There are many reasons why solicitors and lawyers are exploring legal consultancy as the next step in their careers. Greater flexibility, increased autonomy, improved work-life balance, and higher earning potential are just some of the benefits attracting legal professionals towards consultancy.
Becoming a consultant solicitor or lawyer is not simply a career move. It is an opportunity to reshape the way they work and build a career that better supports their professional ambitions and personal priorities.
However, like any major career decision, there are important considerations before making the transition. Moving into consultancy can feel like a significant step, especially for legal professionals who have spent many years working within a more traditional law firm structure. Naturally, there can be questions and uncertainties about what consultancy really involves.
At Taylor Rose, we have supported solicitors, lawyers, and legal professionals in making the move successfully. With our infrastructure, guidance, and support, legal consultancy can become an incredibly rewarding and empowering way to practise law.
Higher Earning Potential
An important consideration is earning potential. Unlike a traditional salaried role, consultancy allows legal professionals to retain a significant percentage of their billings. At Taylor Rose, consultants can earn up to 75% of their billings, meaning income is directly linked to the work they generate and the practice they build.
For many solicitors and lawyers, this creates a stronger sense of reward and ownership over their career progression.
Flexibility and Control
One of the biggest advantages of legal consultancy is flexibility. Traditional law firm structures work well for some legal professionals, but they can also come with rigid schedules, demanding targets, and limited control over workload and working patterns.
As a consultant solicitor or lawyer, you have greater control over when and where you work, the clients you act for, and how you structure your day-to-day practice. Many consultants value the ability to focus on the areas of law they genuinely enjoy, rather than being assigned work that may not align with their strengths or long-term goals.
This level of autonomy allows consultant solicitors and lawyers to build a career around their lifestyle, rather than trying to fit their life around work.
Work-Life Balance
For many legal professionals, consultancy has transformed their work-life balance. Having more control over your time can create greater opportunities to spend time with family, pursue hobbies, travel, or simply enjoy a healthier balance between professional and personal commitments.
Removing or reducing a daily commute can also have a positive impact, creating more time and flexibility within the working week. Many consultants find they become more productive, focused, and fulfilled when they can work in a way that suits them best.
Bringing in Work
One of the most common concerns surrounding consultancy is client generation. Many legal professionals ask themselves whether they will have enough work to maintain a steady and sustainable practice.
If you already have an established client base, transitioning into consultancy can often feel more straightforward. However, even if you are still developing your network, support is available.
Taylor Rose provides marketing support, guidance on business development, and access to a nationally recognised legal brand. We also offer different routes into consultancy depending on experience level and client following, helping legal professionals move into consultancy at a pace that works for them.
Administrative and Back-Office Support
A common misconception is that consultancy means handling every aspect of running a practice alone. In reality, strong operational support is essential to a successful consultancy model.
Our consultants benefit from comprehensive back-office support, including compliance, IT, finance, accounts, consultant concierge assistance, and account executive support. This allows consultants to focus on their legal work and client relationships, while we help manage the operational side of the business.
Will Consultancy Feel Isolating?
The idea of leaving a traditional office environment can sometimes feel daunting. Some solicitors and lawyers worry that consultancy may feel isolating compared to working within a larger office team.
In practice, many consultants find the opposite. Taylor Rose has a strong and well-connected consultant community, with regular networking events, conferences, peer support opportunities, and ongoing communication with our support teams. Consultants remain part of a wider professional network while still enjoying the flexibility and independence consultancy offers.
Financial Stability and Planning Ahead
Leaving behind the certainty of a monthly salary is understandably one of the biggest considerations for many legal professionals. Consultancy requires planning and preparation, particularly when thinking about notice periods, client relationships, and future business development.
However, many consultants find that the ability to retain a larger percentage of their billings ultimately leads to increased earnings and greater financial freedom over time.
Importantly, moving into consultancy does not mean handling everything alone. At Taylor Rose, we take care of essentials such as compliance, insurance, and IT infrastructure, helping to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Building a successful consultancy practice also requires consistency, routine, and ongoing relationship building. Many consultants establish structured working hours and continue growing their client base through referrals, networking, and marketing support.
Is Consultancy the Right Move for You?
If you are feeling restricted in your current role, seeking greater flexibility, or looking for a career path with stronger earning potential and independence, legal consultancy may be worth considering.
Many solicitors and lawyers who make the transition reflect on how positively it has changed both their professional and personal lives. Consultancy offers the opportunity to practise law with greater freedom, flexibility, and ownership over your future.
If you would like to learn more about legal consultancy, speak with our consultant recruitment team on 020 3551 8100 to explore how Taylor Rose can support your journey into consultancy.