His father would eventually move his admission in a meaningful day for the Wadlow Solicitors partner
John Wadlow and Blake Wadlow Blake Wadlow “practically grew up” at the firm that would one day employ him. He would observe his father at work as a lawyer – an after-school activity that would pave his path to a legal career.
In the first part of this August interview, the Wadlow Solicitors partner explains why he views the work of lawyers as being “deeply human” and why he encourages his fellow lawyers to “welcome the discomfort and embrace the pressure”.
What made you choose a career in law?
I practically grew up at Wadlow Solicitors, spending my afternoons after school watching my father work as a lawyer. Following in his footsteps into a career in law seemed like a natural fit, and I’ve never looked back!
What's your favourite part of the job?
My favourite part of the job is also one of the most challenging. As a lawyer, you are helping people navigate some of the most difficult and vulnerable moments in their lives within a very complex and unfamiliar legal world. Many clients come to me feeling overwhelmed, bullied, or intimidated and I often find myself telling them “Let me lose sleep over the matter now, not you”. Easing that burden for my clients, even just a little, gives my work real meaning and purpose.
I believe that beyond the law, the work of a lawyer is deeply human; offering comfort, strength and hope to people. It’s that connection and the sense of helping people that gives me the most joy – but also a lot of sleepless nights.
What has been your proudest accomplishment in the last year or so?
This past year has marked a period of extraordinary growth for Wadlow Solicitors, so much so, that we have needed to purchase new premises in the heart of the city. The move is a real milestone for us, and one I am especially proud of. It’s not simply a change of address, but rather, a reflection of the expansion or our team and vision at Wadlow Solicitors.
The process has come with its fair share of challenges and pressure, but I’ve learnt that growth and comfort rarely share the same space. In law, as in life, I always say that you have got to keep going out and doing the thing, and then the next thing, and the momentum will come.
What advice can you give fellow lawyers about it?
My advice to my fellow lawyers is this; welcome the discomfort and embrace the pressure. It will demand more than you think you can give, but you will be surprised by how much you are capable of, and of what you will achieve.
If you could relive one day in your life, which day would it be and why?
I don’t tend to dwell on the past as I prefer to focus on what’s here and what’s ahead. However, there is one day that does stand out for me: my admission day. It was the culmination of years of hard work and the moment that I achieved my goal of following my father into a profession that has shaped so much of my life. My father moved my admission, which made it especially special for both of us. Sharing it with the person whose example inspired me made it more meaningful.
Link to Australasian Lawyer
