If you’d told me a few years ago – back when I was comfortably settled in a law firm – that I’d build my career primarily through in-house secondments, I probably would’ve laughed it off.
At the time, I thrived on structure and predictability. Clear tasks, defined scopes, firm deadlines. Before open-plan offices (let alone remote work) became the norm, I’d sit in my office, everything in its place, enjoying the routine and the satisfaction of a neatly planned work week.
Fast forward to today, and my working life couldn’t look more different.
After a stint overseas and relocating to a new city in Australia, I decided to leave private practice and explore the world of New Law. I found my way into secondment work – without ever having planned it that way.
I still remember my first secondment clearly: a late-afternoon interview, starting the next morning and no idea how long I’d be there. Apprehensive doesn’t begin to cover how I felt.
But I didn’t need to worry – it turned out to be one of the best professional decisions I’ve made.
Each secondment has brought something different – different challenges (often areas I’d never worked in before), different teams (with distinct ways of working, personalities and levels of expertise), different industries (try my hand at tech? Sure, why not?).
And with each one, I’ve stretched in ways that no single, long-term role could have offered. Yes, I’ve sharpened my legal skills – but I’ve also learned how to work more effectively with diverse stakeholders, how to quickly understand business priorities, and how to adapt in shifting environments – not something I have been notoriously good at in the past.
Many see secondments as a temporary fix—plugging resource gaps or supporting BAU overflow. But for me, they’ve been a long-term accelerator for growth. Each placement has pushed me well beyond my comfort zone and revealed strengths I didn’t know I had.
One of the biggest shifts is learning to take a much broader view than just the legal lens. Working across multiple businesses has taught me to think commercially—to align advice with strategy, priorities, and operational realities.
And I’ve been lucky to work with, and learn from, some truly impressive lawyers. The ones who can cut to the core of an issue in minutes. The ones who have a gift for simplifying technical advice. And the ones who just seem to build trust with clients effortlessly.
Every team has its own rhythm, and you absorb a little from each. I’ve picked up habits, shortcuts, and mindset shifts that I now carry into every role.
There have also been moments where I’ve almost forgotten that I was there as a secondee and felt genuinely part of the team—welcomed, trusted, and included. When you’re given a seat at the table quickly, and your input is genuinely valued, those secondments leave a lasting mark.
Of course, the work can be challenging—especially when stepping into an unfamiliar industry with minimal handover.
But over time, I’ve built a playbook: ask questions early, clarify business priorities, and seek out internal tools or resources to get up to speed fast (because let’s face it, no one has time to sit you down and explain everything). That process has made me more confident, more proactive—and surprisingly, more comfortable with not having all the answers straight away.Looking back, secondment work has shaped me into a more well-rounded and resilient lawyer.
I’ve developed a sharper sense of how businesses operate, and how legal advice needs to flex based on the audience, context, and pace. That’s the kind of experience I simply wouldn’t have gained sitting in the same seat year after year.
So, if you’re considering secondment work – or about to step into your first one: lean in. Be curious and ask the “obvious” questions. You may not have planned this path, but it might just lead to the kind of career you didn’t know you wanted.
