Laura McKee
Position & Organisation:
Knowledge Partner, Legal Island
Number of Employees: 25
Give us an idea about your early life and career:
I studied Law and German at University College Cork. I didn't grow up dreaming of becoming a lawyer, nor did I come from a legal family. I just liked English at school, enjoyed a good argument, and had a vague notion that lawyers seemed to have well paid jobs!
After my undergraduate degree, I completed a Master's in Human Rights Law and Criminal Justice at Queen's University Belfast. I genuinely loved studying human rights and spent several years interning with NGOs during the financial crash. One of those internships was with the former Equality Tribunal, where I sat in on employment equality cases. I found myself fascinated by the real-life workplace issues people were bringing before the Tribunal.
Having decided it was time to find a job that paid the bills, I embarked on the FE1s, which I survived and was lucky enough to secure a solicitor apprenticeship with Eugene F. Collins (now Addleshaw Goddard LLP). I qualified into the employment law group in 2016 and spent several years there learning the ropes of Irish employment law and dispute resolution.
Then, as often happens, life had other plans. I married a man from Belfast, moved north, and joined A&L Goodbody LLP in Belfast. While there, I had the opportunity to spend part of my time on secondment to Google as an EMEA Employment Counsel. Following that, a post came up in Legal Island, which was ideal as I could live up north and work on Irish HR and employment law matters.
What are the key challenges you face in your role?
There is always that slightly nerve-racking moment just before chairing an event. Nobody particularly enjoys the sound of their own voice, and you just hope you come across as composed, coherent, and as if every word was carefully intended all along.
Then there is the technology. What worked flawlessly five minutes earlier can suddenly decide it is no longer on your side. It certainly keeps things interesting.
After a tough week, what’s your go-to for recharging and staying grounded?
I try to spend as much time as I can outside, ideally in nature. That usually means a walk in the woods with my energetic labrador Frank, a swim in Helen’s Bay if I am feeling brave about the temperature, or just being outdoors with my two-year-old, which is equal parts grounding and chaos in the best possible way.
When I get a rare moment of quiet, I like to read a good book as a way to switch off from the general noise of everyday life.
I trained as a yoga teacher during the pandemic, and I am currently doing a mindfulness teacher training course. I am very into the theory of it all. The practice, however, is still a work in progress. That said, even three mindful breaths in the middle of a toddler meltdown or a particularly hectic day can surprisingly bring you back down to earth.
What’s the funniest or most unusual thing that’s ever happened in an interview, and what did it teach you?
The funniest interview I have ever had was not a formal one at all, but a very serious conversation I had with my father when I was about ten years of age, applying for a “job” in the family hardware shop.
I remember going into it with real confidence and asking for an “advance on my wages” before I had even started working. It has since become a running family joke, but I am quietly impressed by my early understanding of cash flow and negotiation.
If nothing else, it probably confirmed quite early on that I was interested in work, employment, and asking slightly ambitious questions in interviews.
What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give to someone aspiring to your role, especially in today’s fast-changing world?
Life is too short to spend it in a job that drains you. If you can, aim to find work you genuinely enjoy, or at least can live with comfortably. I hear recently that we spend on average 100,00 hours of our lives working, and that Sunday night feeling of dread is not something anyone should have to accept as normal.
I would also say, don’t wait to learn that lesson the hard way through burnout. Pay attention to your own limits and look after yourself along the way. The reality is that most of us are replaceable at work, which can feel uncomfortable to acknowledge, but it is also a reminder not to tie your entire sense of self to your job.
Imagine HR is a reality TV show—what would the title of your episode be?
The One Where Nobody Followed the Procedure!
We speak with leading figures from across the HR profession to learn more about their roles, the challenges they face, what frustrates them in the workplace, and how they switch off outside of work. Through these conversations, we share the experiences, insights, and perspectives of the people helping to shape the world of HR.
If you would like to be featured, or know someone whose story and expertise deserve to be highlighted, please get in touch with gosia@legal-island.com. We'd love to hear from you.
