Given its transient population and also environmental and cultural diversity, practising in the Northern Territory offers a vocational experience unlike most, if not all, Australian jurisdictions. There are also idiosyncratic challenges to navigate, meaning creative business approaches are key, with myriad lessons to be learnt for SME firm owners. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with AFL Withnalls head of family law in Darwin, Vanessa Farmer, about why family law is a meaningful vocational pathway for her, life in the Northern Territory and why it’s professionally rewarding but also challenging, and its unique environmental and idiosyncratic factors for Australian lawyers. Ms Farmer also reflects on her 25-year career in practice to date, the hurdles currently being faced for practitioners in the NT and implications for sole practitioners, thinking creatively to attract and retain staff now that she is part of a national entity, collaboration with like-minded practitioners, trends to look out for this year, adhering to strict parameters for one’s working day, and the need for emerging leaders to both back themselves and pay attention to detail. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!