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The Psychology Behind High-Performing Law Firms

Tracks
Concurrent Stream 1
Concurrent Stream 2
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Wala Mirr Theatre

Overview

What enables lawyers, and the firms they work within, to sustain high performance across long and demanding careers? Drawing on psychological research, sector data and practical experience working alongside the judiciary and leading commercial law firms, this keynote explores how individual capability, leadership and organisational systems shape sustainable high performance. Attendees will leave with practical, evidence-based insights to help build environments where lawyers can perform at their best and sustain successful careers.


Speaker

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Mrs Jacqui Maguire
Founder, Registered Clinical Psychologist
Jacqui Maguire Ltd

The Psychology Behind High-Performing Law Firms

Biography

Jacqui Maguire is a New Zealand–based clinical psychologist specialising in leadership, culture, wellbeing and sustainable high performance within professional service environments. Bringing a clinical psychologist’s mind and a business owner’s perspective, Jacqui works at the intersection of psychology and organisational leadership. Over the past decade she has worked with the judiciary, coroners and senior leadership teams in leading commercial law firms, helping address a critical question for the profession: how do lawyers sustain high performance across long and demanding careers? Her work focuses on helping organisations move wellbeing beyond individual responsibility and embed it within leadership behaviour, culture and firm systems. Jacqui also serves on the board of Life Squared Trust, which recently funded a three-year longitudinal study examining mental health across the New Zealand legal profession, with findings released at Parliament last year. A recognised voice on mental health and leadership in New Zealand, Jacqui is the founder and host of two award-winning podcasts, author of When the Wind Blew, and in 2021 she was named Wellingtonian of the Year for her contribution to mental health education.

Presenter

Agenda Item Image
Jacqui Maguire
Founder, Registered Clinical Psychologist
Jacqui Maguire Ltd

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