Lawyer wanting to set up HR/Employment Law consultancy

[EchoAlpha]

Apologies in advance - I know there have been a historic post (or 3!) on a similar topic.

I'm an employment lawyer and really keen to set up an HR/Employment Law consultancy. I've been thinking about this for a while now. Prepping for baby no.2 and don't think I want to go back to work (for various reasons). It's quite a big decision for me, as I'm the breadwinner and have worked really hard to get to where I am now.

It would be great to hear from people who have successfully set up their own consultancies/sole-practice firms. Also open to hearing from those who thought about doing this and then backed out.

Thanks in advance!

Am replying to OP’s PM on the board.

i left the first consultancy because my kids were older and I wanted to go back into litigation. so I “hitched a ride” with an extraordinary young entrepreneur and grew a top 100 practice for him.

I’ve now started again, together with a member of my old team, because the preparation for selling the firm to private equity involved changes that didn’t suit our preferred way of working in our practice area. So it’s a mini team move.

I agree with pp about the unknowns surrounding your next baby OP. Anyone can master book-keeping, creating a website, networking, etc if they have determination energy and self-belief. But babies…… that’s a whole bunch of stuff you won’t be in control of…

OP, I know a genuinely lovely man who has set up a sort of "collective" for lawyers who want to be SE but want back up for the Regulatory, Marketing stuff etc.
It might be worth speaking to him, I have no skin in this game at all but would be happy to PM you his details if you like
I know a few Lawyers who work with him and they all seem to be very happy

I’ve worked in HR for 18 years and also worked for a HR consultancy, one thing you would need to have to run effectively would be real world HR experience, just your legal background is only one part of what makes up the HR world. Similar to what others have suggested, it would be a good idea to get some work experience with internal HR departments first and then also some experience in a consultancy. I would honestly suggest doing that for a good couple of years, HR is one of those careers where experience far outweighs any qualifications.

If you do this cheaper to operate as a lawyer turned HR specialist than establishing a regulated practice. Look at HR independents (www.HRI.com) who can help with the setting up and running part for a low cost.

Your age is not a USP unless linked with something else like being a mother. Can you specialise in supporting mothers being made redundant following maternity leave? Having a niche is much easier than being a generalist.

Going it alone is a tough gig. You are everything. Sales, business development, delivery, compliance, complaints, debt collection. Also be mindful of the availability/responsiveness factor.

But as you say no reason not to do it. Just go in with your eyes open. Seen too many lawyers thinking doing HR work would be easier.