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It’s a New Year  (insert chants of ‘Happy New Year’ here) and I have the perfect guest to kick us into 2020!  In this week’s episode of the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life Podcast’ I had the pleasure of interviewing lawyer and mediator Kate Clark.  Now this was my second attempt at interviewing Kate as the first time round I completely mucked up our audio so I am very grateful that she came back for round 2!

Kate is everything I love about gutsy women lawyers.  Having begun her career in family and criminal law she and her husband made a decision to move their family to the Sunshine Coast- you might call it a lifestyle decision- I would call it a smart life decision and it has paid off.  Kate is making her law career work for her rather than the other way around.  She has established a niche firm offering restorative justice mediation in criminal and family law matters- a style of practice that is being embraced worldwide for the ability to genuinely settle disputes.

And because we could we talked beach life, raising kids, the wonderful thing that is ‘the juggle’ and a whole lot more so sit back and enjoy the perfect interview to kickstart a new year.

In this interview, Kate and I also chatted about-

• If Kate was not a lawyer she would have been a stand-up comedian or child entertainer!
• The difference between serious and important when it comes to law.
• Kate lives in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast and loves her coffee runs.
• Growing up in Ipswich, Kate had a fulfilling childhood with lots of freedom to  play outside.
• In high school, Kate first found her interest in law.
• Kate started out doing a few clerkships, including some volunteer clerkship placements and her experience in these roles.
• Kate attended Griffith University for her studies and was then lucky enough to undertake an Associate-ship with former Justice Michelle May (aka Episode 112) in the Family Court.
• After her time working at the Court, Kate worked at the Queensland Law Reform Commission before moving into private practice.
• Kate has had a series of great mentors over her time and shared some of her biggest takeaways.
• The decision to move to Noosa, opening her firm and raising a small child.
• Kate’s mediation firm is unique in the fact that she works in the Criminal and Family Mediation Space conducting Restorative Justice mediation.
• The meaning of Restorative Justice Mediation and the process it takes her clients on.
• Restorative Justice vs the traditional Justice system.
• Conflict avoidance is a natural human reaction but Kate encourages her clients to stay in the conflict, be heard and listen to others.
• A week in the life of Kate Clark.
• Kate’s Happiness Tip

Sit back and enjoy this interview with Kate Clark.

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Learn more here about upcoming events and courses and connect with Clarissa Rayward at the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre-  A community for lawyers who want to make the best out of their life in and outside of the law.   

Listen to last week’s episode here