The Case For A Multidimension Life

Every day as an attorney at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, one of South Africa’s Big Five law rms, we have multiple conversations, whether with clients or colleagues, friends or foes, about happy or not-so-happy subjects. In my 16 years with the rm, I have had many conversations with many people; some offering advice, some guidance, a fair amount of comments, some subtle and some not-so-subtle suggestions. One conversation that stays with me is one with my reporting director during the rst few weeks of my articles.

I will never forget the awkward anticipation as we drove in my director’s car to a client consultation, making light conversation, trying to get to know one another and pass the time during the drive. The director was an experienced director, highly regarded among her colleagues and the industry alike. She had been married for many years and had two adult children at the time. I recall that I was preparing to get married later that year, and we began discussing our families and