For decades, lawyers have juggled gruelling office hours with the demands of their personal lives, often at the expense of their well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic may have brought remote working to the forefront for many industries, but at Setfords, we’ve championed this model for years—proving that lawyers can work remotely and thrive.
Setfords was founded on the principle that flexibility and freedom are key to happier, more productive lawyers. Long before the pandemic, we built a model where our consultant lawyers thrived outside the confines of a traditional office. Thanks to our innovative technology, dedicated support team, and commitment to empowering lawyers, we’ve become the top hiring law firm, helping remote-working lawyers succeed on their terms.
Curious about how lawyers can make remote working a reality? Let’s explore the benefits, tools, and mindset that make it possible.
The benefits of remote working for solicitors
Remote work may be surprisingly controversial in the legal industry. However, the days of being needlessly chained to a city-centre office are over for many. With the right support, like we offer at Setfords, remote working is becoming a more permanent fixture and something that many lawyers are looking for in their job hunts. Here are just a few of the benefits that our remote-working lawyers have noticed, as well as some perks for law firms themselves
Productivity. Many solicitors find that they’re more productive when out of a busy law firm environment, as they’re able to focus on tasks without distractions. Think of colleagues coming over to your desk, meetings that could have been an email, and loud phone calls happening right next to you. Of course, there’s a fine balance. At Setfords, we encourage the productivity that comes with remote work whilst reducing isolation by providing a host of opportunities for our lawyers to get together in person and virtually, thanks to our Lawyer Wellbeing team.
A better work-life balance. Remote work makes it easier for solicitors to achieve a healthy work-life balance and have more time for family, hobbies, travel, or whatever else fuels them. Plus, with platform or consultancy models like we have at Setfords, lawyers don’t need to seek permission to take the morning to watch their child’s Christmas play or the afternoon for an appointment. This greater sense of autonomy and freedom is a sure way to reduce stress and can lead to better job satisfaction.
Increased flexibility. Remote working offers a great opportunity for flexibility of location, enabling lawyers to work from almost anywhere with an internet connection. This ties into a better work-life balance by enabling them to make the most of opportunities to travel. However, this can be closer to home, too, by enabling remote working lawyers to work from anywhere that suits their lifestyle, from co-working spaces or even their own offices. Several of Setfords’ consultants run their own office spaces, giving them the best of both worlds: a separate workplace whilst still enjoying the freedom consultancy offers.
A reduction in costs. By reducing or even eliminating the need for a large physical office space for in person working, overheads can be significantly reduced for law firms. These can be passed onto lawyers by investing more heavily in the support that helps their daily lives, such as admin and secretarial assistance, or marketing and business development support for consultant solicitors. Lawyers themselves often see a significant saving with working from home, too, without paying for expensive commutes and office lunches.
“If you are fed up with a lengthy commute to work, interruptions at the office, micromanaging, and managers obsessed with time and billing targets, I strongly advise you to consider consultancy with Setfords. If I had known about this way of working, I would have switched sooner.”
Wayne Phillips, Senior Consultant Family Lawyer
What do solicitors need to work from home effectively?
While remote working is appealing for many, there are some things to bear in mind before you decide if it’s right for you. Here at Setfords, we do what we can to help solicitors enjoy a smooth transition into remote working, especially if it’s not something they’ve done before.
Technology and set up
- Of course, a solid internet connection is key, enabling seamless communication and access to vital online resources.
- Reliable video conferencing tools will enable you to communicate remotely with clients, other lawyers, and support staff.
- At platform firms like Setfords, a secure case management system will be provided for you, enabling you to do your work safely and securely.
- A suitable area to work from is also crucial, whether it’s a dedicated home office or just a quiet corner where you can focus. You may also want to consider working in different environments from time to time, such as local co-working spaces.
Skills and mindset
- Effective time management skills help lawyers to set clear boundaries and prioritise tasks to maintain productivity.
- Self-discipline is needed to stay motivated and focused.
- Effective communication skills ensure you can maintain clear and consistent communication with clients and colleagues.
- You’ll also need a strong client focus and the drive to do the best possible work for your clients, no matter where you’re located.
- When working as a consultant lawyer, an entrepreneurial spirit is essential to help you build your client base and make the most of the opportunities the platform law model brings.
“Becoming a consultant solicitor at Setfords has given me a newfound sense of freedom and balance.”
Jayne Acklam, Senior Consultant Family Solicitor
Three top tips for remote working for solicitors
Maintain clear communication with clients
Working remotely can help free up more time to work with your clients. This is especially true in a consultant firm such as Setfords. We have 150+ experts behind the scenes, here to support you with everything you need so you can focus entirely on your clients.
However, clear communication is always key. Any remote working solicitor should be focusing on their clients, no matter how they communicate, making sure everyone has an understanding of the matter at hand and knows how to get in touch if they need to.
Take care of your mental health
Working remotely doesn’t have to be isolating, though it can take some getting used to for lawyers who are more used to the traditional office setting. So, it’s crucial to prioritise your mental health and social contact with those in and outside of your legal work.
Here at Setfords, we make this easily accessible to our consultant solicitors. Our dedicated Lawyer Wellbeing Team organises a packed schedule of events to help our consultants connect with each other, as well as webinars on mental health-related topics such as mediation and knowing your worth. They’re also here to listen to our consultants’ concerns and ensure they have what they need to do their jobs and take care of their mental health.
Make time for life outside of work
Similarly, it’s important to make time for life outside of work, whatever this may look like for you. Whether it’s spending more time with your family, indulging in hobbies, or travelling the world, prioritising life outside of the law is crucial for a healthy work-life balance.
The additional flexibility offered by platform firms like Setfords makes this easier than ever for remote working lawyers. Our consultants choose their own hours, clients, and working location, making it simple to embrace the work-life balance you’ve always dreamed of.
The future of remote working for solicitors
The future of remote work in the UK legal industry is bright. As technology evolves, societal attitudes towards remote work become more accepting, and platform law firms like Setfords continue to grow, it’s likely that remote work will permanently become the norm for many solicitors, rather than the exception.
Here at Setfords, we will continue to invest in our technology and infrastructure to provide our consultant lawyers with a seamless remote working experience. While the traditional legal industry hasn’t changed much in many years, we don’t think things always have to be this way. By prioritising wellbeing and work-life balance, we believe our lawyers can offer their clients a better service without compromise, and hope to see other firms follow suit with their own remote work offerings.
Embracing remote working with Setfords
As a pioneer of platform law, we have developed our remote working model over many years. As a UK Top 100 law firm, we understand what lawyers need to make the most of their lives, both in and outside of work. Join us, and we’ll equip you with all the support you need to make your dream work-life balance a reality, whilst also empowering you to provide an excellent service to your clients. Please contact us today for a confidential conversation.
