Balancing law and sport

At Sharp Tudhope, we take pride in supporting our team both professionally and personally. One of our junior lawyers, Eric Stratton, is also a competitive beach volleyball athlete, and we’re proud to sponsor and support his journey as he balances a legal career with national representative sport.

Eric Stratton: My journey as a junior lawyer and national beach volleyball athlete.

As a junior lawyer at Sharp Tudhope and a New Zealand beach volleyball athlete, I’m navigating a busy but exciting path. Having recently marked my first year in the legal profession, I’ve gained valuable experience in commercial law while also benefiting from a workplace that supports my sporting aspirations.

Currently, I’m competing on the G.J. Gardener Homes New Zealand Beach Tour, New Zealand’s top domestic beach volleyball circuit, with overseas tournaments on the FIVB Beach Pro Tour Futures series on the horizon. This season has been a strong one – I’ve already participated in three events so far, winning gold at the North Harbour Challenger 1 and securing fifth and fourth in the first two events of the Tour. I’m now preparing for upcoming tournaments in Auckland and Mount Maunganui, aiming to  improve my national ranking.

Balancing a legal career with top-level sport comes with its challenges, and I’m grateful to work at a firm that not only sponsors me but provides the flexibility I need to train and compete. Being able to work remotely when travelling for tournaments has been invaluable in managing my training and competition schedules. My colleagues are genuinely encouraging, and I love being involved in a variety of interesting projects, while pursuing my goals on the sand.

For the remainder of the 2025 season, my goal is to secure a podium finish on the New Zealand Beach Tour, as well as at a FIVB Beach Pro Tour Futures event. My long-term goal is to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in 2030.

Balancing law and sport isn’t always easy, but it’s a challenge I embrace wholeheartedly. I’m looking forward to sharing more about this journey and celebrating both my legal career and my achievements on the sand.

Connect with Eric Stratton.