“I longed to work in an area I was truly passionate about.”

What work were you doing previously?

I’m a qualified lawyer and worked in the City in private practice for a US law firm, and later in-house, as Head of Legal and Compliance.  

What are you doing now?

I run an interior design studio, Poets Corner Interiors. 

Why did you change?

I'd felt for a long time like I was stuck in the wrong career.  

I was very grateful for the benefits my legal career had afforded me. I’d worked with some very talented lawyers who I’d learnt a lot from, I’d developed a range of skills and experience and of course, there was the financial stability.  

However, it came with a cost of working very long hours and in a highly stressful environment. I felt like I was missing too much time with my children. I worked a four day week but when I moved to an in-house role, work always overflowed into my non-working day.  

I didn’t mind the long hours and hard work, but I wanted to do that in a more flexible way.    

And I longed to work in an area I was truly passionate about, where I felt that I could make a difference. 

When was the moment you decided to make the change?

Working from home during the pandemic shone a light on all of the things that I didn't love about my legal role and my working environment.  

I felt like it was a “now or never” opportunity so I took the plunge and I’m very glad I did. 

How did you choose your new career?

Interior design has been a long standing interest and passion of mine.  

I had some experience in the area and often wished I’d taken that path when I was younger, so it felt like a natural choice.  

I wouldn’t have switched careers for anything else.  

Are you happy with the change?

Absolutely.  

Running the business is very hard work but I feel so much more fulfilled doing a job that I love, and I have the flexibility to plan my work around my children.  

What do you miss and what don't you miss?

Starting a business can be very lonely.  

I miss being part of a larger team and the collaboration that comes with that. On the flip side, I’ve learnt to build good relationships with suppliers and contractors in the design and build industry.

I’m involved in a number of industry groups, I attend events and I’ve made friends who are also fellow interior designers.  

I don’t miss the rigid structure and inflexibility that I often felt, working in the corporate world. I’m also glad to see the back of office politics!       

How did you go about making the shift?

I spent several years honing my interior design skills and studying with the intention of moving to a career in interior design, without ever really knowing if it would become a reality.  

I was able to take redundancy from my legal job towards the end of the pandemic so I set up my website and just started!  

How did you develop (or transfer) the skills you needed for your new role?

Fortunately, this is something that I’d been working on for a while.  

I had hands-on experience of managing several of my own successful design and renovation projects which had allowed me to learn a lot and build a network of contacts (suppliers and tradespeople).  

I enrolled on courses to learn relevant software for interior design and I’ve undertaken the British Institute of Interior Design pathway courses too.  

I found a lot of my legal skills are transferrable. The fundamental requirement of both jobs is the same, problem solving, it’s just the nature of the work that is different.

Understanding legal contracts, negotiating terms with suppliers, attention to detail and excellent communication are just a few of the skills that I’ve learnt and developed throughout my legal career. They happen to be skills that are absolutely critical to the work of an interior designer.    

What didn’t go well? What wrong turns did you take?

Developing my niche and service offering has been hard and it’s taken time.  

I’ve learnt the importance of the designer/client dynamic and most importantly, I’ve learnt to say no to projects where the fit isn’t quite right for all parties.  

How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible?

I started a second business (which I continue to run), hiring out our home as a location house for photography and film.  

This has allowed me a second income and funds to invest in my interior design business, which has been invaluable, especially during more fallow periods.  

What was the most difficult thing about changing?

The most difficult aspect of changing careers has been the adjustment to a new way of working.  

Running my business requires a great deal of motivation and proactivity. That can be difficult, especially when it comes to the more dry aspects of the job like accounting and operations!  

What help did you get?

I’ve had a great deal of help and support from my husband and my wider family and friends.  

They’ve provided emotional support, advice, and have helped me with childcare. They’ve also shared my business with their own networks which helped me to get my very first clients and start my portfolio. 

What resources would you recommend to others?

Sometimes further qualifications are needed in order to change your career, but don’t underestimate the value in completely immersing yourself in your new industry.  

Get involved with industry bodies – they often run free courses and networking events. Read the relevant press, attend events and make new contacts and friends.

If you’re starting a business on your own, this will be invaluable in terms of expanding your knowledge and skills, and building a support network.

What have you learnt in the process?

At the start I had to take on every role in my business so I’ve developed lots of new skills, from book keeping to SEO.  

I’ve learnt to structure my day to give all aspects of business the attention they need.

I’ve learnt that progress is more important than perfection!  

What do you wish you'd done differently?

When I started my business I was fortunate to build a steady stream of work from word of mouth recommendations.

But if I was starting again, I’d invest more in marketing from the outset to maximise the potential for client leads.  

What would you advise others to do in the same situation?

That it’s never too late to switch careers.  

I started my business in my late thirties and for a long time I thought it was too late. It really wasn’t!  

I’d also advise others to do one thing every day to make progress towards your career change goal. It can be small or large, from reading an article pertinent to your chosen industry, to taking a relevant course. 

To find out more about Sarah's work, visit www.poetscornerinteriors.co.uk

What lessons could you take from Sarah's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.