Twins enter legal profession

Makareta Coote (left) has sworn in her twin sister Katarina in the High Court at Invercargill....
Makareta Coote (left) has sworn in her twin sister Katarina in the High Court at Invercargill. PHOTO: LUISA GIRAO
They look the same, share similar interests and now a pair of Bluff twins have the same profession.

Katarina Coote (22) was sworn in by her twin sister Makareta Coote yesterday at the High Court in Invercargill.

"I feel really happy to have my sister here on my side," Katarina said.

Both women earned law degrees from the University of Otago, but Katarina had to take an extra semester to complete some of her papers — and that meant she could be sworn by her sister.

This was the longest time the twins had ever spent apart.

"I continued studying in Dunedin, while Makareta returned home. It was really good this time for me because I had the assurance I can do the things on my own. Now, I feel more confident," Katarina said.

The twins’ parents raised them to be independent.

Makareta said despite their parents’ efforts, they developed similar tastes.

"We like the same foods, colours — even our grades in school were quite similar," she said.

Katarina agreed.

"Our mother never dressed us with the same outfits or treated us the same. She always encouraged us to be different and stimulate our individuality.

"But, to be honest, in the end, we wanted the same thing."

Katarina and Makareta were the first generation of lawyers in the family — an achievement which made the whole family proud.

Both were led to the profession during an open day at their high school.

They bumped into Otago University law professor Mark Henaghan in a lift, who suggested they try the law lecture and it was there that their passion for for field was ignited.

"We never thought of law before that day and probably, if we had not met him, we would have chosen completely different things."

However, the sisters stressed that they had chosen different specialties for their legal careers.

While Makareta enjoys property law, Katarina wants to go into criminal practice.

Makareta, who is the elder by three minutes and has started working already, advised her sister to continue to be herself.

"Be honest, true to yourself and listen to your heart."

luisa.girao@odt.co.nz


 

Comments

Great stuff, you two - go thru life treasuring and helping each other and other people - you have a gift in life over other born single people, value it and give and enjoy.

 

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