She also touches on the different ways lawyers can mentor others
Last week, Australasian Lawyer caught up with new Kain Lawyers director Kelly Davies, who told us about the different courses she took before landing in a legal career – particularly her specialisation in energy and projects. In the second part of this interview, she talks about how being open-minded has helped her in her career, and why mentorship need not be formal.
What’s the biggest lesson you learned in your career and what advice can you give fellow lawyers about it?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to be yourself, but stay open and adaptable. Throughout my career, I’ve met wonderful people — and a few not-so-wonderful — and each one has taught me something about who I am and who I want to be.
It’s not always easy. There are days I feel out of place or question whether I should be the one adapting. But remaining open-minded has made me a better advisor and listener (despite my reputation for talking!). There are still days I think I’d thrive in a job that lets me stay home in my pyjamas all day — but I do get up, go out, and meet incredible people. And I come home grateful that I get to do it as me… and yes, look forward to putting the pyjamas back on.
What should the profession focus more on?
Mentorship. It’s been a constant in my career, even when my own path into law was anything but conventional. Coming from a science background, I didn’t always get the interviews or breaks I hoped for — but I always had mentors who backed me.
Our profession sometimes undervalues the broader skills we develop outside the law, and how powerful it can be to use those experiences to support others. Mentorship doesn’t have to be formal — it can be as simple as reading a cover letter, sharing a connection, or recognising the unseen effort behind someone’s achievements. I’d love to see our profession focus more on those daily opportunities to build confidence and collaboration in the next generation of lawyers.
What challenges are particularly pressing in the country’s legal industry?
For me, the biggest challenge continues to be talent, retention, and wellbeing. Law is a long game — there are few quick wins, financially or otherwise. The challenge is sustaining the work ethic required for high-quality service while looking after ourselves emotionally and physically.
It takes teamwork, discipline, and genuine care — both professionally and personally — to build sustainable careers in this industry.
What are your thoughts on new technology and its impact on the legal profession?
Technology is reshaping the legal profession in ways that go far beyond efficiency. It’s changing how we think about legal work itself. For years, innovation meant digitising old processes — document management, time recording, discovery. That was automation. Now, we’re seeing transformation.
AI, data analytics, and digital platforms are redefining how legal judgment is formed and how clients engage. The real challenge isn’t whether technology will replace lawyers, but how we evolve our value proposition. Clients don’t need more data — they need sharper judgment and context.
The lawyers who thrive will be those who can integrate technology into their thinking, not just their workflow. And as we move to hybrid models, deliberate mentoring will be crucial so that the craft of law — the part that can’t be automated — isn’t lost.
What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
This year has brought a lot of change — and while I’m a creature of routine, I’m embracing it. I’m excited to re-establish my energy practice at Kain Lawyers, which has an outstanding reputation in mid-market transactions and aligns perfectly with my experience.
After a brief stint in consulting, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with clients and bringing more innovative energy deals to completion. Personally, I’m looking forward to celebrating my daughter’s graduation from junior school, cheering my son on at the go-kart track, and spending more time with my wonderful husband.
