Episode 230 – ‘Do your own thing and take a different path’ with Rachael Bosnjak
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In this week’s episode of the ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life Podcast’ I had the pleasure of interviewing immigration lawyer, Rachael Bosnjak.
Rachael is someone who I’ve gotten to know through this Podcast as a dedicated listener so it is fitting that she is bringing home our last 7 episodes ever!
About a year ago now, right in the midst of the pandemic with international borders closed, Rachael took a giant leap and opened her own law firm, Passage Migration. Now you might think opening a migration practice at a time when migration was near impossible was a little left of centre but a year down the track and we can now say that Rachael was ahead of the curve, literally!
Rachael’s creativity is the heart of her success in designing and operating her own business- her recent sketches in a workshop we both attended made me jealous!
As I’m starting to wrap up the Happy Lawyer Happy Life Podcast after 6 wonderful years, this chat with Rachael was fantastic in discussing where the conversation around lawyers finding happiness began all those years ago, compared to where it is now. I had so many moments through this Podcast recording where I was reminded why I started this whole thing – the chance to talk to incredible people across the world that I otherwise would not have met, and all of the incredible listeners out there- Rachael being one of them.
Thank you for this wonderful interview Rachael, and I look forward to seeing the Aston Martin goal come to life!
In this interview, Rachael and I also chatted about –
- If Rachael was not a lawyer she would have been an academic, and she finds joy in seeing someone’s marks improve.
- Memories from her childhood growing up in sunny Brisbane.
- Rachael was 12 when she decided she wanted to become a lawyer, and later attended law school at Griffith University.
- With a mixed heritage of Irish and Croatian, Rachael’s interest in Immigration Law was sparked at University.
- Experience is the best teacher and Rachael’s first few years were spent dabbling in Criminal Law and Personal Injury in addition to Immigration Law.
- Rachael understands why there is such a large rate of graduate lawyer dropouts and shares some of her own experiences.
- Working in Immigration Law and the diverse range of work she put her hand up for.
- After completing an MBA and managing a practice, Rachael briefly left the law to start on her own path.
- Coming across The Club community and finding her love for law again.
- Launching ‘Passage Migration’ on 2021 and the ‘solopreneur’ model.
- The perks of working for herself, in contrast with the challenges of owning a business.
- Being your own boss and, the importance of your financial choices in the early days.
- Rachael gives her tips for living out your values and purpose in business.
- Being vulnerable isn’t a weakness and the value of sharing with like-minded people in law.
- Setting up students for success at University.
- #lawpreneur and Rachel’s perspective on alternative pathways, work structure and culture.
- Rachael’s words of wisdom; ‘Do your own thing and take a different path.’
- Rachael’s Happiness Tip.
Sit back and enjoy this interview with Rachael Bosnjak.
There are still a couple more interviews to come before this show comes to an end, but fret not – I am still doing all of the Happy Lawyer things! In true Clarissa style we will be celebrating the end of the Podcast with a party alongside the incredible College of Law, not to mention the upcoming Retreat in November. If you want to stay in the loop, just check out my Instagram @thehappyfamilylawyer.
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