Thunderbolt Cinema Display to nonThunderbolt Macbook Pro 2010
Ultimately, the Thunderbolt Display will not work with a 2010 or earlier mac.
While Thunderbolt output ports are backwards compatible with Mini DisplayPort, the reverse is not true. So, if you had a 2011 or newer mac with a thunderbolt port, you could plug in an older Mini DisplayPort monitor, and it will work perfectly, but you cannot plug a newer thunderbolt monitor into an older Mini DisplayPort port.
Furthermore, the monitor cannot be connected through USB or FireWire, as they do not carry a display signal.
All that to say, I'm afraid the screen you were given at work is not going to function with your 2010 MacBook Pro.