First year trainee Sarah Fox reflects on career change later in life, and her journey into law as she approaches the end of her first seat with the commercial team in Birmingham.

Published: 12 March 2026
Author: Sarah Fox, Trainee Solicitor

As I drove into Volkswagen Group UK Limited headquarters for the start of my secondment there, it struck me that five years ago I couldn’t even have conceived that this is where I would spend the next six months, working inside one of the largest automotive manufacturers in Europe.

Five years earlier, I had closed the door to a previous career. Quite literally, a classroom door. I had spent a decade teaching History in the state education sector but arriving in my thirties and following the birth of my first daughter, I became acutely aware that time was ticking away, and that spending my entire career teaching had never been the long-term plan.

Paradoxically, although I knew teaching was not the right path for me, I had not quite figured out what the actual plan was (if, indeed, there is such a thing). On the advice of others who had changed their careers I took a leap, which was scarier at the time than it now looks in hindsight, and returned to study where I completed a one-year full-time Master of Business Administration (MBA). There, to my surprise, I discovered a love of all things business and, still unbeknownst to me, the start of a journey transitioning into law.

While my enjoyment of working with business was immediate, it took me longer to realise that law was the way in which I wanted to do that. I still recall, quite distinctly, a penny-dropping moment. I was sitting in the campus coffee shop, feeling the pressure of approaching the end of the year still without a clear plan. I remember thinking, if only I could use an academic skillset within a practical business context to add value to a company. I wanted to help and advise CEO’s and senior leaders, without necessarily becoming one of them. That was the moment when the direction finally became clear.

Many of my contemporaries had transitioned from humanities-based subjects into law a decade earlier. I had watched them with interest but with no desire to follow. At twenty‑one, I had no reason to pursue law. By the time I realised I did want to follow I simply assumed that, now in my mid‑thirties, I had missed that boat.

The introduction of the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) changed that. It was positioned as a more accessible route into law and aimed to encourage greater diversity within the profession. For the first time, it felt as though candidates like me, who had missed the opportunity earlier in life, were genuinely encouraged to apply.

I then came across Shoosmiths’ recruitment literature and, straight away, knew I would love to be there. A firm with a clear and unequivocal focus on businesses and the relationships that underpin them resonated deeply. I prepared extensively for the assessment centre but treated it as a dry run, assuming I had a year of applications ahead of me. To my total surprise, and continued gratitude, they offered me the opportunity.

I expected online study for the SQE to be lonely but accepted this because it meant I could be more accessible at home with my daughter. It was not isolating or lonely. Over two years, I became part of two thriving online communities. We called, messaged and supported each other through the most demanding periods, especially when the SQE assessments approached. At its height, managing the stress of approaching the SQE assessments, we exchanged hundreds of messages a day. It still shocks me that we never once attended a lesson together in person. When I met some of them at the assessment centre, it felt as though I had known them for years.

I finally returned to work at the start of my training contract, in September 2025. By then, I had been out of the workplace for four years while completing an MBA, a Postgraduate Diploma in Law, the SQE and, for which I am so grateful, welcoming my second daughter.

During my time working from home the world had changed significantly. Generative AI and heightened political instability had become part of daily life. I began my first seat with trepidation. I wondered how I would adapt, how would I feel being significantly older than my peers, how would I balance work and home to my satisfaction?

During my first seat, the secondment opportunity at VWG was raised. My initial reaction was that I could not possibly take on anything more. When the opportunity resurfaced, I took a second look. I am so grateful I did because, on second inspection, I realised that it was achievable. Just this week as I drove through the gates of their headquarters, I felt a powerful validation of the decision I made all those years ago when I closed the classroom door.

Since I changed career, lots of people have asked me about it. Many I’m sure out of politeness, but others because they want to do it too, but they are not sure how. Even close friends in long-standing careers, who I had always assumed were satisfied with where they were, have since revealed deep-seated desires to rethink. I still recall the irony of giving my personal email to the organiser of a university careers law fair where my firm had a stand because she wanted support with her own career change!

People have also asked what the experience has been like. My honest reflections are below.

·         if I had known what it was going to take to change career at this stage in life when I started, I probably would never have begun. I am so immensely grateful that I did not know, or let anything put me off taking this leap

·         once you leave, leave. I once attempted a career change but returned to teaching because of sunk costs. I did not remain for long

·         sometimes, it is okay to ignore the rational, commonsensical part of your brain that is encouraging you to remain where you are and trust your instincts instead

·         if you worry that having children will slow you down, in my experience, it does not. At the hardest times (and there were hard times), my children inspired me to push harder and further than I had ever pushed before. They are very happy, thriving girls by the way, who were immensely excited to visit my office at our firm’s recent family day.

·         doing what excites and energises you brings a whole load of positive energy to other areas of your life too. You cannot put a price on purpose.

Finally, an age-old adage, but a true one. You do not have to know where you are going to start the journey, you just have to take the first step. If that first step is reading this blog and you want to get in contact, please feel welcome.

Thanks for reading and, if you are considering a career change into law or otherwise, I wish you good luck and hope enjoy the journey ahead!

Explore more of our recent blogs for insights and inspiration. If you have questions, our FAQ page is a great place to start.

If you are ready to apply, jump straight to our training contract page where you can find out more and submit an application.

Still curious or need advice? We would love to hear from you – email us at joinus@shoosmiths.com and our team will be happy to help.