Inside a Legal Career: Law School, Courtrooms & Work-Life Balance | Jacinda Johnston

Today on The Guest Speaker, we’re joined by Jacinda Johnston - a Special Counsel at one of New Zealand’s leading law firms, Tompkins Wake - to unpack the realities of studying and working in law.

From being the “bright student” encouraged into law, to studying at University of Waikato and later abroad at Chicago-Kent College of Law, Jacinda shares the pathway behind her successful legal career - and the moments where she questioned whether law was actually right for her.

This episode dives into the different types of law careers available, the intensity of legal study, internship culture, law firm environments, salary expectations, workplace pressures, and the importance of finding the right firm culture.

Jacinda also speaks honestly about balancing motherhood, ambition, and wellbeing while working in a demanding profession.

Whether you’re considering law because you genuinely love it - or because everyone keeps telling you that you “should” - this conversation gives an incredibly grounded look into what life in the legal profession truly involves.