Nick Le Mare recently left an in-house career at Queensland Rail to join Corrs in Brisbane. Australasian Lawyer asks him why, how he likes private practice, and what he would do if he wasn't a lawyer
Nick Le Mare recently left an in-house career at Queensland Rail to join Corrs Chambers Westgarth in Brisbane. Australasian Lawyer asks him why, how he likes private practice so far, and what he would do if he wasn't a lawyer
How would you sum up lawyers in three words? Interesting, inspiring...mostly.
What made you decide to become a lawyer? I attended a hostile AGM as an arts student and saw the company’s lawyers having all the fun.
In-house, or private practice? Which is better and why? Neither is better or worse, just different.
What was the single most useful thing you learned in-house? Answer in as few words as possible and don’t give reasons unless you are asked.
What has been the best thing about private practice so far? Immersing yourself in a variety of industries rather than one.
What do you think is the single biggest issue facing employment / workplace / health & safety lawyers in Australia in 2014? I think it goes for all of us: a tough economy and rising competition.
What’s the strangest and/or most interesting case you’ve ever been involved with as a lawyer? I would say “cases”. Highly charged industrial ones. Full on at the time, but heaps of fun.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? Take time to live.
What would you change about the legal industry if you could? Unrepresented litigants (sorry). Unless the person is highly skilled, it’s generally not good for anyone.
Complete this sentence: If I wasn’t a lawyer, I would be…Likely pretty lost. I love this job.
How do you take your coffee? Flat white and trying (unsuccessfully) to stop the “with one”.
How would you sum up lawyers in three words? Interesting, inspiring...mostly.
What made you decide to become a lawyer? I attended a hostile AGM as an arts student and saw the company’s lawyers having all the fun.
In-house, or private practice? Which is better and why? Neither is better or worse, just different.
What was the single most useful thing you learned in-house? Answer in as few words as possible and don’t give reasons unless you are asked.
What has been the best thing about private practice so far? Immersing yourself in a variety of industries rather than one.
What do you think is the single biggest issue facing employment / workplace / health & safety lawyers in Australia in 2014? I think it goes for all of us: a tough economy and rising competition.
What’s the strangest and/or most interesting case you’ve ever been involved with as a lawyer? I would say “cases”. Highly charged industrial ones. Full on at the time, but heaps of fun.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? Take time to live.
What would you change about the legal industry if you could? Unrepresented litigants (sorry). Unless the person is highly skilled, it’s generally not good for anyone.
Complete this sentence: If I wasn’t a lawyer, I would be…Likely pretty lost. I love this job.
How do you take your coffee? Flat white and trying (unsuccessfully) to stop the “with one”.
