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Learning to love life and law again
While the age of coronavirus has presented myriad personal and professional challenges for lawyers, it has also provided a unique opportunity to redesign one’s schedule and reinforce what gets you out of bed in the morning, says Marianne Marchesi.
Jerome Doraisamy
In an op-ed published almost one year ago, Legalite founder and principal Marianne Marchesi – who in 2018 won the Sole Practitioner of the Year category at the Australian Law Awards – wrote that it is only by stepping away from the traditional legal model, doing things differently and simplifying how law is practiced, can lawyers begin to create a life that they love.
The age of coronavirus, however, “really took away this choice”, she reflected, as lawyers across the board were forced to blend their work and personal lives, both physically and emotionally.
“There may be aspects of this ‘blending’ that people have been happy to do away with (such as home-schooling!) as we return to some form of normality, but I think it’s important to try and retain some other aspects that were enjoyable, such as flexible working,” she said.
The juggling act between work and personal life was “no more apparent than during the pandemic”, Ms Marchesi recalled.
“When these competing pressures collide, it can lead to depression, anxiety or even burn out. As we emerge from the pandemic, I think it’s highlighted, for a lot of lawyers, which things matter to them the most,” she posited.
“This has had the positive side-effect of setting higher expectations for our careers and personal lives. I think lawyers have realised that they don’t need to tolerate toxic workplaces and how important it is to make time for loved ones, especially when we couldn’t see family and friends for some time.”
When asked about how lawyers can ensure they don’t fall back into old habits, and ensure they can maintain an existence that they love, Ms Marchesi said that coming back to one’s purpose is the best way to drive creativity, passion and motivation.
“For example, our mission at Legalite is to simplify legal services. Understanding and embracing this purpose means that we are constantly thinking of strategies to deliver legal services in a way that is accessible and understandable,” she outlined.
“Clients respond so positively to these strategies, and we know that we are truly helping them, which motivates us to continue to innovate.”
For Ms Marchesi, the past year has served as a reminder of why she started her firm in the first place.
“In some ways, Legalite had to think like a ‘start-up’ again during the pandemic – such as by going back to basics and operating a lean business model. In turn, I was really able to shape my days and create some positive habits – such as taking my dog for a walk, exercise and meditation,” she noted.
“I knew that if I didn’t do these things, my mental health would suffer and so would the business. It’s the old cliché about putting your own oxygen mask on first, which certainly rang true for me during the pandemic!
“In some ways, the pandemic has been reassuring that the business could survive, and didn’t have to ‘pivot’. And I’ll definitely be holding on to the positive habits to come out of COVID-19!”
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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