Working next in global investment bankers Goldman Sachs' legal department, she still found law "a bit dry", although she did enjoy what she was learning with those corporate giants.
"Then I moved into legal recruitment and just loved it," she said of her last two years of OE.
"There were no egos, a really good energy and it was a very busy job.
"I knew the London market well and, with my connections in the legal world, was able to place New Zealand friends arriving in the UK."
After six years in the UK, she returned to New Zealand with her then British-born husband.
With three daughters and a demanding role at EIT, taking on study for a master's degree as a single parent was a big ask.
Spurring her on was her then boss, executive dean of education, humanities and health science Susan Jacobs, who retired last year.
"Susan told me there weren't many heads of school in New Zealand who didn't have PhDs so I'd better crack on and do a master's."
Over a busy few years, she managed, with the support of family, to keep all the life, work and study balls in the air.
In my position, it's nice to understand the working of it [EIT degree] as well.
"The trick is to focus on what you need to do at that time, not tomorrow or next week," she says.
She intends to follow her own advice this year as she launches into a PhD, with vaccinations as her topic of study.
It's a contentious issue but, as with the fluoridation discourse completed for her master's degree, the focus will be on social change rather than outcomes.
"You have to try to be objective, parking your personal position.
"Coming from a law background helps with that."
The doctorate requires three years of full-time study, but she is relaxed about how long it might take her to complete.
