Legally Different®

On the Flip Side of Law // With Louise Mason - Freelance Audio Producer, Radio Presenter + Music Journalist

Episode Summary

This was a corker of a conversation with Louise Mason; freelance audio producer, radio presenter, music journalist and lawyer. Louise's shares gave me FULL BODY CHILLS of resonance! Not only do we go into her music and audio world of work (which is epic to hear about) but we dive into mental health in such a REAL way as Louise openly shares about her journey with depression, which started soon after she began her demanding legal career for a top global law firm - issues that are not openly spoken about enough in the legal sector. Louise has tonnes of northern charm and realness about her, I know you will easily be able to connect with her too.

Episode Notes

Louise hit the heights of a legal career that many desire; working for a Magic Circle law firm. However, it soon became clear to Louise that that way of working  wasn't a high for her at all and it proved to be pivotal in hitting her "rock bottom". It was that low which actually paved the way for a new path for Louise when doors serendipitously opened during her recovery phase which led her  back into one of her childhood passions; music.  My favourite part of this journey is when Louise takes a temp job at HMV - hell yehhh! Not one to sit on the side lines and do things by halves, Louise has cultivated a freelance career in the music and radio world which has seen her working across BBC Radio with the likes ofJo Whiley, Lauren Laverne and Annie Mac, working for ABC radio in Australia, being a music journalist for BBC Radio 6, producing and presenting her own radio show (The Flip Side for Reform Radio) and  producing numerous podcasts including Annie Mac's! Need I go on...

Louise describes herself as a creative go-getter, which I totally agree with! She's got such a fire in her, can make sh*t happen AND she's also soooooo creative! This is one of the many reasons why she's legally different to me.

In this episode we cover:-

• Louise's path into law - humble northern beginnings to a top global law firm.
• The highs of trainee lawyer life, including a secondment to Paris.
• Mental health
  • feeling deeply low and not knowing what was wrong
  • open shares around tears before work and in the office toilets
  • pressures of a Magic Circle firm including expectations of doing 'all nighters'
• Hitting "rock bottom" with  depression and a break down:-
  • leaving London and entering the recovery phase
  • feelings during the “low period”
  • finding purpose and igniting inner passion- via a temp job at HMV (this is one of my fave convos - deep insights into the  'simplicity' of this job but the power it had in 'saving' Louise and igniting her spark for life again).
• Doors start to open, work experience at Radio Cumbria, shadowing Jo Wiley and working for the BBC in London.
• Living / working in Australia.
• Diving into Louise's current freelance work in the audio + music world (including being Annie Mac's podcast producer).
• Finding law again, working for Ignition law on an agile / flexible basis and balancing this with the creative  audio work.
• The meaning of 'labels' we give ourselves (such an interesting convo around that!)
• What Louise would tell the earlier version of herself if she could have a chat with her.
• Why Louise is Legally Different.

CONTACT INFO + LINKS

You can find Louise's website here and connect with her via Instagram here.

Legally Different:-

• Instagram:@legallydifferent 
• Email: hello@legallydifferent.com

Thanks for tuning in!

Lauren