"I established the legal consultancy (Lex specialis) with a colleague who is now an academic at Auckland Law School because we wanted to do more hands-on work and put our skills to real-world use," she said.
"Many non-government organisations have little money to pay for legal advice or access to the kind of expertise we offer.
"It has allowed me to follow my interests and contribute to the world outside academia, but has also brought professional benefits, too.
"When we started, it helped us to overcome some of the barriers that young professional women can face in the workplace to network and build a profile. Working together helped us both to grow in confidence.
"We try to take on one or two major projects a year. I've done pro bono work for NGOs such as the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the International Rescue Committee, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and the European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea.
"I've advised on matters of law and jurisdiction relating to war crimes and other human rights abuses.
"Our consultancy receives requests for pro bono advice mostly through word of mouth, and it has raised my profile as an expert in this area.
"The consulting work has exposed me to some really interesting issues and I hope I've contributed to the important work being done by these groups.
"The skills I've developed have certainly enhanced my professional life in lots of ways.
"This year I’m volunteering as a member of the Australian Red Cross NSW International Humanitarian Law Advisory Committee. As part of this committee I’m working to promote awareness of and respect for the laws that apply during armed conflict, which happens to coincide with my academic research.
“There's a long tradition of lawyers lending their time and expertise to charitable legal causes - we're in a privileged position to give back to society - but I highly recommend volunteer work to anyone, in any profession.
"Finding a purpose that is bigger than yourself has both personal and professional benefits."
