Get to Know Your Council Members – Samuel Claessens

In this Get to Know Your Council Members edition, we interview Samuel Claessens, a seasoned lawyer at Douglas & Collins and a current member of the Society Council. With over 14 years of experience practising in commercial, property, and estate law across Launceston and Scottsdale, Samuel brings a wealth of practical insight and a broad perspective on the profession. His approach to law is shaped by diverse client experiences, a commitment to continuous learning, and a candid recognition that no practitioner is perfect.

On Council, Samuel focuses on understanding the rationale behind legal reforms and addressing key challenges facing the profession, including the retention of early career lawyers. Outside of work, he balances the demands of the legal profession with running, golf, interstate trips with his wife, and a love of sport and coffee-fuelled adventures.

Can you tell us a bit about your current role and the main areas of law you practise?
I currently work at Douglas & Collins practising primarily in commercial, property and estate law.

What first drew you to the law?
I was pretty non-committal on what I wanted to do post school and stressed about focusing on a particular field that I might live to regret later on. The broad scope of the opportunities available in law (not limited purely to practice) and my indecisiveness were the primary factors!

Could you share a little about your career journey so far and any key milestones along the way?
I’ve practiced for a little over 14 years at 2 firms; what was formerly Archer Bushby and where I am now. Both offices have allowed me to practice in both Launceston and Scottsdale in the north-east of Tasmania which has provided great variety and allowed me to meet a wide and varied range of clients. On the whole, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

What motivated you to join the Law Society Council?
It is easy to become a cog in the wheel of the legal profession without giving much notice to why things are done the way they are, and what has prompted any change. Joining the Society’s Council has given me greater perspective on the rationale behind decisions and what they might mean for the profession – scrutinising proposed legislative reform being an example.

What do you think are the biggest challenges currently facing the legal profession?
It is no secret that retainment of early career lawyers is the greatest challenge facing the Tasmanian profession presently. We’ve made this a particular focus over the last couple of years. I think there’s been a lot of good work done but we’ve still got work to do.

What’s your top tip for early career lawyers just entering the profession?
I think it has always been a flaw of the profession that practitioners want to convey perfection amongst their peers. As a practitioner it has always irked me that many will give the impression that ‘I know everything and I don’t make mistakes.’ In my view a lot of early career lawyers are made to feel inadequate because of it. My biggest tip is to remember that even the best practitioner has made mistakes and probably many of them. You’ll never achieve perfection throughout your career and so don’t be perturbed by it. We’ve all been there – even if those around you won’t admit it. It does get easier with experience.

Looking back, what advice would you give your younger self when you were starting out?
My advice would go back slightly earlier, and that would have been to have taken the library research assignments at Uni a lot more seriously. The ability to research case law and text is a gift I severely lack and it has ended up being a lot more important than a lot of the units I studied. For those that are in the same boat as me, give the Andrew Inglis Library a call and get some practical tips now!

How do you maintain balance and wellbeing in what can be a demanding profession?
I’ve found exercise is the best thing for me. These days I do a lot of running, but golf, the gym (and the odd beer or two) have all had medicinal qualities.

Are there any professional habits or mindsets you think are key to long-term success in law?
If you can help it, don’t take work home. Stay longer at work if you have to or come in on a weekend, but I’ve found keeping work and life distinct allows me to separate the stress from life a lot better than the alternative.

What do you like to do outside of work to unwind?
My wife Tori and I like to make sure that we’re heading on a trip interstate at least every 6-8 weeks to get out of the fishbowl. That’s usually to watch the footy – which as a Bulldogs supporter, usually has an adverse effect, on reflection.

If you weren’t a lawyer, what career do you think you would have pursued?
I also did journalism while at Uni and have an obsession for sport so I think I would have explored the sports journalism field.

Coffee or tea? Morning person or night owl?
Coffee. I’m both a night owl and early morning person which creates the need for the coffee!