Working from home has become the new normal, at least for the moment. There is no need for me to rehearse the benefits, we all know what they are.
That said, working from home is not for everyone, and nor should it be. In my ideal world, where & when you work would be up to you. And that is one of the underpinning reasons why I founded Cognitive Law nearly 6 years ago – to take control of my working life.
I also wanted a law firm where everyone could control their working lives, not just me. That is why all Cognitive Law’s fee earners are consultants. As such they dictate not only where & when they work, but also how and for whom. They are also self-employed.
Self-employment can seem incredibly off-putting, even for those solicitors who are yearning to leave the confines of traditional private practice. Solicitors are naturally risk-averse, and the thought of going it alone can be, quite frankly, terrifying.
But solicitors do not have to go it alone. At Cognitive Law we have made sure that solicitors can work for themselves without being alone. In fact, I think it would be morally reprehensible to engage a consultant and then expect them to fend for themselves. Drawn from personal experiences gathered over the years, we have tailored a comprehensive Conversion Course , to ease the transition into self-employment.
As well as making sure that new consultants are fully supported every step of the way, Cognitive Law also delights in being a relatively small, boutique law firm. That means we have not lost any of our individuality, or the personal touch. It would have been easy to grow quickly, taking on consultants for the sake of scaling up. But that would have detracted from the ethos behind the brand, which is to nurture and develop professional growth in a close and collegiate environment.
Which is how I can say, hand on heart, that becoming self-employed need not be so terrifying, even for solicitors. It can be hard work, of course it can, I would not pretend otherwise. But aren’t most things in life if they are truly worthwhile? And being self-employed, the more you put in, the more you get out.
Working for yourself there are none of these:
- Micro-management
- Annual leave limits or booking systems
- Rigid controls
- Timesheets
- Set hours
- Internal meetings
And more of these:
- Flexibility
- Earning capacity
- Freedom
- Independence
Ironically, given the uncertainty in the world at the moment, the timing is perfect to become self-employed. How to work from home has largely been nailed by those who have been willing to embrace it. The thought of having to commute back to the office to pay homage to the god of presenteeism is no doubt striking terror into the hearts of many solicitors.
Bronnie Ware is the author of the international bestselling memoir The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. Here’s a link to those regrets. Not giving serious consideration to a different way of practising the law could well be a solicitors’ 6th regret.
So, if you genuinely want to work hard but reap a real reward, why not consider a self-employed consultancy role in an environment that has been specially created to help you succeed. If you’d like to find out more visit our join us page or feel free to get in touch with me. I’d love to hear from you.