What is a consultant solicitor?
A consultant solicitor is a fully qualified, SRA-regulated solicitor who practises independently under the umbrella of an established law firm, like Setfords, rather than working as its employee. They run their own caseload and client relationships and, instead of drawing a salary, work on a fee-share basis – keeping the majority of what they bill (at Setfords that can be up to 80%) while the firm provides the regulation, professional indemnity insurance, billing, IT and support behind them. Consultants set their own hours and decide where they work and there are no targets or minimum hours that you have to work .
In practice it gives experienced solicitors the freedom of running their own practice, without the cost, risk and administrative burden of setting up a firm from scratch.
There are many benefits of choosing to work as a consultant solicitor at Setfords which include;
- Largest nationwide full-service network of 650+ lawyers
- 200-strong expert support team
- A dedicated business development team to help win work
- Set your own work-life balance
- Unlimited earning potential
How is a consultant solicitor different from an employed solicitor?
An employed solicitor draws a salary, works to the firm’s direction and the firm keeps what they bill. A consultant solicitor is self-employed: they manage their own caseload and clients, choose how and when they work, and are paid a share of their own billings rather than a salary. The trade-off is autonomy and higher earning potential in exchange for the firm no longer guaranteeing a fixed income.
Our consultants tend to agree that the trade off is worth it too:
Tracy Smallbones, Consultant Legal Executive joined from a top 20 international firm and said: “Provided you are sufficiently experienced then it is definitely the right move, far, far better than being employed.”
And David Miers, Consultant Solicitor, shared his experience: “Don’t give up the law, don’t give up the profession, just change up the environment. What attracted you to the industry in the first place, it’s still there, and there is a better way of working.”
| Consultant solicitor | Employed solicitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Type | Self-employed, working under the umbrella of a firm. | Salaried employee of the firm. |
| Salary/Income | Share of own billings (at Setfords, that can be up to 80%). | Fixed salary. |
| Hours & Location | Complete flexibility. You choose when and where you work. | Set by the firm. Typically, full-time in an office with limited flexibility. |
| Overheads & admin | Firm will provide support – this varies across firm. At Setfords, we provide 200+ support staff, compliance, accounts, IT infrastructure and more, all included in the fee split. | Firm’s responsibility. |
| Best suited to | Experienced, entrepreneurial solicitors with (or building) a client base. | Those wanting stability. |
Frequently asked questions
How much do consultant solicitors earn?
There’s no fixed salary — a consultant’s income depends on how much they bill and their fee-share split, so it can comfortably exceed an employed solicitor’s salary because they keep the majority of what they invoice. Actual take-home varies with hours, rates and client base. At Setfords you can take home up to 80% of what you bill. To find out what that looks like for you, try our earnings calculator here.
How do you become a consultant solicitor?
You need to be a qualified, SRA-regulated solicitor, typically with several years’ post-qualification experience and, ideally, a network or client base you can bring with you. Most solicitors make the move by joining an established consultant firm rather than setting up alone, so they get regulation, insurance and support from day one. To join Setfords you’ll need at least 5 years PQE and be able to demonstrate that you can generate your own work. Find out if consultancy is right for you here.
Do consultant solicitors find their own clients, or does the firm provide work?
Consultant solicitors primarily bring and grow their own clients, which is why a portable following helps. A good consultant firm supports that with its brand, marketing, cross-referrals between consultants and, in some cases, inbound leads. At Setfords, for example, our internal business development teams generate thousands of leads a year for consultants, our marketing team helps consultants promote themselves and their services, and a community of 650+ consultants actively refers work across practice areas.
Are consultant solicitors regulated and supervised?
Yes – a consultant solicitor is bound by exactly the same SRA regulation and professional standards as any other solicitor. The host firm provides the regulatory umbrella, professional indemnity insurance and compliance oversight, so clients get the same protections as they would with a traditional firm.
Do consultant solicitors get holiday or sick pay?
As self-employed practitioners, consultant solicitors don’t receive paid holiday or sick pay in the way employed staff do as there’s no salary underpinning time off, so periods not working aren’t separately paid. The flip side is control – you decide when and how much time to take rather than being limited to a fixed holiday allowance. At Setfords, consultants are free to take as much holiday as they want, and if illness keeps you from working it’s rarely a problem – with a community of 650+ consultants, another solicitor can usually cover your matters, and Head Office can help arrange it. If no one’s available you can bring in locum cover, though in practice that’s almost never needed.
Do consultant solicitors set their own hours?
One of the biggest perks of being a consultant solicitor is the fact that you can set your own schedule. This means you can work whenever you wish. Whether you want to make the most of your early mornings, take meetings on weekends to fit your client’s schedule, or stick to the traditional 9-5, as a consultant solicitor it’s totally up to you!
Can consultant solicitors work for multiple firms?
Typically, yes. At Setfords for example, as a consultant you do not have to work exclusively with us. The majority of our consultant lawyers don’t choose to work elsewhere, but we understand that you may wish to, and therefore do not restrict your ability to do so.
