Legal consulting broadly involves advising and helping organisations on legal and legal-adjacent matters in a consulting or advisory capacity. It can appeal to lawyers who want to apply their expertise in a different, often more advisory or business-oriented setting. Moving from law to legal consulting is an achievable transition, but the right approach depends on the kind of work you want to pursue. Here is an honest, practical guide to making the move.
Quick answer
Moving from law to legal consulting means transitioning from traditional legal practice into a consulting or advisory role where your legal expertise is applied to organisational problems and legal or legal-adjacent matters. The work can take different forms depending on the setting, so it is important to understand which kind of role interests you.
To make the transition, start by clarifying why you want to move and what type of consulting or advisory work you want to pursue. Your legal knowledge, analytical ability, problem-solving skills and experience advising on legal issues provide a valuable foundation.
Build on that foundation by developing the broader consulting, business and client-facing skills the target role requires. Seek relevant exposure, network with people working in the field and explore the opportunities available. Position your experience effectively in your CV, applications and interviews.
Your legal expertise is a genuine asset. The key is to combine it with the additional skills required for the consulting or advisory work you want to do.
What does moving from law to legal consulting mean?
Moving from law to legal consulting means transitioning from traditional legal practice into a consulting or advisory role involving legal or legal-adjacent matters. This may take different forms depending on the organisation, the nature of the work and the services being provided.
Because legal consulting is a broad term, it is useful to identify the kind of work you want to pursue rather than treating every consulting or advisory role as the same. Your legal expertise and understanding of legal problems remain central to what you bring, but the way you apply that expertise may differ from traditional legal practice.
Understanding the available roles will help you identify opportunities that fit your interests and experience.
Leverage your legal expertise and build broader skills
Leverage your legal expertise
Your legal knowledge, analytical ability, problem-solving skills and experience advising on legal issues provide a foundation for legal consulting. These skills help you understand complex problems, assess available options and develop reasoned recommendations.
Rather than viewing your legal experience as something you need to leave behind, identify how it can contribute to the work you want to pursue. Your legal expertise is a core part of what you bring to a consulting or advisory role.
Build the relevant additional skills
Alongside your legal expertise, develop the broader consulting, advisory, business and client-facing skills required for your target role.
Consulting work may require you to understand an organisation’s needs, communicate recommendations clearly and approach problems from a broader business perspective. Identify the skills expected in the roles that interest you and work towards developing them.
The objective is to combine your existing legal knowledge with the additional capabilities needed to advise and help organisations effectively.
Gain exposure, network and position yourself well
Gain relevant exposure and experience
Look for opportunities to engage with consulting or advisory work and develop relevant experience. Depending on your circumstances, this may involve taking on related responsibilities, pursuing suitable opportunities or finding work that connects your legal background with consulting.
Relevant exposure can help you understand the nature of the work and identify how your existing skills may apply.
Network and explore the field
Connect with people working in legal consulting and related advisory roles. Learn about the different forms the work takes, the organisations offering these opportunities and the skills required for particular positions.
Because legal consulting covers a range of settings, exploring the field can help you identify the direction that best fits your interests and experience.
Position yourself well
Your CV, applications and interviews should demonstrate your legal expertise, interest in consulting or advisory work, and the relevant skills you have developed.
Explain how your legal background can help you address organisational problems and contribute to the work of the team. Show your understanding of the role and be clear about the additional capabilities you are developing.
YLCC ACTION STEP: To move from law to legal consulting, clarify why you want to make the transition and which type of consulting or advisory work interests you. Leverage your legal knowledge, analytical ability and problem-solving skills. Build the relevant consulting, business and client-facing skills, gain practical exposure, network with people in the field and explore suitable opportunities. Position your experience effectively in your CV, applications and interviews.
If this is you
If you want to move into legal consulting, start by identifying the type of consulting or advisory work that interests you. Build on your legal expertise, develop the additional skills required and seek opportunities to gain relevant exposure.
If you are unsure what legal consulting means for you, explore the different forms it can take. Understand the work involved in particular roles and consider which opportunities align with your interests, experience and professional goals.
If you enjoy advising and problem-solving, legal consulting may be worth exploring as a way to apply your legal expertise in a consulting or advisory capacity. Build the broader business and client-facing skills required for the work you want to pursue.
FAQs
- How do I move from law to legal consulting? Clarify why you want to make the transition and which roles interest you. Leverage your legal expertise, develop the relevant consulting and business skills, gain exposure, network and position yourself well.
- What is legal consulting? Broadly, it involves advising and helping organisations on legal or legal-adjacent matters in a consulting or advisory capacity. The nature of the work varies depending on the organisation and role.
- Is my legal expertise an asset in legal consulting? Yes. Legal knowledge, analytical ability, problem-solving skills and experience advising on legal issues provide a useful foundation for consulting and advisory work.
- What additional skills do I need? Depending on the role, you may need broader consulting, advisory, business and client-facing skills alongside your legal expertise. Identify the specific requirements of the positions you want to pursue.
- How do I find legal consulting opportunities? Network with people working in the field, explore the different types of consulting and advisory work, research relevant organisations and identify opportunities that fit your skills and interests.
