JOELENE SEATON

Family law…I didn’t choose it….it chose me. My vision out of university was to become a high-flying corporate lawyer. You know, like the glamourous type on Suits or Ally McBeal (showing my age here!).

My first work experience gig was at a boutique family law firm. It didn’t feel like the perfect fit from the start. I hate conflict and wasn’t excited about having to take sides between warring couples. And the only glamourous part about it was the wealthy middle-aged female clients.

Still chasing that elusive dream, I then moved across to commercial law. But alas, no glamour there either. Turns out spending hours on end reviewing contracts and leases was less eventful than it looked on the television shows. Besides, I really missed the personal connections that came with family law. I called my old boss and headed back to family law.

I now know that my first impressions of what it meant to be a family lawyer were wrong. You don’t need to be combative. You don’t need to dwell on the trivial. You can be diplomatic. You can choose the higher road.  You can see the wood for the trees. 20 years on, I now know that these are all the things I love about being a family lawyer.

When I’m not looking after my clients, you’ll find me walking my Labradoodles along the beachfront paths, meditating or watching unrealistic courtroom dramas on tv!