Life after law – Alice's switch from the courtroom to travel planner

Having spent almost two decades in the legal profession, including working as a Senior Crown Prosecutor, Alice Hornsby had a lightbulb moment – that it was time for a career change. Discover how a longstanding passion for travel, and a quick Google search, led to her taking her life in a brand-new direction.

Reflecting on what prompted her to explore other opportunities, Alice said: “A number of factors culminated in my decision to embark on a career change, but the main one was that I’d lost the passion for my job, and I no longer felt fulfilled. I decided I wanted to make a change because my personal life had become affected by my job. I’d become quite unhappy.”

With both travel and fitness being areas that she was hugely passionate about, it was a moment of clarity whilst on holiday that gave Alice the push she needed to really think about the new path she wanted to go down.

“I was lying on a beach in Thailand back in May 2025, and I asked myself why I was still a lawyer when it wasn’t what I wanted to do anymore. I had a serious conversation with myself and answered some difficult questions. My husband and I sat in a bar in Koh Phangan and talked it all through. With his encouragement, and leaning more towards travel, I started to do some research on how I could make it happen for myself. I googled ‘how to be a travel advisor’, and Travel Counsellors was the first thing that came up.”

Making the right choice

Anyone knows that starting your own business is a huge decision – and having worries is a natural part of the process. Speaking of what her initial concerns were, Alice said: “I was worried whether I’d be able to survive financially, and what my family and friends would think of me walking away from the stability of a well-paid job with employment rights. There was a lot to consider.”

Once Alice started looking into Travel Counsellors, there was a lot that stood out to her. “I was really impressed with the professional set-up of the business, and the caring, empathetic culture that emanated through the website, and through my recruiter, Ashley. I was lucky enough to meet with Ashley one-to-one at the Venus Head Office, and as soon as I stepped through the doors, it felt right.”

As someone new to the travel industry, Alice also loved the idea of our Travel Academy. “It made it feel like this was entirely possible, and that I would be accepted as a newbie”, Alice said.

The start of something exciting

Thinking back to how Alice first felt about moving into self-employment, she admits being “absolutely terrified”. However, she added: “It was also so empowering. I can be in complete control of my financial success and personal wellbeing, which is exciting.

“The quality of the initial training was really impressive, and it eased me in gently. I loved how well organised it was, and the knowledge of Kristina, the trainer, was astounding. My mind was blown in a very good way! I had no idea there was so much to the travel industry! Everyone has been supportive and understanding of the fact that I’m a novice, and the training is instilling confidence in me every day that I can make a real success of my business.”

So, what’s Alice looking forward to most about being a Travel Counsellor? “Inspiring others to travel and create memories for my clients”, she said. “From a personal perspective, the main reason I’m doing this is to have a healthy work-life balance and to feel fulfilled after a day’s work.”

Alice’s words of wisdom

For anyone considering switching up their career, Alice has this advice. “Ask yourself what your ‘why’ is, and what you’re seeking from the change. But if you have a passion for travel, definitely consider it. Being passionate is so important. You also need to be prepared financially and have a good support network around you.

“Ultimately, life’s too short to be in a job you don’t enjoy. Work’s a huge part of life, and you need to feel satisfied. For those who are unfulfilled in their jobs and feel like transforming their life for the better, I really hope my transition inspires them to take the leap because a career change is entirely possible. After all, change doesn’t happen in your comfort zone! Follow your dreams, because only you can control your own happiness.

Follow in Alice’s footsteps

Ready to create your own destiny? Book onto one of our upcoming Discovery events to learn more about how Travel Counsellors can help you create the life and business you’ve always dreamed of. Take a look at what we’ve got coming up here.