Having qualified as a solicitor in intellectual property law, I decided to leave private practice when my eldest child was very young. Although taking a break from private practice, I kept connected to my former career: I studied for a post graduate qualification in intellectual property and then worked for a family company, with flexible hours.
When my children were in primary school, I was approached to become a charity trustee. This voluntary role introduced me to the charity sector and showed me ways in which my skills and experience could be used in a new context. Through my contacts as a trustee, I was subsequently offered a role managing a start-up project for a health charity. I have remained in the charity sector and I am now managing an expansion project for a business charity which I also found through my network. My charity roles have all required a background knowledge of both IP and charity law within the broader context of strategic planning and project management. Each role has required new skills and presented new and interesting challenges, while providing some flexibility regarding working days.
* name changed for confidentiality