Her story

Melissa is a Partner at McCullough Robertson Lawyers.

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Without mentioning your job title, how would you describe what it is you do now (whether at home, work, in the community, etc.)?

I connect authentically with people and help them identify, understand and solve problems to achieve their goals (usually with a clear and concisely drafted contract!).

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What are the first three words you think of when you hear the word ‘diversity’?

Women, innovation, inclusion.

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What do you think it will take to develop truly diverse thinking within the legal industry?

Time and conscious effort - as a more diverse workforce take leadership positions, they will have the power to create a culture of inclusion, innovation and equality.

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What was your main driver to enter the legal industry?

Honest answer, I fell into it and fortunately I loved it. I was completing my last year of law school as a 23 year old single mum with a one-year-old, so a summer clerkship was the obvious next step. I was lucky to have a progressive, innovative and caring supervising partner who valued diversity and 'doing things differently', which were the essential foundations to my success in law.

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