how being a lawyer helped me

After 5 years and my whole life changing  I have to see it as having some positives. I know
a lot of people would feel cross about all those “wasted years" of study but I  definitely don't
feel (and have never felt) like that. If anything I am really grateful for certain skills I learnt as
a lawyer:
1. I don't easily give up
My stubborn streak has been very useful. Without it having to re learn to walk using a
zimmer frame or re learning to write wouldn't have happened because both have taken  
constant persistence (I am not there yet!) and endless patience/practice.
2. Dictation
I have made good use of my dictation skills- I treat the two ladies who work for me as
mini secretaries dictating to my phone any emails, letters and forms.
I also use voice notes on whats app and the audio facility on messenger because it's so
much quicker (and think everyone should use these). I used to hate how I sounded so
wouldn't have done this- I wouldn't have even made basic phone calls in case I wasn't
coherent to the other person- now, I don't care if people understand. They can rewind me
it tends to be their problem anyway.
3. I am creative



I have to solve problems in my everyday life one example is my shower seat!
I have no balance and get tired easily so when I came out of hospital I was given a
simply horrid shower stool- it did a job but I was determined I wasn’t going to have it in
my house. Well what do you think?


Now my shower (like most of my house) does a job still but looks nice:
(This is Hudson Reed Luxury Shower Seat with Chrome Hinges LA371 - thought it might be
 helpful)
I have lots more examples!! My life now is basically identifying practical problems
then deciding how to best get round them!

4. I have a good legal knowledge


I knew that course in discrimination law whilst at university would pay off! I must admit that I
didn't think for 1 second the discrimination would be aimed at me. I have had to write 2 emails
specifically reminding companies not to treat me less favorably because I am disabled (the test!)
Now I don't want to be known as the person that makes a fuss - I wouldn't threaten or tell people I
used to be a lawyer  but I am in the privileged position where I know something…
5.  I make good financial plans


I always want a plan ‘b’ and when I was a lawyer I found thinking things through very useful.
Personal insurance isn't so important when you work for a big company but becomes ever so
important when you leave.
I had critical illness cover, which we got when we  purchased the house - I thought everyone had
it but after talking to people over the last 5 years hardly anyone  does and everybody should.
See my blog post about keeping busy, and my article are you covered?’
I can't stress enough how important it is to have this cover. Having this has enabled me to buy a
new house, do it up and not feel guilty about all the physio and speech therapy (which is
ridiculously expensive) and which I still have to have.
It is also very important your loved ones know exactly what cover you have and exactly what to
do. I will be eternally grateful that my husband is on the ball and put in a early claim, when I was
in hospital and included letters from my consultant (which would have helped support my claim).
At the time I was much more concerned about my health. Now, I see this as being vital.
Overall
I don't let what happened to me define everything (anymore than it has too). I am still me and
I know I can still be stubborn and downright ‘bolshy’ at times - its what made me become a
lawyer and a good mummy. At the end of the day I want to do, and more
importantly feel like I am able to do, all the things other people can do and not be prevented by
the logistics. I did not ask for this and I absolutely hate it but I won't let it stop me doing things
(anymore than it has).
On a positive if that hadn't happened to me I wouldn't be writing this...so whilst  it has been
unbelievably hard at times, yes I get very frustrated but every cloud - I lost 3 stone, got to
book early for breakfast with Santa in 2016 & 2018, I get into Wales for free with my blue
badge, great parking, I don't have to do cleaning or ironing (which I hated) and I have 2
wonderful PA’s who are more like friends & do all the jobs I can't.

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