This is a 2-part blog for Energise – The Talent Liberation Company by Christina Blacklaws. This is part 2.
Read part 1: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/christina-blacklaws-guest-blog-about-her-portfolio-career-part-1/
Biog
Christina studied Jurisprudence at Oxford and qualified as a solicitor in 1991. She now runs her own consultancy business advising domestic and international law firms and legal businesses, speaking globally and holding a number of non-executive directorships. She holds a range of public appointments including chairing both the LawTech Delivery Panel for the Ministry of Justice and Innovate UK’s Next Generation Services Advisory Board and sits on the Ministry of Justice’s Legal Support Advisory Group. She is an advisory board member for Elevate, 20-First and Thompson Reuter’s Women in Leadership in Law programme.
Christina is the Simon Professional and Industrial Fellow at the Alliance Manchester Business School. Christina was President of the Law Society of England and Wales until July 2019 and continues to represent the Women Lawyers Division on Council and the UK on the International Bar Association Council.
She is passionate about diversity and inclusion, technology and access to justice and uses every opportunity to advocate and progress positive change in these areas. Christina is a multi-award-winning published author, lecturer and frequent media commentator.
What do you most love about having a portfolio career?
Being my own boss and in control of my life. If I don’t like a particular role, then I can move on without any major issues. I can take time off when I want without feeling guilty, and I can influence my own work life balance.
A portfolio career is endlessly interesting and challenging and every day is a ‘school day’!
What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?
In many ways, the same as the opportunities! It’s difficult to manage your time, you don’t have much support and you don’t have the stability of full-time paid employment.
Also, you can never really have a day when you’re not on top form. People are paying for you to be fabulous – and this means you have to plan in some downtime into your routine.
Who or what helps you to manage your portfolio career?
I have an amazing bookkeeper; Rachel Brushfield has given me some sterling advice and I am currently investigating employing a virtual PA.
Personally, I try hard to create space when I’m not working and reflect often about the mix of work and whether it suits me and what I want to achieve.
How do you approach marketing your portfolio career?
I have been fortunate in that the work has come to me. However, I use social media (LinkedIn and Twitter) to publicise my speaking engagements and thought leadership work and, if I have time, I write articles too.
What 5 tips can you share for people considering a portfolio career?
1 Think carefully before you embark on a portfolio career, especially if you will be leaving a secure, full time role and craft out exactly what you want your portfolio career to look like.
2 Speak to others who have experience in the relevant areas who will be able to give you advice and insight and reality check your plans.
3 Make your intentions known widely – get others to be on the lookout for you be your ambassadors.
4 Start or ramp up your social media engagement/ presence and start to produce some output in your chosen areas
5 Just do it. I’ve loved every minute and encourage others to take the plunge!
More
Christina’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinablacklaws/
Our book for the Law Society ‘Career management for lawyers. Practical strategies to plan your next chapter’ is available now in the on-line book shop: https://bookshop.lawsociety.org.uk/p/career-management-for-lawyers-practi-paperback/
Interested in a portfolio career for yourself?
E mail us to request your copy of our free report ‘Discover portfolio careers’: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/portfolio/connect/
