Smith shares what she considers to be the most important work she’s tackled over the past year
For Keely Smith, the best part of in-house legal work is how close she gets to the decision-making process. As the general counsel at the University of Waikato, she and her team juggle legal risks and the business’ strategic objectives.
In the first part of this interview with NZ Lawyer, Smith talks being able to offer advice that has shielded the university from risk and why she’d love to relive the early days of her career.
What made you choose a career in law, and what's your favourite part of the job?
I was drawn to law because it combines structure and problem-solving with people and real-life situations. It’s not just theoretical - you’re helping people and the organisation navigate complex situations and make decisions.
My favourite part of the job, working in-house, is being embedded in the business. You’re not just advising in the abstract; you’re helping shape decisions in real time, balancing legal risk with strategic objectives. That proximity to decision-making is both challenging and rewarding.
What’s been the most memorable event of your career so far?
Rather than a single event, the most memorable experiences have been situations where my advice changed the trajectory of a matter or protected the university from significant risk. Those moments – sometimes under time pressure - reinforce the value of being involved early and strategically, rather than reactively.
What was the most important thing you were involved in over the past year?
Over the past year, the most important work has been strengthening how our team integrates with the wider university - particularly through improving processes, visibility, and responsiveness. That includes leveraging tools and systems to streamline legal workflows and ensure the team can focus on high-value advisory work rather than administrative burden.
If you could relive one day in your life, which would it be and why?
I’d probably choose a day early in my career when everything still felt new and uncertain - but full of possibility. Theres a certain clarity and energy in those moments that’s easy to lose over time. Reliving that perspective would be a useful reminder of how much growth comes from stepping into the unknown.
