A Message from Our Chair - Perpetua Kish

 What sparked The Kind Lawyers?  A few years ago, I was at crossroads, and feeling disillusioned by the profession. I was in Court a lot and was experiencing feelings I now recognise as the beginnings of burnout. I also saw the damaging effects of Court and prolonged high conflict on families going through separation. I felt as though lawyers weren’t completely cognisant of their role in the conflict, and in some cases, were fuelling it. Sometimes the aggression was overt, but mostly, lawyers were just doing things “the way they’ve always been done”, accepting adversarial behaviours as the “norm”.

 Being a “kind lawyer” is all about making connections, being mindful of the bigger picture and recognising the impact of our actions. What is in our control to change? And what can we do to improve the experience of the law and conflict for our clients, and for ourselves? Such accountability has immeasurably positive outcomes: more manageable conflict, improved communication between professionals and with clients, and less stress and anxiety - all while improving the reputation of our profession.

 However, competing with one another (as lawyers often do) won’t help us reach the goal of achieving these outcomes. Rather, by being open to learning from each other, supporting each other. and celebrating our differences, we can experience the true spirit of collaboration and drive impactful change.

 My colleagues and founding members, Kirsty, Tanya, Amy, Jono, Iveta, Anya and Cristina, who have experienced similar challenges throughout their careers, share this vision. Over the years, we have built relationships of trust, respect and a shared desired to make a positive difference.

 So, as a team, we have founded The Kind Lawyers movement. As individuals, we will forge our own path, but collectively we can create real impact. That’s the power of teamwork! That's the power of kindness.

Join the TKL movement 🖤

Perpetua - Chair