Some come to the law on a direct path from school and university. However, for others it’s a second career or an additional skill set they add further along their career journey. Hear from our panel of inspiring legal practitioners who have all come to the law later in life. They will share their career stories, how they gained experience and how found their place in the profession as a ‘mature’ lawyer.
Panellists
Matthew Hickey
Barrister, Level Twenty Seven ChambersMatthew is a barrister with considerable trial and appellate experience, especially in high-profile, commercially and reputationally-sensitive matters, across diverse areas of practice.
In his first career, though, Matthew was a professional operatic tenor. He performed in operas, oratorios and on the international concert stage. Highlights include recording at Abbey Road and Sir George Martin’s Air Studios in London, collaborating with Oscar-winning composer John Barry and Grammy-award winning producer Simon Franglen, and performing at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the AFL Grand Final.
In 2001, he was awarded the Commonwealth Centenary Medal for distinguished service to the Australian music industry.
In 2010, he retired from music, and went to the bar, after a short stint at a top-tier firm.
Since then, he has been named among the “Best Lawyers in Australia” by the Australian Financial Review for 2019, 2020 and 2021 (in four categories: commercial law, insolvency & organisation, litigation, and construction & infrastructure law). Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession recognises him as a leading counsel in commercial litigation & dispute resolution (2018 to 2020 – Qld), insolvency & restructuring (2018 to 2020 – Qld), and building & construction (2016 to 2020 – Qld, 2020 – National).
He is a board member and director of companies, charitable associations, community groups, and university advisory bodies
Clare Jobson
Principal Solicitor, CJ LegalClare Jobson has her own law practice CJ Legal which is she opened in Adelaide in 2015 . CJ Legal is now based in Brisbane where Clare resides with her partner Jason.
Arriving at law later in life, Clare initially worked as a nurse throughout Australia and in the United Kingdom.
Ready for a new challenge Clare left Adelaide as a nurse, and moved to Darwin where she studied a dual degree in law and IT. Clare was still working as a nurse, and in other casual employment roles while studying full time.
Life as a Defence Spouse means that Clare has lived and worked in Darwin, Sydney, Adelaide and now Brisbane. Each move has brought about different challenges.
Clare’s legal career includes adapting to different state jurisdictions and working for Government, in Private Practice and in the Community Legal Sector.
In July 2015 Clare completed her Independent Children’s Lawyer course, which in combination with her 24+ years of nursing and other experience brings a unique perspective to her legal practice.
Clare has appeared on the Happy Lawyer Happy Life (episode 121) and the Military Wife Military Life (episode 49) Podcasts.
Katie Lush
President, USQ Law Society, 2021 Graduate Law Clerk, Shine LawyersAfter finishing school in the late 80’s I went on to complete a Bachelor of Teaching from QUT majoring in primary school music. I worked for the Qld Education Department as a music specialist until 1996 when I had my first child. Between 1996 and 2016 I went on to have two more biological children as well as becoming a foster carer and mother to three additional children. I never returned to teaching.
In 2016, with my eldest children finishing school and leaving home, I had somewhat of a midlife crisis as I was still young and realised, I would need to do something else with my life once the nest was empty. This is where my journey in the law began.
I enrolled in USQ’s Bachelor of Laws and commenced semester 1, 2016. That same year I completed the JP (Qual) course and in 2017 begun volunteering as a JP in the Toowoomba Court House. This led to part time work as an administrative officer in the Toowoomba Magistrates court.
In 2017 I competed in and won the USQ Law Society’s first year moot competition and I represented USQ at the AAT National NOOT competition.
In 2018 I took on the role of Competitions Director for the USQ Law Society and represented USQLS at the ALSA Championship Moot.
In 2019 I was elected the USQLS Vice President – Toowoomba. I competed in and won the USQLS Championship Moot and Best Advocate award. I represented USQ at the Jessup Moot in Canberra and USQLS at QILC in client interviewing.
In 2020 I completed the summer clerkship program with Shine Lawyers and was elected president of the USQ Law Society. I have accepted a position in the graduate program at Shine Lawyers to commence in February 2021.
Dr Patricia Petersen,
Lawyer, Legal Exchange AustraliaDr Patricia Petersen is a Barrister and Solicitor who works in the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. Her main areas of law are criminal law and family law.
Patricia graduated with a law degree from the University of Southern Queensland, and did her PLT at the College of Law.
She trained as a nurse when she left school, then after saving her money to attend university, obtained a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours at the University of New South Wales, a PhD from the University of Queensland and a film degree at Griffith. She also studied acting at NIDA.
Patricia continues to be an Australian academic, giving papers and engaging in research.
Prior to being a lawyer, she spent decades giving papers as an invited speaker at universities all over the world and lecturing in universities, including the University of Melbourne and University of Queensland. She was a was a Visiting Scholar in the Philosophy Department at New York University in 1997 and a Visiting Fellow at St Andrews University Scotland in 2000.