No JD Required: Breaking Into Law Through Experience, the SQE and Sheer Determination with Mac Curtis

Macaulay (Mac) Curtis, is a New Zealand native who has just qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales through the new SQE pathway. He achieved this while working as a legal translator first for Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, then in his own legal translation company. This episode is full of gems for those who are considering taking another step forwards in their legal career. It’s now entirely possible to use real life legal work experience to help you on your way. Listen to hear more!

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In this episode you’ll hear:

  • Why Mac chose legal translation over interpreting and what it’s like to work in a big four firm’s translation department

  • The SQE pathway explained: qualify as a UK solicitor without attending university

  • Why firms don't care about your age and what they do care about

  • What translators must unlearn to become lawyers

  • His favourite book and other fun facts 

About Mac

Macaulay (Mac) is a linguist-turned-lawyer from New Zealand. Highly fluent in Japanese, he qualified as a simultaneous interpreter in Australia before going to work at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto in their in-house translation department. He later started his own legal translation business, working remotely from New Zealand as he lent his expertise to many of Japan's biggest companies and law firms. He recently qualified as a solicitor, and is now back in Japan to open a new chapter of his career as a lawyer in Tokyo.

Connect with Mac 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macaulay-curtis/ 

Links

How to win friends and influence people: https://amzn.asia/d/0iqkBUut 

SQE: https://www.law.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/sqe/ 

Connect with Catherine 

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

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Lawyer on Air was the winner of the Bronze Award in the “Best Podcast by a Kiwi Abroad Category” in the New Zealand Podcast Awards 2021.

Lawyer on Air has been nominated for “Best Business Podcast” in the Quill Podcast Awards, 2022! Thank you to all our supporters who voted for the podcast!

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