Germany's First Lady Elke Büdenbender (60) is now working as a judge again – but only part-time.
The wife of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier returned to her position as a judge at the Berlin Administrative Court on Monday.
She had been on leave from there during her husband's first term.
“I am very much looking forward to my return to the administrative court.
"I enjoy my job, I like being a judge," said Büdenbender of the German Press Agency in Berlin.
"At the same time, I have respect for the double challenge."
Büdenbender initially trained as an industrial clerk, then studied law.
Initially she was a judge at the administrative court in Hanover, in 2000 she moved to the administrative court in Berlin.
She moved into her office there on Monday – it will be a while before she has her first hearing in the courtroom.
In the 4th chamber of the court, she will deal with cases relating to driver's license law, commercial law and commercial administration law, among other things.
Double role with half-day solution
When asked about it, Büdenbender spoke enthusiastically about her job as a judge during her first five years at Bellevue Palace.
She always stated that she wanted to exercise this position again after her husband's first term.
It was not foreseeable at the time that a second term would follow.
In order to be able to continue to fulfill her duties as First Lady, she opted for the half-day solution.
"My job here is very important to me," said Büdenbender in January about her work as the president's wife of the "Süddeutsche Zeitung".
"I can now do one thing and not have to give up the other, and it will certainly be a contrast program.
But a lot is possible if you want it," she said of her future double role.