She started studying for her law degree via distance learning, before returning to university to study law whilst on a break from her demanding career.
Having completed a further two years as a trainee solicitor, Joanne (42) has now joined Carlisle solicitors Burnetts as a specialist in family law.
During her training, Joanne volunteered with the Northumberland charity Legacare which provides legal advice for people with terminal or life-limiting illnesses.
She said: ”I’d always been fascinated by law and being on a career break gave me the opportunity to study.
“It was while working at Legacare that I realised I wanted to focus on helping people when they really need it so I made the decision early on to specialise in family law.”
Her role at Burnetts will include supporting clients through divorce and separation as well as advising on family law cases which involve children.
She said: “I’m especially interested in helping clients looking for advice on their options when they’re leaving longer relationships – so-called ‘silver-splitters’.”
Joanne has raised thousands of pounds for charities over the years; whilst with Boots, she was one of a team who won a Variety Club Award for services to charity and in 2014 she cycled Coast to Coast, helping to raise funds for a local boy with cerebral palsy.
She is a school governor at both Hexham Middle School and the town’s Queen Elizabeth High School .
Originally from Liverpool, Joanne moved to the North-East in 1994 with her husband Andrew. She has two children Rebecca (12) and George (9).
As well as her degree in Law, Joanne has a degree in English from Leeds University which she is putting to good use as one of Burnetts’ blogging team.
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