Sheelagh was admitted as a solicitor in 1982 and spent 11 years in private practice (including 2 years as a trainee solicitor). During that time she specialised in family law, dealing with a broad range of matrimonial and family cases. She also dealt with probate and housing cases. Since 1991 Sheelagh has been employed as a solicitor in the public sector, specialising in administrative law and in employment law.

Sheelagh has also been a law tutor for the Open University teaching, among other subjects, family law. She has also provided training on housing/property law following relationship breakdown for Shelter and the National Council for One Parent Families.

Sheelagh has two Masters Degrees from London University, one in Conflict Resolution and Mediation Studies and the other in Psychological Studies.

Sheelagh qualified as a CEDR mediator in 2004 and is CEDR Accredited, since when she has carried out a number of mediations as part of County Court schemes.

Sheelagh is an Accredited Community Mediator and regularly mediates in neighbourhood disputes. She is also Joint Chair of a local community mediation service. For four years Sheelagh was on the Management Committee (and for the last 2 years the Chair) of Welcare in Lewisham. This local organisation was responsible for running one of the few contact centres in South East London, which provided a safe space for contact between children of separated parents and their non-custodial parent.

Apart from this, Sheelagh's outside interests are travelling in Europe, reading, music including opera, cooking and gardening.