Legal Consultant
What is a legal consultant?
A legal consultant is someone who provides expert advice and guidance on legal matters to individuals, businesses, or organizations.
What does a legal consultant do?
Usually, a legal consultant does the following:
- Advises clients on legal issues and provides recommendations and solutions
- Conducts legal research to support their advice and opinions
- Assists with drafting legal documents, such as contracts or agreements
- Represents clients in negotiations or disputes
- Keeps up-to-date with changes in laws and regulations
What does the day-to-day life of a legal consultant look like?
A legal consultant typically works between 9am and 5pm, though the hours may vary depending on the firm or organization they work for. They may be required to attend meetings with clients, conduct research, draft legal documents, and communicate with other legal professionals. Some legal consultants may also have to travel to meet clients or appear in court.
Where does a legal consultant work?
Legal consultants can work in various settings, including:
- Law firms: Many legal consultants work within law firms, either as independent contractors or as part of a team, providing specialized advice to clients.
- Corporate companies: Some companies have in-house legal consultants who provide legal advice and support to the company on various matters.
- Government agencies: Legal consultants may work for government departments or agencies, providing legal advice and support on issues related to their area of expertise.
- Non-profit organizations: Some non-profit organizations may hire legal consultants to address legal matters specific to their industry.
What tools/software/hardware does a legal consultant use?
A legal consultant uses a variety of tools, including:
- Legal research databases: These include resources such as LexisNexis, Westlaw, or Bloomberg Law to conduct legal research and access legal documents.
- Legal case management software: These tools, like Clio or MyCase, help legal consultants organize and manage their caseload, track deadlines, and store client information.
- Document drafting software: Legal consultants use software such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat to draft legal documents and contracts.
What do I need to become a legal consultant?
There are a number of ways you can become a legal consultant, including:
- Law degree: You can obtain a law degree (LLB) by studying at a university and then pursue further qualifications, such as a Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), to specialize in a particular area of law.
- Legal work experience: Gaining work experience in a law firm or legal department can help you develop the necessary skills and knowledge to become a legal consultant.
- Professional qualifications: Some legal consultants may pursue additional qualifications, such as becoming a Chartered Legal Executive (CILEx) or a member of a professional body like The Law Society or The Bar Council.
What career paths are available?
There are a number of career paths available to you as a legal consultant, including:
- Senior Legal Consultant: With experience and expertise, you can progress to more senior positions within the legal consultancy field.
- Partner in a Law Firm: Legal consultants can work their way up to becoming a partner in a law firm, where they have ownership in the business and share in the profits.
- Law Firm Management: Some legal consultants may transition into management roles within law firms, where they oversee the operations and strategy of the firm.
- Legal Entrepreneur: As a legal consultant, you have the option to start your own consultancy firm and provide legal services directly to clients.
What jobs are similar to a legal consultant?
- Legal Advisor: Providing legal advice and guidance to clients.
- Compliance Officer: Ensuring that individuals or organizations abide by legal regulations and policies.
- Arbitrator or Mediator: Helping parties resolve disputes outside of court by facilitating negotiations and reaching mutually acceptable solutions.
What made you want to become a legal consultant?
How did you get your first legal consultant job?
What was the one thing that surprised you the most about being a legal consultant?
Are you a legal consultant? We want you to share your experiences with those looking to start or change their careers as a legal consultant. If you're interested, contact us at mail@calumchilds.com.