What's your job about?
The Environment and Planning team at Simpson Grierson is nationally connected across several offices. A large portion of our work is for various local councils across New Zealand where we assist with a variety of matters from attending hearings on resource consents and council plan reviews, to advising on issues relating to dog control and pseudo-law. It might not all be saving turtles, but it is an incredibly meaningful and increasingly important area of work.
What's your background?
I grew up in a small rural beach town before moving to Hamilton to study environmental planning and law. I first summer clerked in our Auckland office in 2019, before completing my
studies and returning in 2022 as a graduate in the Christchurch office where I remain today. I first applied to Simpson Grierson because of its reputation for providing an exceptional experience to summer clerks/graduates in the early stages of their careers. Having now worked here for over one year, I can see that that experience is still just the beginning and is something that I am incredibly grateful for.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
The cool thing about law is that different life experiences offer different perspectives on an issue, so, yes, anyone could do this job. So long as you have a passion for your area and a keen attitude there is value to be had.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
I love working with local councils who are working to benefit the earth, and the people on it, and the fact that you (cliché I know) never quite know what is going to land on your desk. I also recently attended my first Environment Court hearing for a matter that I had put significant work into so was incredibly rewarding.
What are the limitations of your job?
Law is a big commitment, and it is high pressure, so you need to be prepared to put in the grind. Something that I don’t enjoy is the complexity of the law for laypeople to understand but, while in some cases inevitable, there is certainly a growing awareness and effort to make the law more accessible.
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