For 33-year-old Slater & Gordon lawyer Joanne Panagakis, the year 2009 has been one of sharp transitions.

In January, she returned to work after eight months' parental leave following the birth of her first child, then just six months later she was elevated to the position of practice group leader of the motor vehicle accidents/TAC grouping for the firm's office in Reservoir, Victoria. However she isn't daunted by her newfound responsibilities, and she's optimistic about her ability to balance both worlds. "I expect that in ten years' time I will have consolidated my management skills, expanded my role in the firm and cultivated a successful work/life balance," she says.

DLA Phillips Fox senior associate Alyson Eather is in the midst of exploring the sights and sounds of Singapore. She's on a 12-month secondment to DLA Piper's Singapore office, where she's involved in advising on a number of large energy, mining and infrastructure projects.

Anna von Dietze was a fully qualified lawyer in Germany before moving to Australia to embark on 20 more months of legal study to be able to practise in the country. Von Dietze, who graduated in the top 3 per cent of her year in Germany, says her decision to move to Australia was initially a huge step backwards and put her passion for the law to the test.

With five kids and an Olympic medal to her name Zali Steggall says the transition from athlete to barrister was never going to be easy, but that both careers share some unlikely similarities.