Articles From the Team
Thinking about a move from legal practice into legal recruitment?
As a qualified solicitor, it was a big decision for me to move from practice into legal recruitment. The prospect of venturing into a different career path was somewhat daunting and alien to me; for the past eight years I’ve worked in private practice law firms and before that I was studying law at university.
Right time, right place
My whole adult life has focussed on progressing within the legal profession, but I have to admit, recruitment is something I was always interested in. I can’t really say there was a ‘lightbulb’ moment, but it was definitely a ‘right time, right place' kind of situation.
I’d been looking for a new job on BCL's legal jobs board when I came across a vacancy at BCL for a legal recruiter. From there, the more I looked into recruitment, the more interested I became.
How did I know it was the right move
I discussed the role at length with BCL during the interview process and they made it very clear what they expected from me. They highlighted the good and the bad, which was refreshing to hear as you don't normally come across such honesty throughout an interview process.
I felt fully informed of their expectations and I instantly felt like I connected with the role. I'm very much a people person and I like the idea of being able to bring people together, whether that be from a candidate or client law firm's perspective.
How my legal career's helped me with the transition
My legal knowledge has undoubtedly helped me with the transition as I feel I'm able to easily connect with candidates and discuss their current and ideal roles; whilst fully understanding their needs, as I too have been in their shoes.
Equally, it's allowed me to instantly sympathise with clients' needs and requirements in looking for an ideal candidate, as I've witnessed firsthand how important it is to get the right person for the right job.
Transitioning with BCL Legal
I can honestly say that BCL has made the whole transition very easy for me. I've been given 1-2-1 training, including the market-leading I.T. systems. My manager has been a great help, assisting me every step of the way: guiding me through the entire recruitment process. Believe me, there's a lot more to it than you initially think but I’ve enjoyed it all!
The whole process is very pragmatic and easy to pick up once you know what you’re doing. The whole team is very friendly, supportive and always on hand to offer useful tips.
It's still early days for me but I can honestly say that I'm very happy with the move from legal practice into recruitment.