The first question most people have when I share that I had a longstanding career as a Lawyer before moving into recruitment is usually ‘what inspired the change?’
The answer is simple – I wanted to try and reframe the often-negative image that professionals can have of recruiters and the way they conduct business. An opinion which I must admit I shared in my legal days!
Many recruiters will say that they ‘fell into’ the industry and I certainly fell into a career in Law.
I completed my A Levels in Law, Politics and History and was dead set on studying Politics and International Relations at Uni (although my interest was more in foreign political journalism as opposed to becoming the next PM!)
I completed some work experience in a local firm of solicitors, and this sparked an interest in the industry and was the beginning of my legal career.
My first full time legal position was at Ramsdens in Huddersfield, where I initially started as a Junior Paralegal in the Conveyancing Department, working alongside an experienced Solicitor. This gave me a huge insight into the sector, especially on ‘completion Fridays’ where I was able to give the happy news to excited Buyers that they were able to collect the keys to their new home. I revelled in being able to be part of such an exciting and emotional time for those clients and decided that Conveyancing was where I would qualify.
During my time at Ramsdens, I progressed from Junior Paralegal to Licensed Conveyancer, undertaking my CLC studies alongside working at the firm and gaining my practical experience.
I stayed within the legal industry for a further 8 years, heading up teams at local, high-street firms and working as a technical lawyer within large city firms.
During this time, I often had Recruiters contact me, some were good, and some not so much!
My biggest bug bear was that, if I was in the market for a move, my requirements were often not heard, and firms were suggested to me which would obviously not be a good fit for me and not what I was looking for.
Having a good understanding of the legal industry and local firms made me think that perhaps a career in legal recruitment would be a good use of my skills, and would offer me a change in direction which, at the time, I was keen to investigate, having worked only in one industry for my whole career!
And so, I embarked into the world of recruitment, initially at a large legal recruitment agency in Manchester. They gave me the sales training I needed to be a success – I already had the industry knowledge and was able to discuss the industry, firms, and roles confidently with candidates and clients alike.
Unfortunately, a year into my journey, Covid hit, and I was a victim of the mass redundancies seen in our sector.
I worked on a consultancy basis back in Conveyancing for a few months, while keeping a look out for another recruitment position which would be a good fit, as I knew this was where my heart lie.
I then managed to secure another recruitment position within a firm specialising in Property and Conveyancing recruitment, where I stayed for a further two and a half years, progressing from Senior Recruiter to Managing Consultant and running a successful team, before joining Venatu in June this year.
I am hugely excited for the opportunity I have here, to further grow the Legal team and, hopefully change the narrative!
To contact Sarah:
T: 07784 230487
E: sarah.wilkinson@venatu.co.uk