Speaking with Lawyers Weekly, Rebecca Haynes, a senior lawyer at MinterEllison and seasonal academic tutor at UTS and University of Sydney, and Carolina Soto, barrister at Black Chambers and lecturer at the School of Law at UNSW, shared the significant advantages of pursuing a teaching career alongside a legal profession and provided insights into practical strategies for balancing the responsibilities associated with both careers.

The personal and professional benefits

Rebecca Haynes explained that her transition into teaching was a “natural progression” in her career trajectory, as she has spent the past decade engaged in education law and addressing legal issues about young individuals.

Haynes said that engaging in the teaching profession has afforded her the opportunity “to follow my interests, and it fits well with my personal values, including learning, helping others and mentoring”.

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In a professional content, Haynes expressed that teaching others has proven to be profoundly advantageous for her career as it facilitates her continuous “learning and developing [of] new skills”.

She further remarked that her affiliation with a university allows her to “attend talks and seminars”, enabling her to remain informed about the “latest developments” in the legal field.

Additionally, this environment provides her the opportunity “to meet other members of the legal profession, including solicitors, barristers and legal academics”.

On a more personal level, Haynes conveyed that her career in teaching has afforded her greater “autonomy and flexibility” compared to a traditional law career, enabling her to dedicate valuable time to her family.

Carolina Soto described her dual roles as a legal professional and an educator as a “godsend” as this unique combination allows her to pursue her two passions: the field of “law and teaching law to the new generation of lawyers”.

For Soto, one of the most significant advantages of teaching has been the opportunity to witness the influence she has had on her students, stating how she has been able to see them “in action in court years later and putting into practice what we worked on and discussed during class years earlier”.

Throughout her time as an educator, Soto expressed that every class, regardless of the subject matter, has provided her “with a reinvigorated zest and love for the law”, which she contends can often be “lost along the way” as one engages in the daily practice of law.

The balancing act

While the rewards of teaching are clear, managing the time and energy demands of both practising law and being an educator can be challenging.

Haynes emphasised that teaching students requires considerable “energy and commitment” to ensure you are adequately prepared to engage with students with a strong “enthusiasm” towards learning and studying law.

The key to maintaining balance for her is to “outsource whatever I can” to optimise her time effectively. She also indicated that she and her husband collaboratively share household responsibilities by “playing to our strengths” and dividing tasks according to their skill sets.

To effectively navigate the dual roles of teacher and lawyer, Haynes underscored the importance of self-care, emphasising that it is a critical aspect that must not be neglected when balancing these two demanding professions.

“I try to practise self-care where I can, which means going to bed early, catching up with friends and walking almost every day with my husband and dogs. I also have downtime by myself,” Haynes said.

Soto has found that the most effective strategy for balancing her roles involves “prioritising urgent tasks and maintaining [the] expectations of clients and students”.

To accommodate her busy court schedule alongside the demanding schedules of her students, Soto has indicated that “meeting with students remotely in and around university” has proven to be a practical solution.

Practical advice

For practising lawyers who aspire to engage in teaching, Haynes recommends “start off slowly and try something small”, such as “marking or teaching a tutorial”.

She emphasised the significance of this gradual method, as it enables lawyers to assess where they “like the work and if it fits in with your practice”.

Haynes also cautioned that this type of work is typically “casual and sessional”, with notable lulls, particularly during the Christmas and New Year period. Consequently, she advised individuals to allow themselves “time to build up your work”.

Additionally, she advised lawyers to remain adaptable regarding their teaching areas and to consider engaging in subjects “where you may have some knowledge but aren’t an expert [in]”, as it enables you to be “as versatile as possible”.

Haynes strongly encouraged individuals interested in pursuing a career in teaching, emphasising that “your work has the potential to have a huge impact on students and emerging lawyers”.

Soto shared that teaching was essential to her transition back to work after maternity by providing her with the needed “flexibility around having a baby”.

She added: “It was a great step towards coming back to work but in a slow and progressive way [that] balanced the demands of motherhood. I have never looked back.”