A solicitor and Gloucester-Hartpury full-back - How Lizzie Goulden is Powered Differently

Lizzie Goulden owes her career to Reese Witherspoon.

The versatile Gloucester-Hartpury back helped propel the defending champions to an impressive back-to-back Premiership Women’s Rugby title last season, but her roots as a solicitor can be found in the hit 2001 film Legally Blonde.

“It’s quite trivial what drew me to the profession,” the Kiwi said.

“It was my first overseas trip from New Zealand to Australia with my family when I was about eight.

“The film showing on the plane was Legally Blonde. I watched it, absolutely loved the film and from that moment on, I always thought I was going to be a lawyer.

“There was no question of being anything else. I was inspired by Reese Witherspoon.”

Goulden fits her legal work with Keystone Law around the Circus’ busy schedule while still working on New Zealand time.

Her dual-career story is one of nine being told this week as part of a new ‘Powered Differently’ campaign by Premiership Women's Rugby, focusing on just a few superhuman players across the league.

Alongside Goulden, the campaign features players like nurse Carys Cox at Trailfinders Women, tattoo artist Amber Schonert at Sale Sharks and marine conservation student Freya Aucken at Harlequins.

“I went back to New Zealand for a stint around Covid time because I hadn’t seen my family in a long time,” the 31-year-old said. “I ended up getting a job whilst I was back home for a New Zealand law firm.

“After six months I realised I wanted to be back in the UK so I went into my boss’ office ready to hand in my letter of resignation, and he said we’ve tried remote working and it works.

“We took remote working to the absolutely extreme and I continue to work for that New Zealand company.

“I tend to split my days a bit, do a couple of hours in the morning, and then go off to training in the day, and then come back and do a couple of hours in the evening when New Zealand’s woken up and I can actually speak to clients.

“Some people think it’s crazy to be a lawyer for clients on the other side of the world.

“For me, with rugby, it just suits perfectly. It enables me to go to training in the day.”

Communication plays a big role in Goulden’s life both on and off the pitch.

Her career as a lawyer and as a professional rugby player have more in common than you might expect.

“Traits to be a good lawyer? Good communication skills,” said Goulden. “You have to be really responsive to your clients, often they come to you at times in their life where they have issues.

“It’s not always a good reason why they go to a solicitor.

“Rugby has helped me in my career because it’s taught me how to communicate with people, how to be driven and to strive to achieve things.

“I see myself and my role in the team these days as how can I be the best teammate.

“I think that’s the same in law.

“Often, it’s not what you see in the movies, about going to court and fighting each other tooth and nail, it’s ‘how can we find a resolution that best suits both parties?’

“That’s what I want to bring to Gloucester and to rugby.”

Goulden and Gloucester-Hartpury will hope to add a third title to their trophy cabinet as they start their campaign against the Leicester Tigers on Sunday 6 October.

“Rugby makes me feel empowered,” Goulden said. “It makes me feel connected to something that I really love doing.

“There’s something special about pushing your body and mind to overcome new obstacles, reach new limits, reach targets.

“Winning the Premiership, stuff like that, that can be achieved through the sport. I just love it.”