Tell us about your Flex secondments.

I worked for a major retail bank for 12 months, a major developer for over 18 months and then MinterEllison for 12 months in their conveyancing team.

What opportunities did you get with Flex?

I worked in cutting edge areas of law that I hadn't been exposed to previously. During one secondment, I worked on implementing a major change initiative and in another secondment, I led a national team of 20 people using the skills I learned in my first secondment.

Your advice to someone considering making the move to Flex?

Be curious. If I hadn't been curious, I wouldn't have worked in different areas where I learned new things that led to the role I'm in now. I think I was considered for my current role because of all the work I'd done with Flex.

What opportunities did Flex give you?

It gave me the confidence to come back to work part-time, knowing I had a top tier firm behind me, providing the support that I needed.

How did Flex support you?

As a Flex lawyer, knowing you have the backing and resources of the firm is great. Just knowing you can reach out to a partner for a 15 minute sense-check that your advice is on-point makes you feel comfortable to put your hand up for opportunities.

The team listened to me about what I was interested in doing. Each secondment was an opportunity to try different industries to work out where I wanted to be.

Your advice to someone considering making the move to Flex?

MinterEllison is there to support you and you need to be unapologetic about what you're looking for. I knew the most I could commit to was three days a week. I didn't overstretch myself and let anybody down. It was a wonderful pathway to feel comfortable in putting my hand up for a senior executive role as GC.

Key benefits of being a Flex lawyer?

Being placed with a variety of clients in different sectors, I was able to develop skills relevant to in-house lawyers in HR, in media, and various corporate transactions that enhanced my performance as a technology lawyer.

Your advice to someone considering making the move to Flex?

Make yourself open and available to opportunities and make those work for you too, in terms of flexibility, diversity of opportunities and the development of your own career and professional skills.

What skill has been most useful in your career to date?

Flexibility! Being able to go with the flow.

Tell us about your experience with Flex

The Flex team's wealth of knowledge, experience and encouragement has changed my career for the better.

Best piece of career advice you've received?

Be solutions-focussed rather than a roadblock for the business.

Your advice to someone considering making the move to Flex?

If you're confident in your skills, comfortable working for different clients in various settings (office and virtual) and don't mind waiting for the right role, then Flex is for you.

Someone who has inspired you most in your career, and why?

Our CEO at my current secondment - for his attention to detail and mastery of the complexities of the business, while always engaging in kindness and respect for his team.

Best piece of career advice you've received?

Have the internal confidence to know your worth to an employer or client.

Characteristics that make a great Flex lawyer?

Resilience. There is often a simpler, perhaps better way of doing things than is required by your host team or stakeholder. A secondee is a guest and it is not our role to "change the world"; and

Balance. It's about striking a balance between fitting into the client culture whilst remaining a MinterEllison lawyer, remembering that MinterEllison is judged on my performance, just as I am.

What's one assumption/myth about Flex lawyers you'd like to dispel?

The temp. We are representing MinterEllison when we are placed with a client. We're so much more than contractors.

3 words to describe Flex

I can only relate Flex back to MinterEllison generally.

Respect. Care. Expertise.