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• Legal Newsletter Q4 - Interview

An Interview With a Defector

Alison Smith is a qualified solicitor who has made the move over to recruitment, joining us here at Search.

• What made you decide to switch careers from being a solicitor to a legal recruitment consultant? 
  I really enjoyed being part of the trainee recruitment process when I was a lawyer and also the business development and marketing side of things. I wanted to stay in the legal industry and thought that legal recruitment would be a good way of combining the two. 

• How have you found the transition? 
  All good so far! I really enjoy speaking to the diversity of different lawyers in different practice areas. I get a real buzz helping people to find new jobs and helping them through the process.

• What is your background prior to entering recruitment? 
  I trained as a lawyer at CMS Cameron McKenna in London after completing my law degree at Bristol University and Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in Guildford and year out after school working as a Paralegal at (then) Lovell White Durrant. I had a fantastic training contract at Camerons and really enjoyed getting stuck in with city life. I was lucky enough to spend 6 months in the Prague office -such an amazing city and experience. I was in Prague during EU accession - a really lively and fascinating time. I then qualified into the real estate department at Camerons and stayed for a further 2 and a half years before relocating to Edinburgh having met my (now) husband. I secured a role as a senior solicitor at Brodies in the commercial property department before making the move up to Scotland, where I continued to practice for a further 2 and a half years. 

• What did you like about being a solicitor? 
  Feeling proud of my achievement at qualifying, and making it to 5 years PQE!! At law school,  and even as a trainee,  we always looked up to people at that level and thought how wise they were! I'm not sure I felt like that when I reached that level though,  but I'm sure that's true of everyone! I also enjoyed the camaraderie in the office, when working on big deals; feeling part of making something important happen.  

• Dislike about it? 
  The long hours do take their toll - especially when you have to cancel plans when an urgent deal arrives at 6pm!   

• Any challenges you have encountered in making the switch? 
  Getting used to sales targets I suppose, but I am used to having fee/billing targets so it's not all that different.

• Has it worked out as you had hoped? 
  Yes, I am really enjoying the experience so far. Having knowledge of the legal sector really helps, so although I am new to recruitment, the transition hasn't been too difficult.

• Any regrets? 
  I don't really believe in having regrets.

• Any highlights? 
  Making my first placement within the first month of working in recruitment - from taking the role on myself, to sourcing and screening candidates, to interview and the candidate starting the new job all within the space of 4 days! You get a real sense of satisfaction when it all works out!

• Any advice for other solicitors considering a similar move? 
  Be brave and make the move if it's right for you.