Law Week 2018 Amy Salapak, Solicitor, Department of Health (WA Health) From journalist, to lawyer, Fulbright Scholar and corporate ethicist

From Monday, May 14, through to Sunday May 20, ACC Australia will share a member profile that highlights the in-house profession and the role of in-house lawyers across public, private, government and not-for-profit organisations. Keep an eye out for a new member profile each day during #LawWeek 2018. 

Amy Salapak, Solicitor, Department of Health (WA Health)

From journalist, to lawyer, Fulbright Scholar and corporate ethicist

Amy Salapak’s path to a legal career followed a less travelled route, coming on the back of a Journalism degree at Curtin University. While there a media law subject and a placement at the West Australian newspaper convinced Amy that she had more to offer than a career in journalism. Though as she’s quick to point out, there are a number of parallels between journalism and the law, with both roles requiring a good amount of investigation, fact finding and writing.

Fast forward to 2006 and Amy graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Murdoch University. This time it was her experience with media ethics and introduction to legal ethics that had a lasting impact on her legal thinking and have continued to shape the direction of her legal career.

Four years working in litigation across two different legal firms followed which led Amy to search for a role that offered interesting legal work with more work/life balance and a break from the ‘six-minute timesheets’. That and the opportunity to work as part of a large in-house team took her to her current role of solicitor with the West Australian Department of Health.  There Amy advises state public hospitals and clinicians across regional West Australia about legal and liability issues. “The best part of my role is the opportunity to work with a whole range of different professions within Australia’s biggest country health system, and one of the largest in the world.” Another critical aspect of her job is that of working with internal and external stakeholders during coronial investigations and inquests.

Away from WA Health, Amy holds a position on the Human Research Ethics Committee at Edith Cowan University, a voluntary position that helps nurture an underlying interest in research, legal and corporate ethics, in education, business and across society. As Amy explains, “as an in-house lawyer, ethics is interesting because in-house lawyers are often asked to advise on matters that are in the shadow of the law, as the proposed conduct or action may not necessarily be unlawful but may be considered unethical. That combined with the fact that ethical practice is becoming more and more front of mind in society, makes it an endlessly fascinating subject.”

In pursuing that interest, Amy is currently completing a Master of Philosophy, Law and Business. The Master’s program (by research) involves a qualitative comparative study of approaches to fostering ethics in business within both Australia and the United States. As part of her Masters research, Amy was recently awarded a Professional Fulbright Scholarship (Business/Industry), the significance of which is highlighted by the fact that just one Australian scholar is awarded this Scholarship each year. The scholarship is offered to enhance the opportunity for the successful applicant to research or investigate an issue pertinent to both the Australian and American business community. In accepting her scholarship, Amy will commence a four-month program in late August at the Rutgers University, Institute of Ethical Leadership within Rutgers Business School.

Though the law is well and truly where Amy sees her future, she’s also broadened her skillset beyond her study of ethics and is now a nationally accredited mediator. And, though it’s taking a backseat to her studies, Amy recently set up her brand, Ethical Thinking, which she looks forward to developing as a vehicle to raise awareness of contemporary ethical issues, and to consult and advise organisations on ethical decision making. Those foundational plans, along with her ongoing studies and an attitude of, never knocking back an opportunity, will no doubt ensure her significant contribution to legal and corporate ethics and the in-house community over the coming years.