Marathon runner, mountain biker and freestyle jet-skier - "imagine Crusty Demons on the water" - Kimberly Knox chose law after missing out on being an air force pilot.
When she began her law degree, Kimberly suddenly also had a desire to be a pilot.
- Name
- Kimberly Knox
- Born
- Dunedin.
- Age
- 33.
- Entry to law
- Graduated BCom, LLB from Auckland University in 2006. Admitted 2006.
- Workplace
- Associate at Malloy Goodwin Harford, Newmarket, Auckland.
- Speciality area
- Property and commercial law.
"I applied to the air force, went through all the testing, stayed at the base for a while, had a final interview but ultimately was not offered a place … It was the year they scrapped the Skyhawks…"
"Since then I have had no inclination to take up flying and have stuck with law because I realised law was for me," says Kimberly, who recently joined Auckland firm Malloy Goodwin Harford as an associate, after working for some time for Auckland lawyer Joanna Pidgeon.
The first lawyer in her family, Kimberly describes herself as "a service person by nature".
"I had the academic capabilities to pursue a law degree, so the combination of being able to have a career in law and also assist people at the same time appeals to me."
As the mother of nine-month-old Juliet, she says Malloy Goodwin Harford have been excellent in providing flexibility and balance around her family situation.
"Work life balance has always been important to me, and my priorities have changed since I became a mother, as I knew they would…
"I don't work Mondays so I am at home with Juliet. My husband Brent, a design engineer, is home with her on Fridays enjoying father daughter time and taking her swimming…"
As a "fast amateur and social runner" Kimberly has done more than 12 half marathons – usually around the two hour pace - and four full marathons.
She began distance running while at James Hargest College in Invercargill and since then has run marathons and half marathons all over New Zealand.
Mountain biking expeditions have included the 70km Queen Charlotte track – "three days biking, with a tent, where I spent more time walking and pushing my bike uphill … but an incredible experience…"
For serious adventure she took up freestyle jet-skiing – which husband Brent introduced her to some years ago.
"We ride pole skis – stand up jet-skis - out in the surf and do all sorts of tricks such as back flips and barrel rolls in the waves…
"It's still a relatively small sport with a core group of riders … There's a bit of risk of injuries to wrists and knees but we wear helmets, gloves and boots…
"Brent's family have a bach at Tairua, overlooking Pauanui, so we do a lot of jet- skiing there … Most of the time we go where there are not many people…
"I like reading sports biographies and mountaineering books … My brother Matthew is a glacier guide who has guided and climbed all over the world including Nepal, the Rockies and Alaska and is a safety co-ordinator in Antarctica, so I get that interest from him…"
Kimberly and her siblings inherited a musical taste from their father, a talented jazz pianist who has played in various groups over the years.
"I play a little bit of piano and also play the flute, which I played in a big Invercargill jazz band while at school…
"I don't see much television but watch The Block because an old flatmate is on it and not doing so well…
"I went to the opera this year and most of my film-going has been seeing everything on offer for Mums and Bubs movies … I'm looking forward to Daniel Craig's new James Bond movie Spectre.
"I'm not a car person – I drive an Audi A3, not a V8 – my husband is a Holden person and is more interested in cars than I am…
"It's a little bit early yet, but if Juliet expressed an interest in being a lawyer I would encourage her by example…
"She will make her own choice but if she decided on a career in law and would fully support her every step of the way…"
Jock Anderson has been writing and commenting on New Zealand lawyers and New Zealand's courts for most of his career in journalism. Contact Jock at jockanderson123@gmail.com.