Meet MEJ Partner Kirsten Leitch
Kirsten Leitch is the Canberra born and bred powerhouse behind MEJ’s Workplace Injury Team.
She is confident, quick witted, well-spoken, and down to earth – qualities very much desired in a lawyer you’ve chosen to represent you in your quest for compensation.
“We don’t forget we’re dealing with real people and their lives,” Kirsten says.
“Sometimes it is the worst time that they have had in their lives and that’s a big responsibility. You have to tailor how you deal with each client to make sure you can help them through the process, as best as possible.”
MEJ partner Kirsten Leitch has been passionate about securing fair compensation for her clients since joining MEJ back in 2013. She was recognised as a `Leading Lawyer’ in workers compensation in the Doyle’s Guide 2022 and 2023, and was promoted to partner in 2022.
“As the partner in our Workplace Injury Team I practice mainly in workers compensation, including workplace negligence claims. I also do Total Permanent Disability Claims.”
Kirsten made the move to MEJ after 15 years practicing in insurance litigation for defendant firms. Her knowledge of the ’other side’ of the law gives her a different view when taking on workplace injury claims, that she thinks helps her to advise MEJ clients.
“It’s the same legal framework but very different to run a claim from the other side of the fence.”
When asked why the change of practice was the right decision for her, she says the move out of her comfort zone, and into plaintiff work, was one of the best decisions she ever made.
“I think the thing that makes it different is the personal contact. You can have two claims that on paper are the same, but involve two very different personalities, and therefore you have to deal with the claims very differently,” Kirsten says.
“It is rewarding work. You are often dealing with people that are really struggling through the claims process, financial hardship, or just struggling with their injuries and the impact on their life. It’s a lot more personal, and everyday is really different.”
“Every client has different needs in terms of how you communicate with them and explain things, and what they want and need from a lawyer can be very different.”
When it comes to areas of growth within the law over the next 12 to 18 months, Kirsten thinks we will continue to see an increase in the number of cases of institutional abuse and Total and Permanent Disability claims.
When Kirsten isn’t in the office on Marcus Clarke Street, she’s spending time with her two kids, and their cavoodle named Rocky. She jokes that being a lawyer is her part-time job, filling in the shifts between her full-time job, being a Mum, and by default, an Uber driver.
“There is a lot of stuff going on with the kids, sports, and managing teams,so that takes up a fair bit of my time, but I like to make sure that I have time to catch up with friends in there somewhere.”
Although Kirsten admits she is more strategic these days when offering to lend a helping hand, considering her busy day job, she’s still a strong presence on the sideline of Rugby, AFL, and Netball matches.
Born and bred in Canberra, Kirsten is familiar with the city, particularly the southside where she’s lived for most of her life.
To support her claim as a true Canberran, Kirsten can’t handle the heat in Summer, declaring Autumn her favorite time of year in the nation’s capital.
“I like it when it’s still warm enough and light enough to be outside in the evening, and I love all the colours in Canberra at that time of the year. “
