Feeling trapped or burned out by the demands of traditional law? Becoming a consultant solicitor might seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Setfords offers the best of both worlds: total autonomy and unrivalled support. Just ask Senior Consultant Family Solicitor Angela Sharma. One year into her journey with Setfords, Angela discovered how this unique model transformed her career and redefined her life. Here’s how she found balance, control, and success as a consultant solicitor.
The move to Setfords
After over 27 years in private practice in a traditional set up, I found the intensity and the restricted working hours becoming more and more difficult. I felt burned out and the stress of meeting time recording targets and billing was too intense. I wanted flexibility and to offer clients an even better level of service by controlling the volume of cases I took on. I also wanted to spend some time giving back to the local community and was appointed as a Trustee by Saint Francis Hospice.
I did some research with different consultancy firms offering different levels of support. For me, support was very important and Setfords seemed to offer a high level of it to their consultants. I also found Robert Young [one of our Associate Directors – Lawyer Recruitment] very helpful in preliminary discussions and he was open and frank about everything Setfords offered.
One year on
I have now been at Setfords for just over a year. The past year has allowed me to work flexibly, be in control of my workload, enjoy more free time, and go on holidays without compromising the level of service I provide to my clients. Even if I do a little work whilst on holiday, I can do it from the beach, jungle or poolside – something that is not possible in a traditional firm.
The degree of flexibility has been the overriding advantage for me, and I would say that the stress is significantly less as the time spent working is at my discretion. I have found that I can work in the evening or at weekends if necessary and this allows me to manage my diary more effectively. This coupled with the support and training I receive means an easier working week. The processes in place are designed to ensure your work is not compromised.
Working as a Setfords consultant has provided me with a work life balance that I would not be able to have working in a traditional firm. This was the reason for my changing my working practice and switching to a consultant role. I have also been able to meet speak with other consultants and expand my network and have been able to give some time to my work as a trustee, which gives me a source of satisfaction and adds more variety to the working week.
My working day now varies according to my schedule. I can fit in the gym, attend my meetings for the Hospice and networking events, without compromising on the level of service clients receive. Being more relaxed and less stressed allows you to have a different outlook on life and this impacts on the type of service you provide, in a positive manner.
Advice for those considering consultancy
I would say that I have not looked back since joining just over one year ago. It has definitely been better than I expected in terms of the workload, the support, and indeed the income that I have been able to generate. Despite the vast number of consultants, you still feel that you are part of a community and that somebody will be there to help you or your client if they need advice in a different area of law.
I would definitely recommend becoming a consultant. I think that it is well suited to somebody who is experienced and has good sound knowledge of their speciality. I think it is important to have worked in private practice in a traditional firm before becoming a consultant and one must be confident. You should also have a referral base, although the Business Development team do help with new leads.
If you’re a UK-qualified lawyer with at least 5 years’ PQE, Setfords is here to offer an alternative to the traditional law model. Choose your own hours, clients, and location to work with ultimate flexibility, all with the support of our expert team. For a confidential discussion about how life as a consultant lawyer could work for you, please get in touch.
