"Seven Up": Challenges, external forces and opportunities in the diverse trajectories of a cohort of law graduates and lawyers since 2014

Abstract

"LinkedIn will have the stupid linear like lawyer, associate, senior associate and it will say the time periods but I don't think you can look at it if you need the information," commented a lawyer participating in an Australian longitudinal study into law graduates and lawyers. The longitudinal research project, which explores the diverse lives and careers of the volunteer participants, commenced in 2014 through qualitative data collected through interviews and focus groups of law students and early career lawyers. Many of the participants returned for follow-up interviews in 2021 to reflect on the external forces, challenges and opportunities that have impacted and shaped their trajectories over the past seven years. The participants took the time to reflect on whether their 2014 ambitions and expectations about family and occupation were achieved, and what could motivate or hinder their future trajectories as professionals, parents or partners. Following on from the presentation of my initial research findings at the 2014 Australasian Law Teachers Association conference at Bond University, this paper continues the longitudinal research that presents the preliminary findings and themes from the 2021 interviews.