Lawyers’ lessons from the trenches: 10 tips
As we drew our exploration to a close, we tapped into the valuable wisdom shared by our respondents. Here's a treasure trove of tips and core recommendations for those thinking about starting out as a consultant in the legal world:
1. “Think about what your working identity means to you: what’s your real motivation for working in law?”
2. “Try it — if you don’t like it, it’s good experience and there are lots of full-time roles out there as well. Clients very often offer you a full-time role.”
3. “Embrace both types of time off — whether it’s a planned holiday or unplanned. Trust yourself and the process.”
4. “ALSPs provide great support and a badge of quality — they’re very approachable and can help advise on whether your experience is going to be useful for their clients. Just don’t register with too many.”
5. “Put your ego to one side when it comes to the level of seniority for a role.”
6. “Make sure others in the team understand your scope, needs and wants — be seen internally, as you may not have long to make your mark.”
7. “Pick your assignments carefully based on your preferred working style — remote and in silence, or in person and interactive.”
8. “Have some financial discipline and don’t forget your pension.”
9. “Do your research on the admin side: umbrella companies, your day-rate and all of the deductions.”
10. “Figure out what you want from your career. Consulting might not fit now, but things can change.”
