From solicitor to sales: Why I left private practice to rethink legal value

Legal services don’t work the way businesses need them to. It’s not that the advice isn’t valuable - it’s that the way it’s delivered makes it hard to access. Hourly rates, unpredictable fees, and lawyers who step in only when something goes wrong leave business owners either avoiding legal help altogether or rationing how much they use, just in case the costs spiral. Either way, they’re not getting the level of protection they deserve. 

I saw this firsthand as a lawyer. Business owners weren’t ignoring legal risks - they were trying to make a system work that wasn’t built for them. And from a lawyer’s perspective, it didn’t always feel like it was built for us either. The pressure of billable hours, tracking every minute rather than focusing on delivering value - it didn’t align with why I became a legal professional. 

Moving into business development wasn’t about leaving law behind. It was about using my skills in a way that felt more open, more impactful. I wanted to help more people, build real relationships, and offer solutions that worked for businesses, not just law firms. That’s why I stepped outside of private practice - to be part of a better way. One that gives SMEs access to legal support that truly delivers value.

Rethinking legal value: What I learned along the way

Shifting from legal practice to business development wasn’t just a career change, it was a mindset shift. It forced me to look at legal services from a business owner’s perspective, not just the lawyer's. And when you do that, you start to see the flaws in the traditional model more clearly.

Here's what I learned about what businesses need from legal support - and why the industry needs to evolve:

• Legal services should be a business asset, not a last resort

Most business owners understand the value of legal advice - they just can’t always justify the cost of using it the way they need to. Some hold off on seeking legal guidance and other limit how much they use legal professionals choosing to focus only on immediate risks rather than getting comprehensive protection. 

This hesitation means businesses only get legal support when they’re already in trouble. But legal advice should be preventative, not just a last resort. A business that can seek legal guidance freely can make stronger, more strategic decisions. 

• The billable hour creates the wrong incentives

When I worked in private practice, it became clear that the billable hour doesn’t just make legal services expensive - it changes the way legal professionals work. Time becomes the measure of value, rather than outcomes. For business owners, this means uncertain costs, slow processes, and legal work that can feel unnecessarily complicated. 

But legal support shouldn’t be about how long something takes - it should be about whether it solves the problem efficiently and effectively. That’s why I believe legal services should focus on practical solutions, not time spent. Businesses need clear, strategic guidance that helps them move forward - not endless back-and-forth emails and long legal memos that don’t drive results. 

• Legal support should drive business growth 

Traditional law firms usually step in when something has already gone wrong - a contract dispute, a compliance issue, or an employee matter that’s escalated. But legal support should be a foundation for growth, not just an emergency service. 

When businesses integrate legal services into their strategic planning, they can expand in ways that are both ambitious and legally sound. Expanding internationally? A good legal team ensures compliance across jurisdictions. Developing a new product? Legal insights can secure intellectual property and ensure regulatory approval. Too often, businesses limit their potential growth due to fear of legal complexity, when in reality, a strong legal framework doesn’t just mitigate risk it opens a world of possibility. 

• Predictable pricing creates stability
  

It surprised me how much cost uncertainty holds businesses back. When legal services are billed by the hour, business owners have no real way of knowing what the final cost will be until after the work is done. That makes it difficult to budget, plan, or even make decisions with confidence. Unpredictable legal costs force business owners to take the risks they’d rather avoid. I’ve seen businesses settle disputes they could have won because they were afraid of escalating legal fees. Others have abandoned opportunities because they weren’t sure if the legal costs would outweigh the benefits.

Businesses that know their legal expenses upfront are more likely to pursue new opportunities, expand confidently, and stand firm in negotiations. They aren’t forced into compromises out of financial uncertainty. That’s why I believe in fixed-fee legal services - because predictable pricing isn’t just about affordability, it’s about enabling businesses to use legal support the way they need to. 

• High-quality legal support should be accessible
  

Many law firms prioritise large corporate clients who can afford premium rates. Meanwhile, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who drive economic growth, create jobs and fuel innovation, often find themselves with limited legal support. 

Access to legal support shouldn’t be dictated by company size. If legal services are designed with accessibility in mind - through clearer pricing, streamlined processes, and proactive support - more businesses would thrive rather than struggle through legal uncertainty. 

Shifting the legal mindset: Beyond risk management 

One of the biggest changes I’ve embraced in my career is recognising that legal services shouldn’t just be about mitigating risk - they should be about enabling possibility. Businesses that view legal teams as partners rather than gatekeepers unlock a new level of agility. Instead of avoiding legal questions, they proactively engage, leading to better contracts, clearer policies, and a stronger foundation for growth. 

A modern business lawyer isn’t just a problem solver; they are a strategic advisor, an enabler of growth, and a partner in making ambitious ideas legally sound. Legal teams that align with business vision rather than just policing compliance create more impact, more trust, and ultimately, more value. 

Why I believe in a different approach to legal services 

Leaving private practice wasn’t about leaving law behind - it was about rethinking how legal services could deliver value. I wanted to be part of a solution that ensured businesses had access to legal expertise without the fear of mounting fees. One that prioritised efficiency over billable hours, transparency over uncertainty, and partnerships over transactions.

At Lawyerlink, we offer a fixed-fee legal subscription designed specifically for SMEs - so business owners don’t have to hesitate before asking for legal help. No unexpected invoices, no barriers to access - just legal support that works the way businesses need it to.

Because the real value of legal services isn’t in how much time is spent - it’s in how effectively businesses are protected, supported, and empowered to grow.