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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and grow the Legal function, managing a high-performing team and driving business development.
- Company: Join a boutique professional services firm focused on delivering quality legal, advisory, accountancy, and tax services.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, performance-related bonuses, and a range of attractive benefits.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic leadership team, making a real impact while supporting SMEs and fostering growth.
- Qualifications: 8-10 years in professional services, with strong leadership and strategic thinking skills required.
- Other info: Ideal for those who thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and are eager to drive change.
The predicted salary is between 86000 - 124000 £ per year.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead and grow the Legal function of a boutique professional services firm, delivering real value to clients, the Legal team and to the business as a whole. The firm has four core disciplines in advisory, accountancy, legal and tax, in which they deliver to clients through quality guidance and joined-up expertise.
The Director of Legal Services role is central to the success of the business and as such, sits on the Board, reports to the Managing Director and is part of the Senior Leadership team. The Legal team currently comprises three distinct departments, each headed up with a Head of Department for their different area of expertise. In order to reach their ambitious growth plans, they are looking for an experienced leader to join and create a cohesive, high-performing and profitable team.
- Corporate/Commercial
- Employment & Immigration
- Litigation/ IP & Art Law
Your primary goal is to achieve revenue and profit targets for the Legal Department through:
- Business development: Acquiring new instructions from new and existing clients
- Leading and managing the Legal team, holding them accountable for delivering on their objectives
- Billable work: Supporting clients in their growth journeys with quality legal advice
- Productivity: Maximising the potential and productivity of the team
- Strategy & Planning: Defining and delivering departmental strategy
THE REQUIREMENT
Growth-focused: You will be someone who gets a buzz from business development, has an established network of SME contacts and experience at speaking at events. They need someone who naturally embodies their values, is comfortable to represent the brand externally and is looking for a new challenge to support SMEs, the business and the team to thrive.
Quality legal expertise: Ideally you will be legally qualified and technically expert in an existing specialism (ideally Corporate or Commercial). However, your ability to diagnose clients’ requirements and apply appropriate legal and commercial solutions, delivered by you or your team, is far more important. Critically, you will have a thirst to grow and develop your department, with the capability to “rain make” through established client and SME networks. You will understand how to manage your team, the wider business, and their marketing strategy to support this activity.
Leadership: You will have experience of leading a high-functioning team and share in their belief that an open, human-centred and ambitious culture is the key to achieving great things. You will be comfortable thinking both strategically and practically, as the role will require strengths in both strategy and delivery.
Curious, Collaborative & Commercial: As a small business ourselves, we value authenticity, curiosity, collaboration and commercial thinking. You will be the main point of contact for a portfolio of their key clients and will also work closely with the other business teams to deliver the joined-up expertise that their clients look to for so a natural strength in building effective relationships will be key.
People who succeed at the firm are technically brilliant, entrepreneurial self-starters, comfortable with change and confident to capitalise on the opportunities available to drive their own growth.
REQUIRED/DESIRABLE SKILLS
- Relevant professional services experience of c8-10 yrs.
- First-hand SME experience: 5 years’ minimum experience advising fast-growth UK-based SMEs.
- Strategic thinking: Value the need for strategy and confident to course correct if needed.
- Leadership: Belief in value of a high-performance culture and experience building one.
- Resilience: With scaling comes change so the ability to manage and enjoy change is key.
- Relationship-building: Open, effective relationships with colleagues and clients crucial.
- Communication: Strong communication skills and confident having challenging conversations.
ON OFFER
Competitive annual salary (c£100k-£140k dependent on experience)
Performance-related bonus (tbc)
Plus a good range of benefits.
Contact Detail:
Martin Pooley Associates Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Legal Services
✨Tip Number 1
Network actively within the legal and SME sectors. Attend industry events, seminars, and conferences where you can meet potential clients and other professionals. Building relationships in these spaces can help you establish a strong presence and showcase your expertise.
✨Tip Number 2
Demonstrate your leadership skills by engaging with your current team or peers. Share insights on how to foster a high-performance culture and discuss strategies that have worked for you in the past. This will show your capability to lead and inspire others.
✨Tip Number 3
Familiarise yourself with the firm's core values and mission. Tailor your conversations and interactions to reflect these values, showcasing how you align with their vision and can contribute to their growth plans.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully driven business development in previous roles. Highlight your ability to identify client needs and deliver tailored legal solutions, as this will be crucial in demonstrating your fit for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Legal Services
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your relevant experience in legal services and business development. Focus on your leadership roles, achievements in managing teams, and any specific results you've delivered in previous positions.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the role and the firm. Discuss your understanding of their core disciplines and how your background aligns with their growth-focused goals. Be sure to mention your established network and experience in advising SMEs.
Showcase Leadership Experience: In your application, emphasise your leadership experience and your ability to build high-performing teams. Provide examples of how you've fostered a collaborative culture and driven strategic initiatives in past roles.
Demonstrate Business Development Skills: Highlight your experience in business development, particularly in acquiring new clients and managing relationships. Include specific examples of how you've successfully grown a legal department or contributed to revenue targets in previous positions.
How to prepare for a job interview at Martin Pooley Associates
✨Showcase Your Business Development Skills
As the role heavily focuses on business development, be prepared to discuss your previous successes in acquiring new clients and growing existing relationships. Share specific examples of how you've leveraged your network to drive revenue.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Highlight your experience in leading high-performing teams. Discuss your leadership style and how you foster a culture of accountability and collaboration within your team. Be ready to provide examples of how you've managed change effectively.
✨Emphasise Your Legal Expertise
While the firm values business acumen, they also seek quality legal expertise. Be prepared to discuss your specialism and how you've applied your legal knowledge to solve complex client issues. Show your passion for continuous learning and growth in the legal field.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
The role requires strategic thinking, so be ready to discuss your approach to defining and delivering departmental strategy. Think about how you would align the legal team's goals with the overall business objectives and be prepared to share your vision for the future.
