Succeeding as a consultant solicitor

Whilst the benefits of being a consultant solicitor are obvious (flexibility, work/life balance, pursuing the area of work you wish, the list goes on), what does it take to succeed in consultancy? Annabel Cole, consultant solicitor at Cognitive Law discusses the success factors in being a consultant solicitor: – Confidence – A solid plan –... Read more »

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Be brave and jump!

What does it mean to take the leap into becoming a consultant solicitor? Here Cognitive Consultant Solicitor Annabel Cole explains what it means to take the leap into consultancy, some tips on how to prepare and what to expect as well as how consultancy has changed her life. If becoming a consultant solicitor of interest... Read more »

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Is consultancy still relevant in a law firm in the new age of hybrid working?

At the beginning of the global pandemic in 2020, law firm workplaces had to adapt quickly to working from home and running businesses remotely. This became the catalyst for many firms realising that a physical office is not necessary to run a successful business. Firms who had trust in their employees and an open working... Read more »

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Becoming a Consultant Solicitor – An Interview with Simon Wood

Making the decision to become a consultant solicitor takes much thought and preparation. We understand it is not a quick or easy choice and strive to ensure all our solicitors have as much information they need to make an informed decision. So, to help solicitors thinking of becoming a consultant solicitor, we asked Simon Wood... Read more »

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Becoming a Consultant Solicitor – An interview with Darren Stone

Making the decision to become a consultant solicitor takes much thought and preparation. We understand it is not a quick or easy choice and strive to ensure all our solicitors have as much information they need to make an informed decision. So, to help solicitors thinking of becoming a consultant solicitor, we asked Darren Stone... Read more »

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Flexible working, the menopause and the legal profession – It’s not just a female issue

It’s time to throw my personal hat in the ring and enter the discussion about the menopause, and the way in which it affects professional women at the peak of their career. When I started Cognitive Law in 2014, I needed a totally flexible working life that was not readily available in a traditional law... Read more »

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Consultant solicitors – Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Consultant Solicitor? A Consultant Solicitor is usually a self-employed solicitor who works through their limited company, a  Personal Service Company (PSC), which contracts with a firm of solicitors to supply the solicitor’s services to clients. It is not the same as a Freelance Solicitor, which is another way of working that was... Read more »

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What makes Cognitive Law any different from any other law firm?

On the whole it is accepted that a law firm will deliver professional legal services, simply by virtue of being a law firm. Law firms are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and legally qualified fee earners such as Barristers, Solicitors and Legal Executives must all train to and practise by certain standards. Some law... Read more »

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Change, and your world changes with you: Stand still, and you stand alone.

Change. Some people love it, some people loathe it. In my experience, lawyers are not great with it. But change happens, and there is a lot of it about at the moment. Whether it is working from home, reducing working hours, or even redundancy, the legal profession is seeing a change. We are also experiencing... Read more »

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Work for yourself without being alone

Working from home has become the new normal, at least for the moment. There is no need for me to rehearse the benefits, we all know what they are. That said, working from home is not for everyone, and nor should it be. In my ideal world, where & when you work would be up... Read more »

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