Life experience key for busy family lawyer

Senior solicitor Karen Martin has had a circuitous path into the legal profession. However, her experiences have led to a busy and fulfilling career.

Karen did a variety of roles in New Zealand and Australia before deciding to return to New Zealand in 2014. This provided an opportunity to completely retrain and to follow her passion for law.

Talk us through your working life – where did you start, and how did you get to where you are today? 

I went through high school thinking I wanted to be a primary school teacher. After doing several rounds of work experience, I decided it wasn’t for me! I spent four years doing office admin for a Nelson City Council and Air Nelson in their head office.  

Itching to get out of small-town Nelson, I applied for and won a scholarship to study for a year at the Joyce Blok Beauty Therapy School in Ellerslie. After completing my diploma I managed a salon in Pakuranga for several years and then found myself on a plane to a remote Australian outpost, Norfolk Island. I stayed there for fourteen years, got married and had two children.  

I eventually moved back to NZ after 18 years away and settled back into Auckland.  After working for a few years in cosmetic medicine/surgery on my return, the time was right to think seriously about a career change. My children were getting older and I had an opportunity to retrain. 

Initially I decided to study part time and completed three legal executive papers through the Open Polytechnic. Around that time, I decided to get some hands-on experience in a small property law firm in Grey Lynn as a secretary. After about a year, I had seen enough of “lawyering” to know that I wanted to head to university and study law. My passion was family law. This was borne out of my own difficult experience through the Australian family courts. I headed to law school and began the long slog!

Looking back, what were you good at in school? In hindsight could you say there were signs you would make a good lawyer? 

English and geography. Human interaction came naturally to me, so I always enjoyed being in collaborative school groups.

Is there anything you learned in your early career as a beauty therapist that influences how you practice as a lawyer today? 

Absolutely. I learned invaluable skills for intuitively understanding people, their strengths and vulnerabilities and different types of personalities and what approach to take. These are essential skills for a lawyer and certainly for a family lawyer.

Do you remember the moment that it clicked for you that you wanted a career change? What propelled you into studying to be a legal executive?  

Oddly enough, it was my own lawyer at that time. She had become a friend also and recognised it was a pathway I should investigate. When I told her later down the track I intended to do a law degree, she provided a reference for my university application.

Once you had made the move into the legal profession, did anyone mentor you or encourage you to continue your studies, first as a legal executive then to study law to become a lawyer? Was there someone you looked up to and thought “I would like to have their job one day!” 

As above. I also drew inspiration from a former employer. She obtained her law degree part time over 10 years with two young children which demonstrated to me that it’s never too late to start, provided you have the determination and motivation.

What were the biggest challenges you faced as you were growing your career and making those step changes to what you do now? Did you study and work at the same time? 

I maintained a part time job as a legal executive throughout university with a boutique commercial firm to “keep my hand in”. I was mindful that, being a mature student, it would be difficult to secure a job straight out of university if I had been away from the workforce. The biggest challenge, surprisingly, was not being one of the oldest in the classroom; it was the adjustment of having to start at the bottom again in a new career. Law is something that takes years to develop your skills and I had a lot of catching up to do! I think the key is to find the right environment to learn the best possible skills you can by experts in their field.  

How did you balance everything? 

I had to be a mum and a student, all while working and completing assignments, and studying for exams. It was really tough but I had a great peer group at university and very supportive family. My cheerleaders were my family, especially my Dad and husband.

Was there anyone who discouraged you at any point? Or had concerns? 

Yes, some people thought I was nuts to do it mid-life. I didn’t listen to them and chose to surround myself with supportive people.

What aspect of your job now in family law do you find most rewarding? 

Parenting matters are close to my heart and I enjoy advocating for my clients in court if needed, but equally, trying to reach solution that is the best fit for their family and circumstances through mediation.

What aspect of your job now in family law do you find most difficult?

When people come to see a family lawyer, they are usually hurting, vulnerable, angry, and uncertain. They get frustrated with the slow pace of the judicial process and it is difficult to manage expectations in some cases.  

What do you enjoy about working at Haigh Lyon? 

I am surrounded by great colleagues who have a depth of knowledge that is amazing. I value constructive feedback and the opportunity to learn.

Where to next? Do you have any plans for further professional development or study?

I am in an excellent place to hone my family law skills. At a later date, I would like the opportunity to do Lawyer for Child work.

Finally, can you tell us the ways you like to unwind after work?  

I live in the country on 10 acres. Simply just driving down the driveway is de-stressing! Plus, I am learning to ride a horse!