Have you been over performing in your current position, exceeding expectations, and being given glowing reviews by your employer? If the answer is yes, then you may very well be ready for that all important promotion. Clearly, though, the opportunity isn’t going to simply fall into your lap. So how do you get noticed and get that well deserved promotion?

Here are our five top tips.

Set goals:

Setting goals should always be your first step, if you aren’t clear about where you want to go or what you want to achieve you’ll find yourself stuck in the same role. Only once you’ve set yourself goals can you start to work out how to achieve them. Work out the specific position you want and then imagine yourself attending an interview and the kind of questions they might ask. What makes you the right fit for the position? Do you have the appropriate experience? How would you manage the responsibilities? If you aren’t already able to answer these questions then they should provide you with a good indication of what you need to work on.

Why do you deserve the promotion?

Consider exactly why you’re suitable for the new role. If you’ve developed skills beyond the ones required for your current position see how well they align with those required for a more senior role. If they overlap significantly then it’s likely your manager may already be considering you for a step up. Conversely, if your skillsets aren’t yet up to the level required, then make sure to demonstrate that you are proactively taking steps to improve key skills and are committed to continued professional development. The same principle applies for your relevant experience, do you have enough already, or are there new responsibilities you could potentially take on?

Shout about your achievements:

Make sure your manager is aware of your achievements. If you work in a fast paced environment you’ll likely find that smaller successes are brushed to one side fairly quickly, or that your input into team achievements isn’t fully recognised. However, being able to demonstrate your successes and contributions will be key when discussing a potential promotion with your boss, so make sure to document all of them, however minor they may seem.

Get a meeting in the diary:

Schedule a meeting with your boss. While it’s important to formally schedule a consultation with your manager to ensure they understand the importance of the meeting, it’s also vital that you approach the conversation with enquires rather than demands. Let them know that you are keen to receive feedback on your performance and ask about potential opportunities for you to move up. Explain why you want to take on a new role, and demonstrate why you are ready if given the opportunity. However refrain from being pushy – if you come across as demanding you’ll hurt your chances of promotion rather then come any closer to gaining one.

Be realistic:

Be patient and realistic. If there is a role already available it may be that your meeting highlights you as an obvious candidate, however you may find that the reason you haven’t been promoted yet is because there simply isn’t a position open. In which case it’s key that you continue to demonstrate your relevant skillset, enthusiasm and commitment to professional development. You may find that your promotion is just around the corner.

Take a look at some our other blogs to gain some more valuable career advice.

Or take a look at our current roles to find your next game-changing role.

Being a Partner is not for everyone.  Not all Legal Professionals will want the stress and added workload brought on by making Partner. But for most – this will be the aim and the potential pinnacle of their career. But what is the route to the top? Here’s how to make Partner.

Be at the right firm

This one should be obvious. You have to keep in mind that working for an organisation and essentially becoming a major shareholder in it are two very different things. Trying to make Partner is a major commitment so you need to make sure your efforts won’t be wasted. Do you have complete faith in the firm’s ability to gain and retain clients? Will you get along with the other partners or will you clash heads? Most importantly, do you have the ability to sustain and develop the practice? These are all questions that need answering, ideally, before you find yourself as a Partner.

Nail the new business

Yes, a detailed knowledge of legal precedents is highly valuable, but in all honesty, a detailed understanding of Rylands vs Fletcher or Donoghue vs Stevenson is unlikely to get you there on its own. Even if it did, you wouldn’t last long unless you can bring in new business. This is a must and anyone unable to do so is unlikely to make Partner.

Get a mentor

Similar to the previous point, making partner is all about being ‘part of the club’ and a quick method of ensuring that you’re not left on the outside is to have an influential partner as your mentor. They’re likely – as long as you’re on the right tracks – to act as your advocate at the partnership table which can only help your case in the long run.

Play the long game

Someone once described planning for partnership as akin to playing a seven-year game of chess, and they’re not far off. You can have a good shot by moving pieces around randomly and hoping for the best, but in reality each decision you make should reflect your intentions. That means, like chess, it’s critical to build a long-term game plan that allows you to develop the skills and network necessary to make Partner.

Become a natural networker

You may now be asking what a natural networker actually is. It’s someone that’s not forcing it and is adept at creating relationships organically and isn’t just networking out of their desire to make partner. This isn’t sustainable and, more importantly, people will see through it. It’s difficult to trust someone you think is inauthentic and potentially out to get something from you and it’s much more preferable to form long term, authentic bonds with people. This certainly isn’t an easy skill to develop – and its one that almost everyone desires – but it’s definitely worth taking the time to focus on.

Sort your life out

In the past, achieving a work/life balance while trying to make partner was probably a distant dream, in many of the tougher firms that is unfortunately still the case. However, if you’re intent on reaching the top, you need to make sure you don’t join the ever-growing pile of associates who have burnt themselves out seeking Partnership. That means you have to be smart and plan ahead. Try and create barriers between work and home life so the latter is just seen as a place to relax and shake off stress at the end of the day and you’ll find that process becomes considerably easier. Nick Goseland, an attorney at US firm, Lateral Link, wrote a piece on exactly that subject where he argued that a long career in the legal sector is an ultra-marathon, not a sprint. He suggested that if each day at work feels unbearable, then take some steps at home and at work to change this before you burn out. We couldn’t agree more.

What are your top tips on how to make partner?

Take a look at some our other blogs to gain some more valuable career advice

Or take a look at our current roles to find your next game-changing senior role.

Rewind even as little as 10 years ago and the vast majority of legal jobs were found in the capital. Let’s not be mistaken, London is certainly still the UK’s main legal hub, however in recent years the sector has spread more widely into other regions of the country. This has been partly fuelled by the concept of ‘Northshoring’ and more and more firms are choosing to relocate at least some of their services to outside of the capital. We’ve been conducting our latest review of hiring activity across the regional markets, with some interesting results – so where is demand for UK legal jobs stemming from?

North West

The North West has once again performed above expectations in terms of legal jobs, with our research showing that vacancies have risen by 36% month-on-month. Manchester and the surrounding areas is a main beneficiary of the Northshoring trend with a series of major firms now based here including Eversheds Sutherland and Addleshaw Goddard, amongst others. These firms have been on the hunt for experienced professionals which has meant that corporate associates and senior associates in particular, have been highly sought after.

Midlands

The Midlands has fared even better than the North West, recording a legal vacancy uptick of 69% month-on-month. The majority of this hiring activity has been focused on the property arena with firms seeking conveyancers, particularly in the commercial arena. According to recent reports, available office space within Birmingham and the surrounding areas is at a 10-year low, with firms keen to take advantage of the second city’s lower prices in comparison to London, which is driving a need for property specialists.

North East & Yorkshire

Property has also been the main driver of activity, or the lack of it, in the North East & Yorkshire recently.  While there was strong demand for conveyancing specialists in the first half of the year, new reports that suggest that this region – along with London – has experienced the slowest increases in property prices which has forced firms to hold back on hiring until the market improves. However, legal professionals with experience of working in the family and private law arena have been highly sought after.

London

Along similar lines, London has also been hit hard by the stalling property arena, however this has been negated by the growing need for administrative assistants and specialists. Many firms have experienced an uptick in workloads as clients ask them to map the post-Brexit market, which in turn has meant employers have been on the hunt for legal back-office professionals, who have contributed to the huge rise in demand seen over the past two months.

South East

The UK legal jobs market has been most active within the south east in recent months. It has seen a huge boom in demand for conveyancing and other property experts. Commentators suggest that this growth is down to the staggeringly high cost of buying property in London. This forces potential buyers out to the surrounding areas like Essex and Hertfordshire and firms in this region have been sourcing property expertise to help manage the increased workloads they’re now facing.

Wales

Demand for legal professionals in Wales has mainly focused on litigation and crime specialists, with higher court advocates particularly sought after. Unfortunately this trend isn’t driven by anything positive, but instead a rise in violent crime which has caused an increase in arrests and prosecutions. However, while this certainly isn’t good news, it does mean that legal specialists are highly sought after across Wales, but particularly in the south.

The brunt of legal activity is no longer focused on London and UK based legal jobs have spread further across the country, with areas like the North West and the Midlands now true legal employment hotspots. If you’re looking for your next regional opportunity – or are looking for a role in the capital – then speak to our expert team to find out how we can help.

Take a look at some our other blogs to learn more about regional employment trends within the legal sector.

Or take a look at our current roles to find your next game-changing legal role.

You’ve landed a new job, so why do you feel so stressed? Part of the reason is probably the worry over handing in your notice. It can be challenging to part ways with an employer, particularly if you’ve been there for a long time. After all, you don’t want to seem disloyal, or like you’ve gone behind their back to secure a new role. You may also be worried about burning bridges or impacting long term-relationships. We’ve provided some helpful tips that should make handing in your notice a stress free experience.

Bringing it up

Don’t hang about when you’ve been offered a new role and look to book a date in the diary as soon as possible when handing in your notice. Leaving it until later will only mean the issue is hanging over you and it could even begin to potentially eat into your notice period.

What to say

The vast majority of meetings will only be awkward if you make them so. Your manager is most likely an experienced professional so this won’t be the first time they’ve dealt with someone leaving. They’ll probably ask you where you’re moving to, and why, and if you want to avoid burning bridges, focus on the opportunity you’ve been presented with, as opposed to the reasons for you leaving the current firm. It’s advisable to resist the temptation to criticise the company and instead focus on confirming your resignation, telling your boss about the new role and thanking them in person for the support you’ve received.

The counter offer

Unless your boss has been counting down the days until you hand in your resignation it’s possible that you’ll be made a counter offer in the form of a promotion, pay rise or potentially even both. But what do you do when you’re intent on handing in your notice?

Whatever you do, don’t accept anything there and then. Weigh up your current options and consider whether a pay increase or change of role is actually what you’re looking for. Can your current company keep up with your ambitions? If so, why haven’t they already? It can be tempting to accept an offer on the spot, but if the same problems will reappear a few months down the line, then it’s probably not worth taking it.

What to write in your resignation letter

When it comes to your resignation letter, keep it professional and as straightforward as possible. Inform your manager of your decision and, if you’re genuinely sad to be leaving, write something along the lines of “it is with regret that I have decided to move on.” Then you should confirm when your last date will be, state that you are happy to assist with handovers or training and end on a positive note and again thank them for the support they’ve provided during your time with the firm. You can, if you like, go into greater detail about why you’re leaving, but it’s likely you will have broached this in the meeting.

How to deal with workplace emotion

If you’re a valued member of staff and have a good relationship with your boss then they may find it hard to mask their emotions, but in this instance it’s ok to be empathetic and express your sadness about your departure. However, it’s also advisable to keep a level head – this is still a professional relationship and you’re, hopefully, doing what’s best for your career. You might feel a touch of guilt once the decision has been widely announced but, again, this is only natural, particularly if you’ve got friends at work and/or a supportive boss. Just remember, if they really care for you, they will want you to succeed so shouldn’t have any ill feeling towards you.

Handing in your notice can be stressful, but it doesn’t need to be. Follow our handy tips and get in contact if you’re considering finding a new role at a new firm.

Check out some of our blogs to gain more cutting edge career advice

Or take a look at some of our current jobs

©Depositphotos.com/AndreyPopov

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It would be fair to say that a large brunt of legal activity in this country takes place in the capital. It’s hardly surprising, after all, London is one of the leading cities on Earth and is home to international, market-topping firms of all shapes and sizes. In addition, most of our major courts are based here as are the majority of regulatory and trade bodies.

UK legal recruitment

London-centricity isn’t necessarily a good thing and as the country has become more focused on the capital, debates have started over whether activity and investment should be spread more evenly across the country. It was suggested, for example, that the national football stadium – based in Wembley – should in fact have been built in Birmingham to provide easier access to those living in the North of the UK. The arrival of HS2 could close the gap between London and the rest of the country, but it will be some time until this is rolled out in full.

The legal sector has the same issue. While the trend of ‘northshoring’, has picked up pace in recent years, the industry as a whole is still overwhelmingly focused on London, largely at the expense of other regions of the country. UK legal recruitment is no different and the majority of hiring agencies are based in or around the capital.

You’ll find many Northern based firms complaining about how it’s unfair that they’re not given the same level of backing or support that others in London receive and that infrastructure is not as developed as it is down south. However, those suggestions aren’t entirely accurate. Transport links aren’t as extensive and there isn’t a wholesale equivalent to the tube, for example, because the population is smaller and there is less demand for these services. You can be sure that if there was a market for improved infrastructure or services that a firm would have already jumped on the opportunity to make a potentially huge amount of money.

However, regardless of levels of investment, we feel where we’re based is immaterial. Perhaps 20 years ago when communication channels weren’t as extensive as they are now it would have mattered, but in the modern world, not even slightly. UK legal recruitment is as it sounds, UK-wide, and despite being based in Preston, our rigorous approach combined with our deep networks and complete understanding of the legal market means we can effectively serve firms and find them the talent they need wherever they’re based across the UK.

Different area, same skills

Legal professionals aren’t just based in the capital, they’re all over the country, and rather than selecting an agency on the basis that they’re relatively close to London and must therefore know what they’re doing, firms should instead conduct thorough research into their suppliers and choose the organisation that can offer the best deal, has the best relationships and ultimately provide the best service. Where they’re based is insignificant if they have the right resources and approach in place.

If the legal market still worked in the way it did 50 years ago, then geographical location would still be relevant, but the days of striding out of a firm and walking into the office of the nearest recruiter to find a new role are gone. And, with the vast majority of communication done online, it doesn’t matter if a hiring agency is based in London, Leeds or Liechtenstein, as long as they can fully map the market, have existing relationships with legal specialists and can ultimately find your firm its next game-changing employee.

Check out some of our other blogs to find out how you can find the right legal recruitment agency for your firm

Or take a look at some of our current legal jobs

We’ve all been there. Sometimes, regardless of how good things may be going at your current firm, or how successful you’ve been, you might feel like a change of scenery. But how can lawyers assess their career options and identify whether it’s time for a career change, and what should their next steps be?

Career change

There are plenty of factors for legal professionals to consider when weighing up a career change and it’s important to remember that the grass certainly isn’t always greener on the other side. You should take into account whether your departure will affect any cases you’re currently working on and whether you’ll be able to maintain courteous and professional relationships with your current firm. Can you ethically transfer your existing clients to your new employer? What effect will this have on your practice area? Will moving impact your ability to make partner? It’s crucial to keep these questions and many more in mind when making a move as you don’t want to find yourself in a worse position than you started in.

The warning signs

It goes without saying that if you’re not happy in your current role then you should leave it. That much is obvious. We spend far too much time at work to do something we don’t enjoy and your mental health is more important than any job. However, there are less obvious indicators that might mean it’s time for you to consider a career change. If you want to change to a specialism that your firm doesn’t focus on, or feel like your progression with your current employer is limited then that could suggest you need to move. Alternatively, you might want to seek out an employer that could potentially offer an improved work/life balance or the opportunity to work overseas. There are myriad options out there but ultimately, the only person that can understand your motivations and whether it’s the right time to leave is you. A good rule of thumb is that if you think your performance has been affected in any way – it’s time for a change.

Maintaining relationships

One thing you certainly don’t want to do is burn bridges and you must avoid what Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg calls, ‘leaving before you’ve left’ where you’ve essentially internally resigned while in the process of looking for a new job. This will only leave a bad taste and may affect your long term career success. It’s worth remembering that the legal sector is relatively insular and word travels fast. If you’ve downed tools for one firm, there’s a good chance others have heard about it. Try and leave on the best possible terms and, unless you’ve had a thoroughly unpleasant stint, attempt to leave the doors open for a possible return in the future. After all, you never know where your career could take you.

There are no concrete rules for when you should consider a career change, but what is important is that you do it on your terms and in the right way, otherwise it could impact your role at your next employer and ultimately your career progression.

Check out some of our other blogs to find out how you can get ahead in your career.

Or take a look at some of our current legal jobs.

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Less than a year after the UK decided to leave the European Union, we undertook an in-depth analysis of the employment market for private practice lawyers across the UK to gauge the impact Brexit was having.  Our research was featured widely in the press – including Swindon Business News. Here’s an overview of the piece including quotes from our managing director, Lynn Sedgwick, had to say:

Private practice lawyer vacancies in the South West have fallen by 11% over the past year as the sector starts to suffer from uncertainty, according to a new survey.

However, the decline is less than the national picture – the data from specialist recruiter Clayton Legal shows vacancies across the UK as whole falling by 14%.

The firm says the fall in advertised positions could largely be down to lawyers not wanting to move jobs in an environment of uncertainty.

Despite the overall picture, there was a huge requirement for lawyers specialising in personal injury and employment in the South West with vacancies in these roles rising by 27%.

The survey, compiled from the recruiter’s comprehensive data on advertised roles, reveals increased demand in these areas not only reflects increased workloads but also a skills shortage caused by lawyers staying in their current positions for longer as uncertainty caused by Brexit takes hold.

Clayton Legal managing director Lynn Sedgwick said: “Almost a year has passed since the UK decided to leave the EU and while we have certainly seen lawyers being less committed to a career move, the hiring picture across the South West remains generally healthy.

“And while there is clearly caution around Brexit, we are also seeing a change in the recruitment strategies of our clients. Many firms are hiring lawyers for newly created positions due to increased workloads instead of replacement hires that are associated with specialists moving between firms. And as Brexit becomes more of a ‘business as usual’ scenario, we’re confident the ‘wait and see’ approach will pass.”

The firm’s data also reveals the regional variations in vacancy decline. London has experienced the most acute drop with available roles down 26% year-on-year, while the North West and the South East also experienced declines – 18% and 4% respectively.

The Midlands was the only region to buck the trend – vacancy levels there remained static year-on-year.

For more insights from the team visit our website or to receive a copy of our comprehensive research get in touch today.

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Less than a year after the UK decided to leave the European Union, we’ve been busy preparing our latest in-depth analysis of the employment market for private practice lawyers across the UK to gauge the impact Brexit has had.  So what has our data revealed? And what does this mean for the sector?

Nationwide vacancies fall

While our data reveals that vacancy levels across the UK have fallen in all regions year-on-year (13%), it is by no means all doom and gloom. In fact, there are certain specialisms that are bucking this trend and performing exceptionally well. Personal injury lawyers have been increasingly called on in response to the proposed cap on whiplash claims which has resulted in drivers rushing to get their claims through the courts.  And the UK’s ageing population has translated into unprecedented demand for wills and probate specialists across the entire country.

Lawyers reticent to move job in current environment

While the fall in advertised positions is, on first glance, a less than optimistic picture, it can be attributed to lawyers being reticent to move roles in an environment of uncertainty.  While some lawyers are less committed to a career move the hiring picture as a whole remains very healthy. And our conversations with our clients clearly demonstrates this. Many firms are hiring lawyers for newly created positions due to increased workloads instead of replacement hires that are associated with specialists moving between firms.  And as Brexit becomes more of a ‘business as usual’ scenario, we’re confident the ‘wait and see’ approach will pass.

Check back next week for our next blog where we’ll be focusing on the regional demand for private practice lawyers. And if you can’t wait that long contact us today to get your hands on the full report.

For more insights from the team visit our website.

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Clayton Legal Managing Director, Lynn Sedgwick, has commented on our latest survey results in Lawyer Monthly. The article highlighted some of the key insights and trends taken from our comprehensive data review including:

• Vacancies for private practice lawyers have fallen by 13% year-on-year.
• London has experienced the steepest decline with available roles down 26% year-on-year.
• Lawyers specialising in family law were in particular demand across the South and North East where vacancies were up 50% and 65% respectively.
• Personal Injury specialists have also been highly sought after with advertised roles up by 27% in the South West.

Lynn said, “Almost a year has passed since the UK decided to leave the EU and while we have certainly seen lawyers being less committed to a career move, the hiring picture as a whole remains generally healthy.  And while there is clearly caution around Brexit, we are also seeing a change in the recruitment strategies of our clients.  Many firms are hiring lawyers for newly created positions due to increased workloads instead of replacement hires that are associated with specialists moving between firms.  And as Brexit becomes more of a ‘business as usual’ scenario, we’re confident the ‘wait and see’ approach will pass.”

To read the piece in full click here.

For more insights from the Clayton Legal team visit our blog. And if you’re looking for a career move take a look at our vacancies here.

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Lynn Sedgwick, Managing Director of Clayton Legal, was recently featured in Totally Legal discussing the rise of the paralegal role. Here’s what she had to say:

The vast majority of you probably ended up in the legal sector through the traditional route of university and a training contract, possibly with a conversion course sandwiched somewhere in between. For the past few decades, this has been the only option if you wanted to work as a solicitor, lawyer or barrister, but that’s no longer the case thanks to the rise of the paralegal.

An alternative route

Robert Houchill made waves in 2015 by becoming the first person to qualify as a solicitor through ‘alternative means’ after working as a paralegal for four and a half years as part of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) ‘Training for Tomorrow’ programme. This initiative was launched to inject more flexibility into the routes to qualify in the profession.

The move highlights that the role of the paralegal is significantly changing. Where in the past the position was solely focused on admin support for qualified solicitors, now the distinction between the two is considerably smaller and operating as a paralegal represents a viable route into the sector for professionals who were unable to secure a training contract, for whatever reason.

The trend is still very much in its infancy, but times are changing. While less than 10% of training contracts are currently awarded to paralegals, there are some firms acting as outliers, including Trowers & Hamlin which recruited 40% of its trainee workforce from paralegals. In addition, DAC Beachcroft has given 60% of its entry level roles to existing paralegal employees.

The necessary skills

There are no definitive rules for what skills are required by paralegals as the role can vary depending on the work of the firm and what area it operates in. However, generally good organisation and administrative abilities are always highly sought after, as are research skills and the ability to communicate findings with senior professionals and qualified solicitors. Opting for this route also highlights to potential employers that you have the drive and determination to work for what you want and that you’re keen to progress in the sector.

It’s still the norm for professionals to operate as career paralegals, but the ‘alternative means’ option provides a second viable route within the sector. It’s estimated that in the next seven to ten years there will be more paralegals than solicitors and it’s highly likely that a significant chunk of qualified solicitors will be those who started off as paralegals.

Naturally, there are some doubts and some commentators have suggested that the move could potentially undermine the profession or reduce the quality of people being admitted. However, the SRA has made securing the opportunity to qualify as a solicitor a demanding process and all paralegals must prove that the experience they’ve gained equates to the requirements of recognised formal training.

It’s highly encouraging to see another route opened up into an area that has historically had rigid entry requirements. Such a move could also help to increase social mobility within the profession, a target that many firms have been struggling to meet. The success of the programme can only be judged further down the line, but the idea, and the development of the paralegal role, should be greatly welcomed.

For more tips and insights visit our blog.

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