Family bond bar none 'HOW MY GIRL INSPIRED ME'

Ashley took the law into her own hands and made her dad's dream come true!

- Kasia De Vydt-Jillings

Waiting at the High Court to be admitted to the bar, Patrick Hargreaves looked at his daughter Ashley, pausing proudly to appreciate the unique achievement of following in her footsteps to become a lawyer.

“Sitting next to Ashley, dressed in formal court regalia, was a higher privilege than being admitted to the bar,” beams Patrick, 56.

“I’m struggling to describe the feeling of not only achieving admission, but doing so by and because of my own daughter. Words don’t do it justice.”

Family court lawyer Ashley echoes the sentiment, sharing that it was an immense privilege to be the one tasked with moving her father’s application for admission before the judge.

“Typically, it’s a parent who admits a child to the bar, but not in this whānau,” smiles Ashley, 27. “I was very excited and proud to be able to be my father’s moving counsel.”

Growing up, she wanted to join the police force, which her older brother Michael went on to do. But an opportunity working with “truly inspirational” family and criminal lawyer Raewyn Sporle convinced her otherwise.