Patricia Petersen, the NT's newest lawyer at 56, worked as a counsellor, lecturer and nurse - ABC News

Patricia Petersen was approaching 50 when she went back to university to study law — but said it wasn't until she'd finished her first year that people realised she was committed to a career change.

Key points:

• Dr Petersen has been admitted as a lawyer in the Northern Territory
• She will be practicing at Top End Women's Legal Service and North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency as a volunteer
• Previously, she worked as a counsellor, lecturer and nurse

"It was late in life to be studying law, or studying anything for that matter," she laughed.

"Initially they thought it was kind of a midlife crisis."

This week, Dr Petersen was admitted as a lawyer in the Northern Territory and said as "as soon as restrictions lift" she would move from Queensland to Darwin to start her legal career.

"For some time I have had my heart set on the Northern Territory as somewhere to practise," Dr Petersen said.

"I'm hoping that I can be the catalyst for other people out there that are thinking: 'I'm too old to do this' — you're never too old, everyone has their own journey."

Life experience an 'advantage'

Dr Petersen was born in Brisbane and raised in Ipswich, Queensland.(Supplied: Patricia Petersen)

Dr Petersen previously worked as a university lecturer, nurse and counsellor and says there are "advantages" to coming to the law at 56, with a wealth of previous life experience.

"If I need to read a medical report, having been a nurse I am very well placed to know what it says," she said.

And the 56-year-old is used to setting herself a challenge. She ran for political office in more than a dozen elections over the last 20 years — including two unsuccessful federal election campaigns as a Independent candidate against Tony Abbott in his then blue-ribbon Sydney seat.

But Dr Petersen insists says she's leaving politics behind and is firmly focussed on her new challenge.

"My focus is, and for the foreseeable future will be, on providing excellent legal advice to those in need," Dr Petersen said.

Patricia Petersen signs the roll at admission.(Supplied: Patricia Petersen)

Teaching karate to DV victims

Dr Peterson has reinvented herself before and has helped others do the same. She has a black belt in karate and has represented Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Australia at state, national and international competitions.

On a voluntary basis, Dr Petersen teaches self-defence to victims of domestic violence — something she's been doing for nearly 30 years after experiencing the benefits first-hand.

Dr Petersen said her late mother Valma was one of her greatest supporters.

"When I was much younger when I was a teenager and in my early 20s I tended to attract the wrong type of boyfriend," she said.

Dr Petersen said as a young woman her significant romantic relationships were "horrific", but martial arts taught her the skills and gave her the confidence to stand up for herself.

"Someone who has been assaulted before is often more likely to be assaulted again in a future relationship," she said.

"It's about breaking that cycle, making sure you're not attracting the wrong partners."

On a voluntary basis, Dr Petersen teaches self-defence to victims of domestic violence.

In 2002, Dr Petersen won the Victorian Open karate tournament after cracking eight ribs in the first bout.

"It was probably a foolish thing to do," Dr Petersen laughed.

"When the going gets tough with me, I think back to that tournament and I think: 'if I can do that, I can cope and I can do anything'."

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2020-05-16 22:34:00Z
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