The Setfords model is designed for entrepreneurial lawyers who are looking for more autonomy than the traditional legal model can offer. More and more lawyers are realising that they can do a better job for their clients without the impossible targets, office politics, and lengthy commutes that are typical of traditional law. That’s where consultancy with Setfords steps in, offering an alternative that allows lawyers to run their own businesses with the support of a large firm behind them.
Indeed, it’s our support offering that sets Setfords apart. Our team of over 150 support staff are here for our lawyers every day, but our lawyer network of more than 500 consultants are here to support each other too.
We spoke to Wayne Phillips, a senior consultant family lawyer, about his Setfords journey so far, with a focus on the support he’s encountered throughout his time with us.
Going above and beyond
Firstly, let’s look at why Wayne chose the consultancy model, and Setfords in particular. For him, it came down to a desire to spend more time with each client and enjoy greater flexibility. He says:
“I have worked for traditional law firms for many years, including roles such as Head of Department and Partner. I pride myself on client care and go over and above for my clients. This is one of the many reasons that I decided to become a consultant. Many law firms do not support home working, which for me meant long commutes to work. As a consultant, I can spend more time focusing on cases and client care, and less time travelling to and from work.
In 2023, I decided to join Setfords from traditional law, where I found the long days and lack of autonomy weren’t worth it anymore. I chose to work as a consultant with this firm in particular as they have an extremely good reputation. The model allows me to work when I want, where I want. In fact, I recently worked abroad, which included a remote court hearing.”
For Wayne, flexibility is key. Consultancy benefits his lifestyle, allowing him to eliminate a long and tiring commute, without having to compromise on the service he delivers to clients. He says:
“A lot of traditional law firms set billing targets. Lawyers experience an increase in billing targets on an annual basis and these targets can be unrealistic. At Setfords, there are no billing targets or rigid schedules. I now have control over how and when I work, and I can spend quality time on my cases. I have found that I can get on with doing my work far more efficiently because I do not have to attend a lot of administrative meetings or deal with constant interruptions.”
The Setfords support offering
At Setfords, our support is the cornerstone of our offering. We aim to provide the best support package in the industry, assisting our consultants with everything they need to run their own businesses, from admin and secretarial support to marketing and business development. This is all something that Wayne has benefitted from, explaining:
“I am very impressed by Setfords’ administration team. If I need correspondence, applications, or statements drawn up, the support staff turn this around very quickly. When I joined Setfords, I was worried as to where work would come from. However, the business development team contact me daily to ask if I require new work, and from the day I started until now I have had a regular stream of business.”
However, it’s not just our internal teams that provide support. Our network of over 500 consultants stretches across the UK and beyond. They support each other with advice on matters or simply a friendly listening ear. This helps ensure that no consultant ever feels lonely or isolated, even if they are working remotely.
Facilitating our consultant network is our Wellbeing Team – the first of its kind in the industry. They host events to help consultants connect with others in their area of expertise or who are local to them.
Practice-specific teams are also a key component of our lawyer network. On this, Wayne says:
“Since joining Setfords, I have noticed that consultants give support to each other; assisting each other with legal issues. There is a good team of talented consultants at the firm, and I am glad to be part of the family team.”
Finally, Wayne has some words of advice for any lawyers who may be considering consultancy. He says:
“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.”
If, like Wayne, you are a UK-qualified lawyer with 5+ years of PQE and the desire to break free from traditional law, we want to hear from you. Get in touch for a confidential chat about where consultancy with Setfords can take you.