"When people around me at the law firm are stressed out and running down the corridor, I'm thinking, 'what's the matter? Nobody died, no one is haemorrhaging in front of you'," reflects Hogan Lovells senior associate Stella Wong.

Wong's path into the law is unusual. She not only opted to qualify and work as a doctor for five years before joining Hogan Lovells as a trainee in 2005 but continues to work part-time as a general practitioner (GP) on Saturdays. Wong is now a senior associate in the firm's patents practice.

"I always wanted to keep hold of my medical career as I worked hard to get there and I do enjoy it. Some people get up and go play golf; I go and treat patients at a GP surgery."

She is one of a handful of lawyers in London who opted to embark on entirely different careers before going into law. Some, like Wong, have gone from one white collar job to another, while others, such as Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer trainee Sophie Hosking, have won an Olympic gold medal or tried their hands at running a carpentry business like Eversheds of counsel Polly Sprenger. And with law firms increasingly opting for alternative business structures (ABS), allowing them to take on a broader range of employees, major general Tim Robinson CBE has just left the British Army to join City media firm Schillings at the start of 2016 as a partner and non-legal consultant.

They all share one thing in common: they achieved a lot, quickly, during their first careers.

Some people get up and go play golf; I go and treat patients at a GP surgery

Robinson (pictured in his former career) says that he progressed so swiftly during a 20-year stint with the British Armed Forces that he opted to change tack. 

"To be frank, I progressed very quickly. I became a major general probably three or four years earlier than normal and thought, 'I've done this and achieved it early and I have time to choose something completely different'."

Robinson saw active service in Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland. He was the director of operations for the Army, responsible for deploying land forces worldwide and for organising military operations inside the UK, as well as holding roles in Whitehall and at a Ministry of Defence think tank.

Although he is not a lawyer, Robinson read law at the University of Exeter and has joined Schillings to advise clients and businesses on privacy and reputation.

"A classic military problem is often about protecting something from harm or damage. You're expected as an officer to lead from the front and react to any problems: riots, gun attacks. When I went to Belfast in the mid 1990s I had 30 people I was directly responsible for and I brought them all back intact."

Making the transition to law

Sophie Hosking (pictured right) and her crewmate Kat Copeland became Olympic rowing champions at the London Olympic Games in 2012. The following year, Hosking decided to retire from competitive rowing at the age of 27 and began a training contract in March 2015 with Freshfields.

And after working up to 90 hours a week as a junior hospital doctor, Wong says life as a full time GP was too cushiony for her liking.

"I've been in situations in A&E where you've got minutes and someone's life is on the line. Suddenly I had a lot of time on my hands. Ironically I wasn't really used to that anymore. A lot of my friends were still working in hospitals doing long hours so I found myself at a loose end."

Sprenger (pictured) adds: "I know my career path is not traditional or comprehensible but I don't feel I failed at any of the roles I have had; I just transited through them more quickly than others."

Sprenger's multiple careers range from a full-time Guardian journalist, carpentry business owner (billing out £180 in profit a day), and private investigator as well as a two-year stint as head of strategic intelligence at the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

Amid rumours in 2010 that the SFO might close and roll into another organisation (although it subsequently did not) she opted to qualify as a lawyer and joined the fraud and investigation group in London at Eversheds in September 2014.

However, they did not all find the road to law a smooth process.

"I did feel quite isolated," explains Wong, adding: "I didn't have much time to find out what everybody was doing."

And Hosking argues that although she did not find the application process difficult that the legal profession "should be more open" to those who want to change careers.

Plus the pressures of paying for a full time law degree also take their toll, says Wong.

The ballpark sum to become a lawyer is roughly £25,000 – £50,000, according to the Law Society. This includes fees for a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), the Common Professional Examination and/or the vocational Legal Practice Course (LPC).

"I knew that if I wanted to continue my studies in law it would cost quite a bit so I looked at options to reduce the cost," explains Wong (pictured below). 

Although Hogan Lovells sponsored Wong, she found it was not enough when taking into account living expenses in London.

"I wasn't used to being a student again and so for me it was not enough to live on in London. Once I was studying full time on the LPC course I would finish at say 3pm and then do an evening session as a GP."

A lot to offer

But once through the door, lawyers with diverse backgrounds have a lot to offer their firms.

"What sets me apart is the fact I have spent five years as a professional athlete and become an Olympic gold medallist," says Hosking. "I think this has served me well as I have the ability to work hard, to perform well under pressure and work in a team."

Sprenger comments: "Being able to budget and cost a case is a lot easier for me. During my early career as a carpenter I would figure out costs and hours. Also, costing materials into jobs helps me think about costing in legal counsel or travel."

Meanwhile, Wong's medical background has also served her well as a patents lawyer.

"Most of my clients are in the medical device, pharmaceutical field because of my background so there's a degree of overlap. As a doctor it's really important to get patients to trust me. This is a skill that is useful as a solicitor: if your client trusts you they will come back."

Despite the fact that they have started a second career at a later age than their contemporaries they don't feel this is a big issue.

"When I was studying I noticed the age gap more but having joined the firm I am surrounded by people of different ages and it is a lot less apparent. I try and look at being older as a positive thing," says Hosking.

I know my career path is not traditional or comprehensible but I don't feel I failed at any of the roles I have had; I just transited through them more quickly than others

Wong adds: "Starting out [in law] a bit later I probably feel more impatient to progress in my career."

Overall, they all feel that their investment in law as a career has been worthwhile.

Hosking concludes that even in the run up to the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this year she has no regrets. 

"I'm sure I will feel mixed emotions during the games but you make huge sacrifices as an athlete and you have an equal number of lows as well as highs. Looking at the bigger picture, I'm pleased with the choice I made."