Christchurch lawyer Stephanie Mann has been appointed to the New Zealand Law Society’s Women’s Advisory Panel.

A senior solicitor with Duncan Cotterill in Christchurch, Ms Mann practises in civil litigation. Her main areas are insurance, estates, trusts and health and safety. Ms Mann joined Duncan Cotterill in September last year.

In her final year at the University of Canterbury, Ms Mann worked one day a week at Young Hunter in Christchurch. After graduating with an LLB and B Sc in psychology in 2010, she joined the firm full time. A product of her time, Ms Mann graduated in a tent in Ilam Field as the town hall was closed after the September 2010 earthquake. Following the February 2011 earthquake Ms Mann completed her professionals through a Wellington-based course and her admission ceremony was at the Riccarton Racecourse as the courts were still closed.

Her interest in law began when she took one law paper in her first year at university. “It seemed like it could be interesting so I thought why not. It developed from there. I really like the tension you can get between ‘the law is very clear’ versus ‘who knows what the answer might be’.”

Ms Mann enjoys the balancing act needed when working towards common sense solutions to legal issues with the information that is available.

Since she started practising Ms Mann has been involved with Young Lawyers’ Committee in the Law Society’s Canterbury-Westland branch, as well as being the convenor of the committee in previous years. Stephanie was also on the winning team in the committee’s Canterbury-Westland mooting competition last year. It was her work through that committee which led to Stephanie being asked to join the Women’s Advisory Panel.

“I was lucky enough to get approached. I understand that they were looking for someone in that five-to-seven year post admission level. The progression of women throughout the profession is such a fascinating and interesting area. I was really intrigued when they approached me and thought ‘definitely’.”