Background
Mrs A was a qualified solicitor working in a well-established firm. By most measures, her role was stable and secure.
She wasn’t unhappy.
She respected her firm and her work.
But as her experience and responsibility grew, she became increasingly aware that her remuneration no longer reflected the level of contribution she was making — nor did it reward the additional effort she was consistently putting in.
Alongside this, caseloads were rising across the team, support was thinning, and opportunities for direct partner-led development had reduced as pressure within the firm increased.
She wasn’t actively applying for roles or responding to job adverts.
What she was doing was asking considered questions:
- Am I being rewarded properly for the work I’m doing?
- Is there scope to earn more if I perform well?
- Am I developing in an environment that will support my long-term progression?
After engaging with one of Emma’s LinkedIn posts, Mrs A decided to get in touch — not because something was “wrong”, but because she wanted to explore whether something better aligned was possible.
The Approach
At TN Recruits Law, every conversation with a qualified solicitor begins with time and depth. Emma scheduled a full video consultation — not a screening call — to understand:
- Mrs A’s current role and responsibilities
- Her experience and key achievements
- The level at which she was operating day-to-day
- What motivated her to work hard — and how she wanted that effort to be recognised
- What she valued most in a firm, both professionally and personally
This conversation wasn’t about chasing a higher salary alone.
It was about understanding how reward, workload, development and support needed to align.
The Strategy
With a clear understanding of Mrs A’s priorities, Emma worked discreetly within her network to identify firms where:
- Performance was properly recognised and rewarded
- Bonus structures were meaningful and achievable
- Senior partner support and mentoring were embedded
- Flexibility and sustainability were part of the culture, not an afterthought
Rather than advertising Mrs A’s CV or pushing her into volume applications, Emma positioned her strategically within the hidden job market — opportunities accessed through long-standing relationships rather than job boards.
The Outcome
Within a short period:
- Mrs A received three interview requests
- She progressed with two interviews
- Both resulted in offers
She accepted a role that offered:
- A supportive, high-quality team environment
- Direct coaching and mentoring from a highly experienced private client partner
- A structure that rewarded hard work rather than absorbing it
The move also delivered clear, tangible benefits:
- A £12,000 salary increase
- A significant bonus structure, allowing her to earn more as she performed
- The ability to consolidate full-time hours into a four-day working week
Importantly, this wasn’t about leaving a bad role — it was about stepping into one that recognised her value more accurately.
Why This Matters
Mrs A’s experience reflects a reality many qualified solicitors recognise but rarely articulate:
You don’t have to be unhappy to want more.
More recognition. More reward for effort. More alignment between contribution and progression.
By investing time upfront — and placing trust in Emma’s expertise — Mrs A avoided reactive applications and short-term fixes, and instead made a considered, confident move.
Emma’s Perspective
“Many solicitors wait until they’re unhappy before they talk.
In reality, the best moves often happen when someone is performing well and wants their effort to be recognised properly.
That’s when we can be most strategic.”
A Note to Qualified Solicitors
If you’re working hard, delivering value, and quietly questioning whether your role is truly reflecting that — you don’t need to wait for dissatisfaction to set in.
A conversation doesn’t commit you to a move.
But it can open doors that simply aren’t visible through job adverts.
At TN Recruits Law, our process is deliberate, relationship-led, and built on trust — because your career deserves more than a quick call.
