Belinda Tralli | K & L Gates
What is the most rewarding part of the work you do?
The most rewarding part of the work I do is educating clients about the law to help them better understand the legal risks that they are taking in their businesses. This is relevant for all my clients however it is particularly relevant for my pro bono clients who are not for profits and charities, as these organisations typically do not have the funds to prioritise legal reviews and legal advice for their contracts.
For some organisations it is really important to make assessments of whether or not they want to seek legal advice on a contract to contract basis because they cannot seek legal advice on all contracts. The more I work with, and educate, my clients, the more their understanding of the law evolves. It is rewarding to see clients who able to recognise the red flags and high risk clauses in the contracts they receive, where previously they may not have been able to do so, or worse - presumed that the risk was insignificant or low without fully understanding or appreciating the risk. It’s also rewarding to see clients empowered to discuss the agreements I have reviewed or prepared for them, in a commercial way.
Unfortunately access to the law is not equal for all businesses and not having the resources to get legal assistance creates a power imbalance between businesses. There are protections for small businesses in place (such as the Australian Consumer Law), however legal assistance is still required when negotiating contracts. For this reason it is so important that firms provide legal assistance on a pro bono basis. I am very proud to be able to provide pro bono assistance and to be a part of the pro bono committee in my firm’s Melbourne office, and I look forward to being able to continue to help clients in need of pro bono assistance.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I try to balance the busyness of my work life with a relaxed personal life - it doesn’t always happen though. I try to make the most of my downtime, especially in between busy periods at work. I like to go for a walk each morning with a coffee and finish my days with yoga or mediation, though sometimes it ends up being Netflix and a chocolate bar. I like to spend time with my loved ones. On the weekends you’ll likely find me getting coffee, or trying a new place to eat, with family or friends. I also love to travel when I can. I am writing my response to this question on a beach in the Greek Islands!
I’ve recently decided to focus more on my interest in yoga. I have been practising yoga on and off for 10 years. I completed a 200hr yoga teacher training earlier in the year, and will be moving to part time (4 day) work weeks so that I can start teaching. I’m hoping that this will allow me to maintain a sharp focus on the work I do at K&L Gates, and encourage my creative side. I’m excited to share my passion for movement with others.
What does community mean to you? Why do you think community is important?
I have a really close-knit family where I live in Melbourne. I’ve been really lucky growing up in a place where I have always felt so much love and support from those around me. Family was my first community and the one that has been with me my whole life. We’ve often gathered around food and/or coffee. Whether that is lunches with the whole family at my grandmother’s house, or a quick coffee between errands on a Saturday morning. To me, sharing something (whether it is a commonality such as a workplace or an interest such as a sport) creates community. Community is important because it makes us feel accepted and supported, and empowers us to be the greatest version of ourselves, learning from one another and encouraging one another.
