions and keep asking questions and that silence, at times, is golden." "I learnt to be suspicious, very suspicious." This podcast tackles the topics of mental health and parenthood. Visit Developing Talent if you are looking for fun and innovative ways to build confidence and capability around these issues of diversity and inclusion within your organisation. Enjoyed the podcast? Share and Enjoy! Please don't forget to leave a rating via Apple Podcasts Never miss a drop by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify If you want to talk about your career in law reach out to us here Or why not connect with Alex on LinkedIn Credits Host: Alex Correa - Career Coach in Law Brought to you by Alex Correa Executive With thanks to our guest : Carly Traeger Friends in Law is edited and engineered by Cold Ghost (aka Fletcher Babb) Produced by Bern Young and thanks to Amelia Rees for the inspiration and nudge.

Friends in Law is a podcast about lawyers, for lawyers. Hello, I'm Alex Correa and over the past two (and a bit) decades, I've been incredibly fortunate to meet so many talented lawyers. Whether it's been while supporting them as they negotiate and carefully plan out their careers, or in 'landing' that dream role, it's often against the backdrop of very full, and at times challenging personal lives. In my role as career advisor, I've been priviledged to enter into their 'cone of silence'. To gain insights into what motivates and drives them. To better understand their successes, their fears and their aspirations. As I bring together, my Friends in Law, they will share with you 'the collective experience' of so many lawyers. You will hear from those working in and outside of private practice, in government and corporate and learn more about what's shaped their lives and their careers. Find other episodes here and if you enjoyed, don't forget to subscribe and share with your friends in law.