Consultant Details
Sophie Linley
Director
Who am I and what can I do for you?
I am a Director based in the Leeds office and have been working as a legal recruiter since 2013. I have experience both here in the UK and internationally, facilitating career moves for lawyers from NQ right through to Partner and General Counsel level. I work with law firms and in house teams (predominantly across Yorkshire and North East) to help them attract and retain lawyers across the full remit of legal disciplines. My clients include major international, national and regional law firms, boutique / specialist legal practices, major brand name corporates and growing start-up businesses looking to build legal teams from scratch. I also manage a team of fantastic consultants who work across the North of England and the Midlands. I am always happy to chat about the market and offer insights and advice!
What team are you part of, and what is the best thing about your team?
I lead our Leeds based Private Practice team – a wonderful group of recruitment professionals with expertise on Solicitor recruitment across the private practice legal markets in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East. Despite sitting in our practice division, I am also involved in a significant amount of in-house recruitment and thoroughly enjoy my involvement on both sides of the fence. The best thing about my team is just that – we are a team and are always supportive of each other and willing to help each other out.
5 words that describe me?
Dependable, approachable, loyal, resilient, and kind.
What else should you know about me?
I started my legal recruitment career with Sacco Mann in 2013, fresh off the back of a law degree. After three years with the business, I headed off to Australia and spent two years with Ablethorpe Recruitment in Melbourne, placing lawyers into roles in Private Practice and in house, nationally across Australia. After an amazing few years in Aus, I returned to the UK in 2020 and a return to Sacco Mann was a no brainer. I think my experience working in international markets and my understanding of both in house and private practice legal recruitment, gives me a unique perspective and insight which helps when advising clients and candidates.
A memorable event, day or memory at Sacco Mann?
There have been far too many to name over the years! From hiking the 3 peaks for charity to countless social and networking events to all of the hundreds (probably more like thousands) of wonderful lawyers we’ve worked with to find great new roles – there’s never a dull day!
- If you weren’t in this career, what else would you do and why? Anything that would keep me travelling - I have been very lucky that my recruitment career has taken me around the world and back again. If I had the pick of anything I would be looking to work with animals or revive my high school rock band for a tour!
- Hobbies: When I’m not working, you’ll find me travelling or enjoying lots of live music and quality time with my wife – generally with either a coffee or a craft beer in hand.
Sophie was super efficient and her attention to detail was great. She contacted me about potential roles very quickly after my initial enquiry and got me a position in the area of law that I wanted to go into. She handled the whole process seamlessly and was great when it came to any questions I had or any worries. Her communication was great, and she responded to emails and texts extremely quickly, providing peace of mind during the process. I cannot recommend her enough and I am super excited to start in my new role in September. Thank you Sophie!
Sophie and the team at Sacco Mann took on a challenge with me. I wasn't the typical NQ off the shelf, I had a different background to most and whilst the legal world was still recovering from the financial crisis I was trying to get back into a commercial role having not worked in it for years - impossible! What stood Sophie and Sacco Mann apart is that they got to know me and understood what role would be right for me (even if I didn't know it myself at the time!) then worked hard to find it - a personal service unique to them from my experiences. Sophie never stopped believing in me and finally I landed what I can only describe as my dream job both in terms of firm and role. What is interesting is finding out from my new boss that had I not been introduced by Sacco Mann I wouldn't have been shortlisted for interview - that's the difference that having the backing of a well-respected consultant has. I honestly and whole-heartedly cannot recommend Sophie and the whole team more highly
Sophie really took the time to understand what I was looking for and went out of her way to assist, and then to stay in touch and provide me with useful information and advice throughout my career to date. Sophie made sure I was comfortable and gave me time to make decisions. Thanks so much for being so great Sophie and for helping me find the perfect role!