Looking to elevate your career as a consultant solicitor? Whether you’re already thriving in consultancy or considering a shift from a traditional firm, these actionable tips will help you expand your expertise and grow a successful, flexible practice.
The Setfords consultancy model offers lawyers from all practice areas a rewarding alternative to the traditional career path. It’s a chance to enjoy greater autonomy, set your own hours, and leverage your unique expertise to help your clients. Indeed, one of the best parts about the platform law model is the freedom it offers—not just for work-life balance, but also the opportunity to adapt and expand your expertise as the legal industry changes.
Continuous professional development
To expand your expertise as a consultant solicitor, adopting a mindset of continuous learning and development is crucial. The industry is always changing, so staying ahead of the curve can give you a competitive edge. While it can be hard to fit CPD into a busy schedule, it’s key if you want to stay up to date and retain that edge. Some actions you can take to ensure you’re always developing your skills and knowledge include:
- Regularly reviewing legal news, updates, and case law.
- Attending webinars that align with your practice area.
- Subscribing to relevant legal journals.
Take advantage of any opportunities for CPD offered by your firm. For example, at Setfords we offer a range of virtual sessions hosted by our in-house team and outside speakers that contribute to our consultant lawyers’ CPD. Recent topics we’ve covered include charging your true worth, anti-money laundering, and data protection, but we run several webinars every month on a wide range of topics. The webinars are organised by our wellbeing team, and they’re just some of the many events the team hosts throughout the year.
Consider mentorship
Another great way to expand your expertise is through mentorship. Mentors aren’t just for lawyers at the start of their careers. Whether you’re new to consultancy or have years of experience, a mentor who has already walked the same path can offer you insights that you probably won’t get from reading materials, courses, or the internet alone.
Having a mentor can significantly accelerate your professional growth, whether it’s informally or through a formal mentorship programme. They’ll be able to provide personalised advice to help you navigate challenges and offer a new perspective that you may not have otherwise considered.
Take advantage of support
At Setfords, we know the challenges consultant solicitors face. That’s why our industry-leading support package is designed to handle the details, so you can focus on what matters – your clients and your growth. Not all support is created equal, and with Setfords, you can trust that our comprehensive assistance is unmatched in the industry. But, no matter which firm you work with, it’s important to take advantage of the support they offer to make your life that little bit easier. Some of the support in our comprehensive package includes:
- Administrative support – handling admin tasks so you can focus on delivering legal services.
- Technology and infrastructure – access to our custom platform, equipping you with all of the tools and tech you need to operate effectively from almost anywhere in the world.
- Marketing and business development support – a dedicated team to help you generate more work and build your business with Setfords.
Our offering is designed to provide a supportive network of professionals and resources, so you can make the most of being a consultant, give your clients an excellent service, and make the most of opportunities to expand your knowledge. You can find out more about our support by clicking here:
Look at your online presence
As a consultant solicitor, your online presence can be a hugely powerful tool for expanding your expertise and positioning yourself as a thought leader. Share your knowledge through social media posts, writing articles for your firm’s website, or even taking advantage of opportunities to feature on podcasts. Doing this will build your credibility within the industry and enable others to benefit from your expertise.
However, your online presence isn’t just about showcasing your existing skills and knowledge; it can also be a powerful tool for expanding it. There are plenty of communities aimed at legal professionals on platforms such as LinkedIn. These are useful places for lawyers to come together, giving you access to a wealth of expertise from your peers.
Work collaboratively
Leverage your network to help broaden your expertise, foster connections, and enhance the services you provide to clients. Connections can provide you with more insights into different practice areas, introduce you to potential new clients, and offer opportunities to collaborate on other projects.
Plus, it doesn’t just have to be other lawyers. By collaborating with peers and professionals from other fields, you gain insights that can broaden your understanding of how different sectors intersect with the law, such as finance, human resources, or technology. Working as a consultant solicitor often involves working remotely, so another perk of calling on your network is the opportunity for connection and building a supportive network, whether face-to-face or virtually.
Collaborative projects are also great to help you learn about other practice areas. You can then lean on this network to provide an even better service to your clients; if they require legal assistance outside of your area of expertise, you can recommend them to others who you know can provide the same kind of high-quality service.
The importance of business development
As a consultant solicitor, business development is an essential skill – not just to expand your own expertise, but to help you build a successful business. Business development activities can include:
- Networking – building and maintaining relationships to generate referrals
- Marketing – your online and physical presence, such as social media or local advertising
- Pricing and fee structure – developing a fee structure that works for both you and your clients
- Client relationship management – building relationships with your clients through excellent service so they come back or refer your services to others
Business development is a highly useful skill to develop for almost anyone, no matter their role. As a consultant lawyer, the more you practice it, the better you will become, to the benefit of your business.
We understand that learning and development is a continuous process. However, by following these tips and making the most of the support that’s available, it’s easier to build your knowledge at the same time as your practice.
Looking to transform your career – and your life? With Setfords, you have the flexibility to develop your own practice with the support of a UK top 100 firm behind you. If you’re a UK-qualified lawyer with at least five years of PQE, we invite you to explore what we can offer. Contact us today for a confidential discussion.
