For many solicitors, the idea of becoming a sole practitioner represents more than just professional independence.
It’s about taking ownership of your work, shaping your career path, and building something your own.
Running your own law firm can be deeply rewarding, but it also carries real responsibility. For some, it may feel overwhelming, which is why becoming a Legal Consultant offers the best of both worlds.
In this blog, we will explore what it takes to become a traditional sole practitioner, the common challenges, and why legal consultancy with Taylor Rose might offer a more flexible and supported route forward to your independence. Offering you a different path to the same goal!
What Is a Sole Practitioner?
A sole practitioner is a solicitor who runs their own law firm and is authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to provide legal services independently. As a sole practitioner, you take on the full scope of responsibilities: delivering legal work, managing compliance, handling finances, marketing, and
mitigating risk.
It can be incredibly rewarding, especially for solicitors who want to serve their own client base, build a unique brand, and work entirely on their own terms. However, it is also a route that comes with regulatory complexity, commercial and financial risk.
Requirements to Become a Sole Practitioner
To set up your own law firm as a sole practitioner, you must:
- Hold a current practising certificate.
- Apply for SRA authorisation as a recognised sole practice (unless you’re exempt).
- Secure appropriate professional indemnity insurance (PII).
- Meet all compliance and regulatory obligations, including having systems in place for file management, conflict checks, data protection, client money handling, and complaints.
- Be ready to manage or outsource non-legal business functions, such as marketing, bookkeeping, and IT support.
In short: you are not just practising law; you are running a business, which can be both exciting and demanding.
The Challenges of Going Solo
While becoming a sole practitioner can sound appealing, it is important to consider the realities:
- Cost: PII premiums, SRA application fees, IT infrastructure, marketing, and general overheads can quickly add up.
- Time: You are responsible for every aspect of the business, both legal and administrative.
- Risk: Without colleagues or support systems, you’re fully liable for compliance breaches, complaints, and business continuity issues.
- Isolation: It can feel lonely to practise completely independently, especially without professional peers to collaborate with.
- These challenges don’t make the dream impossible, but they do mean it is worth thinking carefully about when and how to take that step.
Why Legal Consultancy Is your different path to the same goal with Taylor Rose
Becoming a consultant solicitor offers many of the freedoms that come with being a sole practitioner but with less risk, lower overheads, and access to vital support.
As a consultant solicitor at Taylor Rose, you can:
- Work for yourself without needing to apply for SRA authorisation independently
- Keep up to 75% of your billings while the firm handles compliance, indemnity insurance, marketing,
and admin
- Choose your clients, control your caseload, and set your own hours
- Avoid the upfront financial burden of starting your own firm
Consultancy allows you to grow your client base, refine your systems, and get used to running your own practice while benefiting from the stability of a nationally recognised, award winning, top 60 law firm behind you.
Setting up as a sole practitioner is a bold and admirable move for solicitors ready to fully own their career path. But it’s a big decision, and not one to be rushed.
Becoming as a consultant solicitor gives you the best of both worlds: independence with support, growth without unnecessary risk, and the chance to build your brand with greater confidence.
At Taylor Rose, we support hundreds of consultant solicitors and legal professional across the UK, giving them the platform, support, and freedom to thrive.
If you’re considering the next step toward independence, we are here to help.
Reach out to our Consultant Recruitment Team today to learn how consultancy could be the right foundation for your future.