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3 minutes
Becoming a consultant solicitor feels like I have been set free.
Continuing our ‘Consultants’ Stories’ series where our lawyers share their journey to becoming a consultant solicitor and joining Nexa, we caught up with James Winfield.
Meet the consultant….
James is a private client lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in regional, national and high street firms. He has been a Managing Director and the Head of a Private Client team for over 10 years.
He is a full member of the Society of Trusts & Estates Practitioners (STEP) and The Association of Lifetime Lawyers (previously Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE)). He regularly presents and writes articles in relation to private client issues.
Here’s what he had to say:
“Running a small business is hard enough but running a small high street law firm is even tougher. I slogged for many years running a small high street law firm and I have maximum respect for those still on the coal-face, it isn’t easy. The red tape/admin only ever increased over the years and the pandemic exacerbated this still further – at one point I was receptionist, cashier, health & safety, HR, changing light bulbs, cleaner and gardener – forget solicitor! And then the sleepless nights worrying about all the people that relied on me to keep it all going, I couldn’t see any escape or light at the end of the tunnel – retirement in 30+ years’ time?!
Becoming a consultant solicitor feels like I have been set free. I can actually focus on what I enjoy and what I trained for, the law, serving my clients and adding value to them. The red tape is dealt with for me and I hopefully never have to fill in a PII application form ever again! I am renumerated fairly and the clients get an experienced solicitor (i.e. not delegated downwards to less experienced members of staff) who deals with their matter as swiftly and efficiently as they can – win, win. Not to mention the improved work-life balance and benefits to my family.
Nexa have been brilliant, just the right balance of help/assistance/supervision etc. and leaving you to do what you do best. It is also great having access to an awesome team of highly experienced and knowledgeable consultants located all over the country covering just about every area of law, whether that be for referring clients on or for picking the brains of experts in those areas I do not specialise in but I just have a quick question to run past them. And we get to have regular socials to build the relationships too.
I’m so glad I made the decision to join a consultancy model law firm. If you are currently running a small firm you already have all the skills and traits required to go down the consultancy route – drive, determination, resolve, self-motivation and tenacity. Becoming a consultant allows you to focus those skills in a much more efficient and rewarding way.
Thinking about making a change?
For an informal, confidential chat about becoming a Consultant Solicitor with Nexa, contact CMO & Head of Talent, John McAuley on [email protected] to schedule a call or, download our brochure.
