Danielle Edwards grew up in the country town of Cunderdin on a broadacre farm. After attending boarding school in Perth, she went on to study law at university and later worked in the city as a lawyer. In 2022, she and her husband relocated to his family farm in Beverley, where they now live with their twin boys. Life outside of work is busy, but Danielle wouldn’t have it any other way. “Outside of work I am being a mum and assisting on the farm where I can. I love being able to raise my children in the country and give them all the opportunities I had growing up. Growing up and living in the country has made me resilient and determined. It’s also made me seek out new experiences and give new opportunities a go.”
Today, Danielle is a Senior Associate at Bailiwick Legal, working remotely from the farm. She predominantly practises in commercial law, and wills and estates, with a strong focus on agribusiness. “My work and client base is very diverse,” she says, adding that the variety and stimulation are part of what makes her role so rewarding. She first joined Bailiwick Legal in 2019 and quickly realised it was the perfect fit. “Bailiwick Legal combined my interest of law and agribusiness which was the perfect fit for me.”
Danielle’s pathway into law began early. She completed her ATAR and gained early acceptance into Murdoch University for a Bachelor of Law while still in high school. After completing her degree, she undertook the College of Law while working full-time at a boutique law firm and was admitted as a lawyer in 2016. “I always had an interest in law, however I couldn’t decide between criminal or commercial law whilst completing my studies at university. I was fortunate enough to gain practical experience in both areas during and upon completion of my studies which confirmed my drive to pursue a career in commercial law.”
Looking back, Danielle credits practical, hands-on experience as the most valuable part of her journey. “Practical experience has definitely been the most valuable training in my journey. I am a hands-on learner so I gained invaluable knowledge from learning alongside and from other lawyers. I also benefited greatly from working in boutique law firms as I believe this gave me closer client and colleague relationships, greater learning opportunities and a more autonomous working environment.”
Her background in the country has also shaped her career and outlook. “Growing up in the country, and eventually relocating back to my husband’s family farm, definitely fostered a desire to work in agribusiness. I strongly believe in providing services like mine in the regions and understand how important our role is to the community and farming economy in general.”
For Danielle, what she loves most about her job is the people she gets to help. “Working as a lawyer is very rewarding. I love being able to help people and work directly with my clients. My work is stimulating and no day is the same so I enjoy the variety. Working in the agribusiness sector is also very rewarding. I love being able to offer a service in the regions that is of use.”
When asked what advice she would give to others considering a career in law, Danielle doesn’t hesitate. “I recommend trying to gain as much experience as you can in the legal industry whilst undertaking your studies. I strongly believe no experience is wasted, it might just show you what practice area or firm size you don’t want to ultimately work in. I think also to remain determined. There will be many roadblocks along the way but to build a successful career you need to be able to work around these, much like with life itself. I think it’s also important to find your passion amongst your career, for me this was combining my upbringing and love for the regions with working in the law.”