Georgie Salvage’s journey with Setfords offers a clear example of what our consultancy model can make possible. Joining as consultant number 128, she has witnessed the firm’s transformation into a 600‑strong national network. Yet, what stands out in her story is how our culture has remained grounded in the same values she encountered on day one.
Georgie has been a consultant with Setfords for over a decade. She joined when the firm was a fraction of its current size, and has since built a thriving conveyancing practice. Georgie first met with our co-CEOs, Chris and Guy Setford, thanks to a colleague who arranged for her to come to our Guildford head office. What stood out to her from that first meeting was:
“I remember Chris and Guy being normal people who had a vision, they listened when something wasn’t right and quickly made efforts to change it.”
Georgie has seen the firm grow to the 600+ consultants we have today. As the firm grows, we still prioritise creating a positive working environment – as happy lawyers make for happy clients. When asked about something that hasn’t changed over the years, Georgie said:
“The relationship Guy and Chris have with their staff – how they have always been down to earth and the way they treat their staff.”
Setfords has been awarded a Sunday Times Best Places to Work award for three consecutive years – a reflection of the culture Georgie describes. That same commitment extends to our consultants. With 190+ in-office staff covering everything from admin and IT to compliance and marketing, consultants are free to focus entirely on their clients, without the administrative burden that comes with working at a traditional firm.
When asked what she thinks has kept her at Setfords all these years, Georgie referred to a crucial moment in her career:
“In 2015, after having my third child, I accepted a position in London and thought I could sneak away quietly. But Chris and Guy came to see me the day after I handed in my notice to persuade me to stay – that one action made me feel valued, that I was not just number 128.”
She stayed out of loyalty, but also because she began to understand what she’d nearly walked away from – the kind of flexibility that many more traditional roles simply don’t offer.
Georgie chooses to work from an office in her village. Her children can walk past and pop in to say hello, and she’s able to be there in a way that wouldn’t have been possible at a traditional firm.
“I didn’t have to miss special moments at school, celebrations, assemblies and Christmas services, and now they are older, I do not have the guilt that some mothers feel about missing out. I’ve been able to have a career and be a wife and mother and not have to make a choice.”
“I have only recently realised that, when speaking to other women who were not so lucky, either they started work from scratch once their children went to senior school, or they feel like something was missing from their lives.”
For many lawyers, geographic flexibility isn’t a given. The traditional firm model ties you to an office, a commute, and a schedule that leaves little room for anything else. As a Setfords consultant, where you work is entirely your choice. Whether that’s a home office, a local workspace, or in Georgie’s case, an office in her own village.
Georgie has spent over a decade proving that the consultancy model can work, and others have noticed. She is proud of the numerous job opportunities that have come her way over the years:
“A solicitor at another firm called me an inspiration and said I am an example to other lawyers in the area of how to make being a self-employed consultant work.”
None of that happens without hard work, but it helps to have the right setup behind you. Setfords’ business development team means consultants are never building their practice entirely on their own and have a consistent supply of leads.
For Georgie, one of the highlights of her time at Setfords has been sharing the journey with people who understand it, including our 10 Year Club – an exclusive club celebrating and thanking the consultants and staff who’ve been with us for the longest. She says:
“The first Setfords 10 Year Club dinner was very special – an intimate night with people who I had evolved with through the years.”
More than ten years on, the decision to stay is one she doesn’t regret.
If Georgie’s story resonates with you, it might be time to explore what a consultancy career at Setfords could look like.
