The new Of Counsel at Carey Olsen discusses inspiration & renovations
Corporate and finance lawyer Claire McConway has been appointed Of Counsel within the British Virgin Islands (BVI) practice of multi-jurisdictional offshore law firm Carey Olsen.
What was your route into the profession?
Nothing too unconventional—after completing a Law and French degree at Trinity College Dublin I went on to do the LPC, and from there to my training contract at Herbert Smith in London. A combined degree meant that I got to spend a year in Paris, which was wonderful, and I managed to go back and spend a six month seat there as a trainee a couple of years later. Although I trained at a renowned litigation practice, qualifying during the dot-com boom definitely influenced my decision to become a corporate lawyer.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
Managing not to sleep through my alarm clock—anyone reading this who has shared living space with me will know I am only partially joking. I seem to have inherited a specific gene for that. On a more serious note, perhaps one of the bigger challenges I’ve taken on in my career was relocating to Moscow a few years back in the middle of winter without a word of Russian, although I did have a decent pair of snow boots. Trying to increase demand for legal services on the ground in a market where many clients actually preferred to engage someone as far away as possible for a multitude of reasons is definitely up there on my list of difficult assignments.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
This is probably an obvious answer, but I enjoyed reading Lord Denning’s judgments when I was a law student. More recently I’m an admirer of Maeve O’Rourke’s campaigning work for Justice for Magdalenes concerning the notorious Magdalene laundries in Ireland.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
Possibly an architect. I love old buildings and am one of those people who insists on going to see everything of architectural note when on holiday. I also like the idea of being a primatologist camping out in jungles studying orang utans and the other great apes; I find them fascinating.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
It has changed over the years. Currently I find the Louis Litt character from the television show Suits very entertaining. Before him, I admired James Spader’s Alan Shore in Boston Legal and Glenn Close’s portrayal of Patty Hewes in Damages was compelling viewing for different reasons.
What change would you make to the profession?
I have always thought it is a shame that one’s specialism and corresponding career path tend to get fixed so early on. In law firms, a handful of trainee seats do not seem nearly enough of a basis to make such a major decision, especially when trainees do not always get their first choice when demand is high. It would be nice if firms and chambers could work towards a career development model that allows for more flexibility and versatility for newly minted and junior lawyers to try their hand at different practice areas before deciding on their chosen path. Taking the time to get it right can make sense in the long run and might help prevent burnout; after all, the average legal career lasts a few decades.
How do you relax?
Good wine and a good book—ideally combined together. I also enjoy riding at weekends, as well as experimenting in the kitchen with dishes from all over the world and treating (or subjecting) friends and family to the results. My brother and I are in the process of acquiring and restoring a lakeside modernist house in the west of Ireland that has been in the wider family since it was built in the early 1960s. I am very much looking forward to spending more time there with my family as it is one of the most peaceful and restorative places I know.
