Every solicitor reaches that moment.
You’ve put in the hours, climbed the ladder, ticked all the right boxes. And yet, something feels off. The late nights. The relentless billing targets. The meetings that should have been emails.
Then you start wondering—Is this it?
For some, that thought fades. They keep their heads down and push through.
For others? That moment is the beginning of something bigger. A shift. A realisation that the legal profession is changing, and the smartest solicitors aren’t waiting around for firms to catch up.
They’re stepping into consulting — creating their own personal brand, choosing who they work with, and finally enjoying the freedom to work on their own terms.
And if you’re reading this, maybe you’re ready too.
- Be Your Own Boss. Work How You Want.
Let’s start with the obvious: control.
Ask any solicitor-turned-consultant what the biggest difference is, and they’ll tell you the same thing. Freedom.
Take Sarah, a corporate solicitor who left her mid-tier London firm after 12 years. She had been eyeing a partnership, but the sacrifices didn’t add up. “I was working 70-hour weeks to prove I was ‘partner material.’ Then I realised—why was I jumping through hoops for a title when I could be making more on my own terms?”
Now, Sarah works remotely, takes on high-value M&A deals, and earns more while working fewer hours.
Or consider James, who specialised in employment law. His firm gave him good work, but zero control over his clients. “I was constantly handed cases I didn’t want, at rates I had no say in. As a consultant, I set my own fees, and I only take cases that interest me.”
This is the shift.
You choose the work. You choose the clients. You choose the hours.
The office politics? The rigid 9-to-5 or for some 9-to-9 schedule? The performance reviews designed to keep you in line? All gone.
Now, it’s just you, your work, and your goals.
- Earn More. Work Smarter.
Let’s talk money.
Traditional firms are built on a simple model: you bill, they profit.
You might be charging clients £300, £400, even £500 per hour, but how much of that do you actually keep?
By the time the partners take their cut, and the firm covers overhead, you’re lucky if you see a third of it.
Consulting changes that.
Now, you set your rates. You control your income. And while consultant solicitors do share a percentage with their platform firm, the split is massively in their favor.
While traditional firms may pay their solicitors just 20–30% of what they bill, consultancy models flip that on its head — empowering solicitors to take home the majority of what they earn, on their own terms.
Take David, a litigation solicitor who went independent after 15 years. “I was charging £450 per hour at my firm, but I only saw about £100 of that. Now, even after my platform’s fee, I take home £300+ per hour. And I set my own targets.”
And here’s the kicker — consultant solicitors can often charge lower rates than big firms and still take home more.
Traditional firms have high overheads: expensive offices, layers of support staff, insurance, marketing budgets, and partner profit margins. As a consultant, you don’t carry those costs — which means you can offer clients better value and increase your personal earnings.
In fact, many consultants earn 30–50% more per hour than their salaried counterparts.
But here’s where it gets even better:
You don’t need to set up your own firm to benefit from this model. Joining a consultancy law firm means you get the freedom, flexibility, and higher earnings—without the admin burden, regulatory headaches, or cost of going it alone.
So the real question isn’t “Can you make this work?” — it’s “Why keep leaving money on the table when there’s a smarter way?”
- No Office Politics. No Corporate Nonsense.
Ask any solicitor who left a firm what they don’t miss, and this will be at the top of the list.
The competition. The alliances. The endless, invisible rules that dictate who moves up and who stays stuck.
Law firms are built on a game. A slow, frustrating, political game.
The best work doesn’t always go to the best solicitors. It goes to the ones who know how to navigate the system. Who build the right relationships. Who play along.
But as a consultant? None of that matters.
Alex, a former commercial solicitor, left his firm after realising he was spending more time managing internal politics than actual client work. “I was fighting harder for recognition inside the firm than I was for my clients.”
As a consultant, you don’t answer to a partnership committee. You don’t have to fight for the right clients. Your career isn’t tied to someone else’s agenda.
It’s just you, your skills, and your business.
- Work-Life Balance That’s Actually Real.
Let’s be honest.
Firms talk a big game about work-life balance. They put it in the brochures. They mention it in recruitment pitches.
Then, in the real world?
Late nights. Weekend emails. Holidays cut short because “it’s urgent.”
Consulting flips that. You work when you want. You take time off when you want. You don’t have to justify it to anyone.
Rachel, a child and family solicitor, made the switch after her second child was born. “My firm talked about flexibility, but when I asked to reduce my hours, suddenly I was ‘less committed.’ Now, I manage my own workload. I see my kids more. And guess what? I make more money, too.”
This isn’t about working less. It’s about working on your terms.
- Managing Risk – How to Make the Leap Safely
Here’s the reality: going independent is a risk.
And if you’ve spent your career in a firm, the biggest fear is obvious—what if I don’t land clients right away?
It’s a real concern. And it’s why many solicitors hesitate. But the ones who do this successfully? They don’t just jump in blind. They prepare.
Here’s how you minimise risk and set yourself up for success from day one:
i. Start Building Your Network Now
The biggest mistake solicitors make is waiting until they quit their job to start looking for clients.
The best time to plant the seeds for your future practice is while you’re still employed.
- Reconnect with old colleagues, clients, and contacts. Let them know what you’ll be offering.
- Join legal networking groups and LinkedIn communities. Referrals often come from peers, not just clients.
- Position yourself as an expert before you go independent. Write articles, give talks, engage in conversations that showcase your skills.
Sarah, the M&A solicitor who went independent, put it simply: “I spent six months networking before I left my firm. By the time I resigned, I already had my first clients lined up.”
ii. Save at Least 3–6 Months of Expenses
The first few months can be slow. It takes time to find clients, set up your systems, and build momentum.
The safest way to transition is to have a financial cushion so you’re not making desperate decisions.
- Aim to save at least 3–6 months’ worth of personal expenses. This gives you breathing room.
- Consider a gradual transition. Some consultants start by taking on side work before fully leaving their firm.
- Look at short-term financing options. A business line of credit or small loan can act as a safety net if needed.
James, the employment solicitor, took a hybrid approach: “I started part-time consulting while still at my firm. Once I had consistent work, I made the full switch.”
Just make sure your contract allows it — many firms include clauses that restrict external work or competition, especially within a certain mile radius or while you’re still employed. It’s always best to check the fine print before making any moves — and if needed, consider renegotiating your contract to give you more flexibility as you transition.
iii. Choose the Right Consultancy Platform/Firm
Most consultant solicitors don’t go fully solo—and for good reason.
Starting a law firm from scratch isn’t just about finding clients.
It means paying thousands upfront for professional indemnity insurance, setting up airtight compliance systems, managing invoicing, doing your own marketing, and getting buried in admin.
You’ll need a website, case management software, GDPR policies, business banking, AML checks, a complaints procedure, and a plan for regulatory audits.
And that’s just off the top of my head — the list keeps growing.
If you’re thinking of going solo, just know: you’re not only becoming a solicitor — you’re becoming your own IT department, compliance officer, finance team, and marketer.
That’s why consulting with an established firm can be a smarter way to build your practice — minus the chaos.
And that’s before you even start practicing law.
This is why most solicitors choose a consultancy platform firm instead. These firms give you the freedom of independent work without the financial and operational headaches.
David, a commercial litigator, put it bluntly: “I considered setting up my own firm, but the costs, risks, and time commitment were insane. Joining a consultancy firm meant I could start earning right away, without all the hassle.”
Instead of drowning in setup work, you step straight into practice. No wasted months. No unnecessary expenses. Just you, your clients, and a career on your terms.
IV. Secure a First Client Before You Resign
This is the golden rule. The smartest consultants don’t leave their firm until they have a paying client lined up.
Even if it’s just one case or a short-term contract, that first client gives you:
- Confidence that you can win business outside a firm.
- Momentum to build on.
Rachel, the child and family solicitor, had this to say: “I didn’t quit until I had my first client locked in. That gave me security, and within a few months, word-of-mouth brought in more work.”
The Smartest Solicitors Take Control – But They Do It Strategically
Here’s the truth: consulting is a huge opportunity, but only if you approach it the right way.
There’s risk. No doubt about it. But risk doesn’t mean recklessness. The best consultant solicitors? They prepare.
- They build their network before they leave.
- They save a financial cushion so they aren’t desperate.
- They secure a first client to smooth the transition.
- They choose the right firm to get infrastructure and referrals.
This isn’t about if consulting works. It already does.
The only question is:
Are you going to be ahead of the curve or stuck behind it?
Because the question isn’t Can you do this?
The question is how soon do you want to start?
Your move.
