Fiona Ashworth – International Women’s Day Interview
For International Women's Day 2025, we have been interviewing the wonderful women of TSP. In this article, we sit down with Director Fiona Ashworth to hear more about the experiences and achievements that led her to the world of law. We also find out what work-life balance looks like when you are busy managing two full time jobs as a Solicitor and a farmer!
What led you to become a Solicitor?
It was as simple as waking up one morning in August 1990, and knowing that I wanted to do a Law Degree, and it is what my Vicar terms an Epiphany!
The journey was long as I had left school 16 years before, so I had to write a 2,000 word essay on Democracy to get into College to do A-levels, which I needed to get into University to study Law. I got married at 18, and had a husband, a farm, and three boys under the age of 11, so it was a difficult balance to achieve.
How have you used your experience as a woman in a farming family to support and empower others in your life?
As number four in a farming family of five children, it was a constant challenge to be heard. This led to me being very independent. It also gave me a purpose in life and the ability to work things through for myself.
When guiding female junior Lawyers to be the best Solicitors they can be, I encourage them to find their own strength and sense of purpose. To understand how to be a good Solicitor is firstly to get a good understanding of Law, how to apply it to a set of circumstances, and how to make sure the client understands what you are doing for them. For women this is even more challenging because you might be trying to strike a balance between family life and career – I am proud to show women that this is possible.
As a farmer / lawyer what does a work life balance mean to you?
Life to farmers is all about work, so a work life balance is very difficult to achieve. However it is extremely rewarding and fulfilling – it’s a lifestyle that brings the whole family together.
As an arable farmer the work is relentless on the dry days, but impossible when it is raining. For arable farmers, every day starts with a look at the weather maps for Essex. Gauging whether or not the day will be dry enough to deal with the land work is paramount as sprays and fertilizers all need time to dry.
Harvesting is often interrupted in the summer months by a short, sharp, shower, which can mean several hours of waiting for the weather to improve. This all makes it very difficult to plan your days.
When we are not working on the land, there is always plenty of paperwork to do in the farm office, whether that be environmental guidance on various schemes, or HMRC tax changes or just paying the bills.
My day usually starts at 4.30am to do a few hours of farm work before leaving home for the office to work as a full time Solicitor, between 9-5 each day. When I get home in the evening, after I’ve cooked dinner I can then easily spend another 2 hours in the farm office, answering emails, responding to queries, or just getting up to speed with the latest reports from the CLA or NFU.
My Saturdays are spent either cleaning the church and arranging the church flowers, or looking after my elderly Mother, to give her Carer a break. I very rarely have anytime to myself at the weekend, as I also try to fit in seeing my grandchildren.
My life is very full managing two full time jobs, but the farm would not survive financially if it wasn’t for my income as a Solicitor. The reward for my busy life is going home to a quiet house in the middle of the country!
What advice would have been useful for your younger self?
Life as a professional woman continues to be tricky, as law and farming are both male dominated professions. However, my life skills have enabled me through both channels to be independent, to be successful, and to stay focused on what I have always tried to achieve and that is success.
If I knew what I know now I would have started the journey of my life sooner than I did as I feel as though I have been playing catch up all my professional life. I would say to women starting their careers now, all things in moderation – you can find that balance between your ambitions and your passions.
Having said that I brought to the table business skills having run my own interior design business for 6 years to save up £30,000 to fund me through my studies, such skills have been useful as a Solicitor. I have also managed the farm office for the last 25 years, so have a good understanding of balancing the books!
How did your farming background motivate you to succeed?
Since my ‘epiphany’ I think I was destined to succeed. I knew I had a flair for dealing with people, and having been brought up on a farm, I knew as a daughter and wife in a farming business, I would need to work hard to achieve recognition and success. Natural ability is important but it must be coupled with a clear sense of direction and self-awareness.
What we all do as Farmers, or Solicitors, is not for ourselves, it is about helping clients and customers to achieve what they want to achieve, in life or in business, in an effective and efficient way. This is the case whether you are providing legal services or providing food for the nation.
Being a Solicitor is not about yourself, it’s about the service you provide, the way you provide it and giving good value for money. If one can master all those things with patience and due diligence, then your reputation will go before you, and success will follow.