Your Legal Career, Your Way: How Solicitor Michelle Leggett Found Flexibility With Setfords

What’s stopping you from making your dream legal career a reality?

Whether it’s not knowing what to expect or worrying about building your business without support, at Setfords, we aim to make the transition as easy as possible.

Hear from Michelle Leggett, Senior Private Client Consultant Solicitor, about her journey from traditional law to consultancy with us.

Taking the leap

Michelle joined us in 2023 from a traditional law practice. At Setfords, we understand that moving from private practice to consultancy and running your own business can be daunting. That’s why our dedicated recruitment team are on hand to help answer questions and provide reassurance throughout the process. On this, Michelle says:

“They were happy to set me up with conversations with other private client solicitors who have already made the move. I was able to speak to one of the main directors, and there was constant reassurance throughout the process. If I had a question, nothing was too much trouble to respond to. They were always happy to reassure me or provide somebody else who could answer the specific question I had. So I would say that experience was very easy.”

We also provide dedicated support to our new consultants when they join us. This includes our Business Development team, which qualifies and sends thousands of new business leads to our consultants each month. However, we also have a range of other teams here to help make the transition as easy as possible, as well as our extensive lawyer network, which helps each other with questions and knowledge.

“Setfords were wonderful during the transition period. They have a wealth of support teams available. There’s the lawyer wellbeing team, IT department, secretarial team, admin, and more. You could not have more teams willing and able to help, and they’re just an email or a phone call away. Within each field of law, you also have a team of consultants who, from a legal point of view, are there to help if you’ve got any legal-based questions. You could not want for greater support. Plus, everybody I’ve met at Setfords is enthusiastic about the work that they do. That’s quite an unusual culture and ethos for a law firm, and everybody’s positivity rubs off on you.”

A rewarding career

Beyond our support, consultancy with Setfords offers plenty of other benefits. A key example is our entirely flexible structure. Our consultants have autonomy over their days, including working hours, clients they take on, and where they work. This is something that Michelle has taken advantage of, fitting her work around her life. She says:

“I go to my desk; I set my own hours. So there isn’t really such a thing as a typical day for me. It will depend on whether I’ve got meetings with clients, whether at the head office or remotely, but I can control my day as it fits around my other life commitments. That’s not just my children, but things that I want to do for myself. For example, if there are exercise classes I want to attend, I can schedule those into my life. One of the best things about the Setfords model is its flexibility.”

You’re in control

Now, more than eighteen months into her Setfords journey, what does Michelle think are the best things about working with Setfords?

“No targets, no time recording, and no one is breathing down your neck, putting pressure on you to bill a certain amount each month. You can work as much or as little as you like, and the absence of time recording really revolutionised my life because I hadn’t understood how much my self-worth had been about what the clock showed. Now, I’m in charge and I decide whether my day has been productive.”

If you’re an entrepreneurial lawyer looking for something different to private practice, our innovative platform model and award-winning support offer just that. Embrace greater freedom, flexibility, and autonomy, all while earning a larger share of your billings.

Some of the benefits of Setfords consultancy include:

• Support. 150 experts taking care of everything behind the scenes, from admin to marketing.
• Work-life balance. Make your dream work-life balance a reality with no billing targets and complete control.
• Reputation. Be part of the biggest platform law firm in the UK with multiple awards recognising our innovation, support, and workplace culture.
• Business development. With a dedicated team driving 25% of Setfords’ annual billings, we’re here to support you in growing your business.
• Straightforward earnings. Enjoy clear compensation that reflects your value, with opportunities to earn more by referring work to other consultants.

With all this and more, why wouldn’t you join us to build the legal career you love? If you’re a UK-qualified lawyer with 5+ years of PQE, contact us today for a confidential conversation about your next steps.