Tara Adams, senior legal counsel at lexvoco, tells Australasian Lawyer about the strangest case she’s ever worked on.
What made you decide to become a lawyer?
Finishing law school! However I did find my Year 7 school portfolio years later and I had written in it that I wanted to be a lawyer when I grew up. However I’m pretty sure I had no idea what a lawyer even was at that stage.
What brought you to lexvoco?
I started at lexvoco after reading about an awesome job vacancy in my area of expertise that offered fantastic flexibility. I ended up staying with lexvoco because the Principal, Anthony Wright, is great to work with.
If you could invite three people for dinner, dead or alive and excluding family and friends, who would they be and why?
I wouldn’t want anyone to arrive tired or jetlagged, and I’m into dining locally, so I would invite Julian Burnside, Human Rights Lawyer and activist, Mick Thomas, musician (hopefully he might play Rosy and Grey), and Em Rusciano, calling it-like-it-is journalist/comedian.
What’s the strangest case you’ve ever worked on/been involved with?
It would have to be a counterfeit case I worked on in Indonesia. We were tasked with co-ordinating the investigation of a factory under suspicion of piracy. After completing the reconnaissance, it was irrefutable that they were pirating movies so we provided evidence to the local authorities who were to arrange a raid the following day. Upon entering the next morning though, the DVD printing factory had completely disappeared, there was no evidence whatsoever that they had ever been there – gone overnight.
Where is the best place to go for a drink and dinner in Melbourne?
Meatmother on Swan Street in Richmond. They have a bacon pisco sour, enough said.
What’s the best piece of advice (work or personal) you’ve ever been given?
I think everyone should take the advice of “just be nice”. With regards to work, as an articled clerk, my mentor always said the best clerk or junior lawyer was the one who knew when they didn’t know the answer, and was comfortable to speak up and ask questions to find out. To this day, I follow this advice myself and pass it on to lawyers who I mentor.
Do you have any hobbies/interests outside of work?
I run, a lot. I run for Can Too Australia, which raises money to fund cancer research. I also captain and mentor runners who are training for marathons and other events through Can Too. I enjoy volunteering and helping out through the myriad of activities my children partake in as well.
What do you love about your job?
The variety of projects I get to be involved with and the flexible working environment. I also really like the people I work with - both my colleagues and my clients.
