The Hot 100 career quiz: NEP’s David Leadbetter

What’s your most vivid memory from being a trainee?

Dialling into a call on week one of my training contract to hear the words “The lawyer is on the phone now, what does he think?” Life as a lawyer started at a faster pace than I had imagined, and has accelerated ever since. That, and how impressed I felt with some of the talented senior lawyers that took the time to develop me as a trainee when I was in private practice.

What is the thing in your professional career that has terrified you or taken you out of your comfort zone the most?

Moving in-house. I learnt new skills, overnight. In particular, taking decisions. Decisions that weigh up legal and commercial risk and align with company strategy. You learn to be pragmatic and persuasive. Also, scanning the horizon and deciding what you need to prioritise, and what you don’t, should always leave you feeling a little out of your comfort zone.

What is the wisest thing anyone ever said to you (and who said it)?

To think strategically and be solution focused. Knowing the difference between a goal, objective, strategy and tactic isn’t taught at law school, but its integral to your success as an in-house lawyer. I’ve been fortunate as an in-house lawyer to attend a business course at IMD and a session in person with strategy guru Rich Horwath. Neither of these taught law, but they were two of the most valuable training opportunities I’ve experienced.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to get to where you are/do the job you do?

Be enthusiastic. Build and nurture good relationships. Deliver crisp, decisive and solution focused advice.

Embrace any opportunities that come your way with an open mind. Often they will come when you don’t expect them.

Strive to have good people around you and to work for a company you believe in, the job is far more purposeful and rewarding that way. I’m fortunate to have a great team, boss and colleagues around me, doing something that everyone is passionate about.

You’ll work with some inspiring leaders during your career. Try to learn from them and practise those positive behaviours when you are trusted to lead.

What’s your best friend from law school doing now?

There is a real mixture. Some of them are in private practice, some in house and some doing commercial roles. Law offers many career paths, including outside the law, but good quality legal training at the start of your career gives you a great foundation to be ready for anything in business. So far, nobody has set up the surf school in South America that we all talked about…