Work Life Quiz: Joanna Pratt, Thomson Snell & Passmore

What was your first-ever job?

Supermarket checkout assistant.

What was your worst experience as a trainee?

One evening I went to the home of one of our criminal clients with my principal to take a statement for his trial. We sat surrounded by Rottweilers and I decided I didn’t want to do criminal work.

What’s your favourite restaurant?

Thackerays in Tunbridge Wells.

If you weren’t a lawyer what would you have been?

A florist.

What’s your favourite film?

Casino Royale.

What was the first record you bought?

An Abba album - I don’t remember which one.

Who’s your hero and why?

Aung San Suu Kyi. The ultimate example of what one can achieve in a peaceful and graceful way.

What’s your biggest work career mistake and what did you learn from it?

It’s taken me many years to learn to delegate, but I’m fortunate in having an amazing team now.

What book are you reading?

The Glassblower of Murano, by Marina Fiorato.

What’s your favourite children’s book?

Watership Down, by Richard Adams.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which two luxury items would you take?

Limitless supplies of Earl Grey tea and champagne.

What’s the longest you’ve worked without sleep?

I’ve never had to work all night, although there have been many occasions on which I’ve started very early or finished very late.

If a movie was being made about your life, which actor would play you and why?

My husband says the character of Miranda in Sex and the City reminds him of me, so it would have to be Cynthia Nixon.

Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

My mum. She and I were once stuck in a lift together and she became extremely upset.

Tell us two truths and one lie about yourself, in any order:

I speak passable Mandarin; I didn’t talk until I was three; I love TV cookery programmes.