Jul 2020 | Anne O’Loughlin & Bonnie Phillips | Coulter Roache

July 2020 | Anne O'Loughlin, Managing Principal of Coulter Roache

   

I am extremely grateful for…

I am extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to study law at Monash University as a very mature age student (age 43). I had wanted to study law at a much earlier age, but was busy raising three children. I am also extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to study with inspiring fellow mature age students who were, like me, juggling a family and paid employment albeit on a part time basis. Without our collegiality throughout my studies, I do not know whether I would have made it through the degree. We are still friends to this day and continue to support each other through our varied careers. I am also very grateful that Coulter Roache had enough faith in me to give me a job almost 16 years ago upon my completion of my degree.

A key mentor who influenced my career is…

One of my key mentors in my career has been my colleague and friend, Alicia Carroll. I worked with Alicia when I started at Coulter Roache and she became the head of the family law team before taking maternity leave. Alicia returned to Coulter Roache after maternity leave and although she is now a commercial lawyer she is still a strong influence in my career and has encouraged me every step of the way. Alicia taught me by example how to be a leader and how to treat others in general, particularly in caring for each other in the work environment, which can be very stressful. I know that I would not be where I am today without Alicia’s guidance and support and of course, her friendship.

Before I started at Coulter Roache…

Before I started at Coulter Roache, I was working on a part time basis as a Corrections Officer (in the community) with the Department of Justice. I worked in this role for approximately six years, while also completing my law degree on a part time basis for two of those years. I undertook the final two years of my law degree on a full time basis after receiving a scholarship for a HECS placement as opposed to being a full fee paying student. Prior to commencing at Corrections I was a full time mother, which was the most important and fulfilling role I have ever undertaken. While I was at home with the children I studied and obtained my Bachelor of Arts at Deakin University and then moved on to do a Diploma in Social Justice, which led me to my role in corrections.

Outside of the law…

Outside of the law I am the mother of three beautiful children and a very proud and biased grandmother of three beautiful grandchildren. One of my grandchildren is almost three, and the other two are almost one. I love spending time with family, which is why I am a fierce advocate for work life balance and flexible working hours. I also love my community involvement currently as Chair of the board of Lazarus Community Centre, which serves the homeless and socially isolated in Geelong. I am also on the Ethics Committee of MacKillop Family Services, a role I undertook after being on the Board for nine years. It is so important to give back to the community and I always say that I get more out of the involvement than I give. Outside of the law I also try to play tennis but (with two dodgy knees) is becoming more difficult. I continue to give it a go as the social aspect is a big part of the love of the game. I also love spending time with friends and extended family when I can.

 

 

July 2020 | Bonnie Phillips, VWL Executive Member, Head of Family Law at Coulter Roache

   

I became a lawyer because…

I became a lawyer as I am passionate about helping people and advocating for those who may be disadvantaged, particularly during difficult times in their lives. Being a family lawyer has provided me with a wonderful platform to do this type of work and I have found it to be a very rewarding career to date. I also became a lawyer because I enjoy working as part of team and adopting collaborative and holistic approaches to resolving matters for my clients. Our family law team at Coulter Roache currently consists of 14 people, which enables this style of working and allows me to actively mentor the junior lawyers, which is another aspect of being a lawyer that I thoroughly enjoy.

 

The best advice I ever received was...

I have been lucky to have received lots of advice and guidance throughout my career, and it is difficult to pick just one piece of advice that has benefitted me the most! As a junior lawyer, a great piece of advice I received, was to get involved in networking and marketing activities from the get go. It is never too early to start building your profile and networks within the legal profession and broader community. I found that this opened up many opportunities that I may not have otherwise had if I focused solely on my billable work as a junior lawyer. As a more senior lawyer, particularly being a female lawyer, another piece of advice that I have found useful, is to back yourself and don’t be afraid to strive for and ask for what you want out of your career.

 

What have I learnt about myself in the last year…

Over the last year, I was appointed to Principal Lawyer and Head of Family Law at Coulter Roache. During this journey, I have learnt many things about myself, particularly as I transitioned into a leadership role. In particular, I have learnt the importance of sustaining and promoting a work life balance and encouraging the rest of the team to do so. Family law can be a grueling and stressful practice area at times and it is important to look after yourself so that you can be your best for your clients and colleagues.

Throughout the recent Covid-19 pandemic, I have also learnt how important it is to me, to remain connected to my colleagues, friends and family and I have endeavored to make this a priority. I have also found that this has been of benefit to the rest of the family law team, particular as we have also been working remotely from home.  

A key mentor who influenced my career is…

A key mentor who has influenced my career is Jennifer Batrouney AM QC. As a young law student in 2007, Jennifer took me under her wing and gave me experience in legal research, prior to taking me to the High Court in 2008 to observe a landmark case, which I subsequently studied in law school. This experience fueled my drive to become a lawyer and provided me with an opportunity to meet other lawyers and ultimately gain a position as a trainee lawyer following the conclusion of my law degree. Thereafter, Jennifer remained incredibly generous with her time, often meeting with me for coffees to discuss career progression and any otherwise queries that I have had regarding the law. I am forever grateful to Jennifer for the time that she invested in me as it has been invaluable to me throughout my career.

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