As a child, little Natalka watched American legal dramas with enthusiasm, impressed by how it’s possible to influence the judge and jury in court with legal knowledge and the precise use of words. Duly, a childhood dream became reality as before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Nataliia Tukureeva worked as a lawyer in a large agricultural company.

Nataliia and her daughter arrived in Prague on March 8th, 2022. She assumed the war wouldn’t last long and she’d return home in two months so didn’t consider a job search. But as battles raged on Nataliya said: “I’d have to remain here so realised I needed to learn the language and find a job.” By August 2022 she worked in a lawyer's office drawing up document and filling forms. She didn’t work with clients as her Czech level wasn’t sufficient enough, with only knowledge of English helping pass the interview.

Nataliia worked there six months then went to IKEA, currently working in their legal department scanning contracts and creating archives. Nataliia hopes to advance to conclude contracts and communicate with clients but this requires knowledge of Czech at C1-C2 level. Now she actively studies Czech and English too, it being necessary for working in an international company. Nataliia plans to return home to be a lawyer but doesn’t reject the opportunity to head in a new direction.

"The war in Ukraine changed some of my values. In particular, I realised I shouldn’t stick to one profession. So, I'm considering other options where I could grow. We must be flexible, invest in ourselves, in our knowledge. This will help to stay afloat under any circumstances,” she says.