Especially in his field of law, junior lawyers need access to engaging work, he says
Edwin Boshier has learned that any case, no matter how big or small, can mean “almost everything” to the parties involved. With the way he views the importance of law, the Duncan Cotterill sees access to justice and lawyer development as being critical to the legal profession.
In the second half of this interview, Boshier tells NZ Lawyer why junior lawyers need good access to engaging work that includes “time on their feet” despite the cost of litigation, and why tech adoption should never get in the way of being able to sit down for honest conversations – or to think critically.
Two related things – access to justice and developing competent and confident lawyers and advocates. These are pretty basic, I guess, but we need to bear in mind that focusing more on any one thing means focusing less on another, which I find really hard when we’re surrounded by so much messaging and collateral telling us that everything’s essential.
What are the challenges you expect in your practice, and in the business of law in general, going forward? What challenges are particularly pressing in the country’s legal industry?
I expect there will be a great many! In my practice, one is making sure that junior lawyers get good access to engaging work, including time on their feet. The costs and nature of litigation seem to be making that more difficult but I think it’s important. Another is making sure we don’t let technology (remote meetings, the inevitable adoption of AI, etc.) compromise our ability to sit down with clients and other lawyers to have honest and useful conversations, or to think critically.
At a more general level, I expect some big and pressing challenges will include working out the climate-related legal obligations of private persons and businesses, and properly resourcing the Ministry of Justice and the courts.
I’m looking forward to meeting and helping more people and clients – partnership opens that up to a greater extent.
