Career change keeps law in family
11 June 2011
They say the family who plays together stays together, and Tauranga's Nabney-Weaver family can attest that the same is true for the family who works together.
Rita Nabney, the wife of top criminal barrister Bill Nabney, was yesterday admitted to the bar at a ceremony in the High Court at Hamilton. Mrs Nabney, who graduated with a first-class honours law degree from Waikato University last month, now joins her husband and barrister son David Weaver in their Tauranga Chambers legal practice in Willow St.
In doing so, they have added to the long tradition of family law firms in the city.
Mrs Nabney said her admission to the bar was a very proud moment and a special milestone in her life.
"I see this as an exciting time to be heading into a new career and being part of the legal profession is a privilege and a humbling experience," she said.
"It's great for us to be able to work together, and to know I will be able to draw on Bill's extensive legal experience and knowledge as I begin working in this exciting and challenging career."
A legal career was not something Mrs Nabney had previously considered, but her interest was sparked when she began working with her husband to help with research.
She decided to become a mature law student and "just loved it".
She graduated in three years, one year earlier than the usual four-year degree.
Mrs Nabney's previous careers have been in health and business.
She trained as a psychiatric nurse in the early 1970s and worked at South Auckland's Kingseat Hospital, later specialising in child and family psychiatry.
Armed with a Bachelor of Nursing degree, she worked for the Community Mental Health Service as its crisis team manager.
After gaining her Masters degree in Business Administration with distinction, she then spent a decade working as a human resources manager, firstly for Carter Holt Harvey, then Fonterra in Hamilton.
Two of her children are also lawyers _ Maree, who lives in Queenstown, is a lawyer specialising in insurance law, and David is experienced in taxation law.
David's twin brother, Michael, is a jet pilot with Pacific Blue.
Mrs Nabney said she would work with her husband on criminal cases but also had a strong interest in employment law and the legal aspects of the mental health sector.
Mr Nabney, who had previously moved David and Maree's admissions to the bar, did the same for his wife.
He said he was very proud to be able to stand up beside her during that time.
"It's real milestone and a very proud moment for our whole family."
Mr Nabney said his wife graduating with first-class honours was no small feat. "Fortunately, I have one of those too or I would have never have lived it down."
David Weaver said he was extremely proud of his mother's "outstanding" achievements.
"I think Mum is going to be a real asset to the legal community in Tauranga."
Although Mrs Nabney admits to a few nerves about standing up in a courtroom to represent her first client, no doubt she will get plenty of support from her family and her Tauranga bar colleagues.