As companies begin to place more emphasis on their employee’s physical and mental wellbeing, the legal industry doesn’t always keep up. Far too often, the modern lawyer is asked to sacrifice time and energy beyond their hours and limits, as well as shoulder workload elements that fall outside their job descriptions.
Consultant Solicitor Katy Moody joined us in January 2026, and she already has one regret – that she didn’t join us sooner.
Katy chose to make the move to Setfords because she wanted a sense of community and teamwork, but without the usual stressfulness and office politics that come with traditional firm life. Setfords consultants are free to practise from wherever and whenever they want (provided they still practise England and Wales law) and are under no obligations to be in an office or meet quotas for billable hours. For many of our consultants, this allows them to work from home or abroad and flexibly adjust their calendars around their family obligations or travels.
A Day on Her Own Terms
Katy is a mother to a young daughter and, as we all know, parenting is incredibly demanding in terms of time and energy. But, she now has the freedom and flexibility to schedule her days herself, accommodating her workload, energy levels and childcare responsibilities. When we asked Katy how she plans out her days, she said:
“I still tend to stick to a 9am to 5pm day as it works around my child’s care but how I fill my 9-5 has changed.”
“I tend to go to the gym usually between 8am and 9.30am. I wanted to be fitter so that I could run around after a toddler every day and the flexibility of Setfords means that I have more time to go the gym.”
“If I don’t have any urgent client work that needs doing one morning, I can take a morning off to do something for me before logging on later in the afternoon.”
“I will collect my daughter from nursery at around 4pm/5pm and spend some time with her. She has started playing football on a Thursday afternoon which means that I can take her without feeling guilty.”
Freedom and flexibility mean different things to different people. At Setfords, many of our consultants use it to rebalance home lives that were disrupted by the demands that traditional law asks of its employees. The ability to prioritise her own health and social life, as well as being a present parent, is incredibly important to Katy. It cements her belief that she made the right decision in her move.
“I am overall less stressed than when I was working within a traditional law firm, which means that my personal time with friends and family is more enjoyable for all.”
“I cannot remember what life used to be like working in a traditional law firm… it suits how I want to live my life so well that I have regrets that I did not do it sooner.”
Support That Has Her Back
Making the switch to consultancy doesn’t mean being left to figure things out on your own. Our team of 190+ in-office staff supports our consultants across all areas, including admin, accounts, compliance, marketing, lawyer wellbeing, IT and secretarial. The support is there when you need it and comes included in the fee split, with no hidden charges. It is this support system that enables consultants like Katy to focus on their clients and their practice.
“Setfords provide support for everything whether it is marketing, receiving referrals for new work, support with any compliance issues or support for your wellbeing. They are happy to help you with anything, and everyone is approachable which makes it easier.”
Considering Consultancy?
The support network available means that consultants are never left to figure things out alone, which can make a big difference. The early weeks of consultancy can feel uncertain as it can be daunting making the switch away from routines and systems that you’ve grown used to as part of traditional firm life. However, many consultants, like Katy, find themselves wishing that they’d joined us sooner after settling in.
“You can feel anxious at first as it’s a new way of working and your income is reliant on ensuring you have work, but you have to ride it out, because once you get to the other side, you won’t have any regrets.”
If Katy’s story resonates with you, then get in touch with our recruitment team today for a free confidential conversation about how you could leave traditional law behind and build a life that works for you.
