Rise of the Consultant

Why Lawyers are Leaving Traditional Roles

Flexibility and Work-Life Balance

One of the primary reasons lawyers are turning to consultancy is the quest for better work-life balance. The demanding hours and high-pressure environment of traditional legal roles often leave little room for personal time. By becoming consultants, lawyers gain control over their schedules, allowing them to work when and where they choose and without worrying about office politics or management responsibilities.

Diverse Opportunities

Consultancy allows lawyers to diversify their work portfolio. Instead of being tied to a single employer or client, consultants can engage with multiple clients across various industries. This variety not only keeps the work interesting but also broadens their experience and expertise. Consultants can choose projects that align with their interests and strengths, making their work more fulfilling and work collaboratively with other like-minded consultants in a collegiate atmospnancial Incentives

Many consultants find that their earning potential does not increase much in traditional roles. Without the overhead costs associated with having your own law firm, consultants can often charge competitive rates while retaining a larger share of their billable hours. Additionally, the ability to take on multiple clients can lead to a more stable and lucrative income stream.

Autonomy and Control

For many lawyers, the appeal of consultancy lies in the autonomy it offers. Consultants have the freedom to decide which clients to take on, what rates to charge, and how to structure their work. This level of control is rarely possible in traditional roles, where lawyers often have to adhere to the firm’s policies, billing targets and client demands.

Capital Value

One often-overlooked benefit of consultancy is the ability for lawyers to build capital value without the risks of owning a law firm and of run-off legal insurance cover. By growing their own client base or team, they create a business with tangible value that can be sold internally or externally in the future. This offers far greater potential for long-term financial gain and a long-term reward that traditional law firms simply cannot compete with. At Kingsley Wood, we are keen on building an internal marketplace to allow Partners to sell to each other or even to sell externally and we want to be able to support you with that.

 The Numbers Speak: Statistics on the Shift

The shift towards consultancy in the legal profession is backed by compelling statistics:

• Increasing Departures: According to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), there has been a significant increase in the number of lawyers leaving full-time positions. In the past five years, approximately 20% more lawyers have transitioned from private practice or in-house roles to consultancy.

• Growing Consultant Base: There are now over 4,000 lawyers in England and Wales operating as consultants, regulated by the SRA. This figure represents a notable increase from previous years, highlighting the growing appeal of this career path.

• Diverse Demographics: The trend spans across various demographics, with both seasoned professionals and newer entrants to the legal field opting for the consultancy route. This diversity underscores the broad-based appeal of consultancy roles.

Introducing Kingsley Wood: A New Era of Legal Consultancy

Kingsley Wood is a leading platform in legal consultancy, known for its stability and reliability. As part of the AIIC group, listed in the FT 1000 as the fastest-growing legal services group in Europe, we understand the evolving needs of modern lawyers.

Our platform law firm supports legal professionals transitioning to consultancy with a range of benefits that make the move seamless and rewarding:

• We pay well above the market average — 75% of total billings and 85% for billings over £250,000.

•  Hands-on business development support with in-house lead generation, marketing, and new business teams.



•  Lawyers can grow their own teams or utilize our junior lawyers at no cost, earning 40% of their billings.

•  We are investing in one of the world’s leading case management systems, backed by substantial group funding, we are innovative.

•  Our lawyers are part of a collaborative community with monthly partner meetings for engagement and communication.

•  Free access to legal resources such as Westlaw and Practical Law.

• Access to hotdesking and meeting rooms in the City of London, with no charge

•  Flexibility to work remotely, you decide and have full autonomy

• As part of a larger group, we are a true consultancy for corporate / commercial lawyers from city and magic circle firms.

•  Build a practice with true capital value that can be sold internally or externally, without the risk of owning a law firm — (law firms are sold for considerably less)

•  We are committed to building a legal entity where progressing gender, ethnicity, social, and cultural representation is a core reality, not just a tick-box exercise or empty promise

If you’re ready for a fresh approach and already getting a strong sense of what we can achieve together, it’s time to get in touch.