By Kirstie Penk
I am Director and co-owner of The Legal Director (TLD) – a business that provides SMEs and mid-sized corporates with access to their own experienced in-house lawyer on a flexible basis. In my role at TLD, I focus on new client acquisition (sales and marketing) so that we can keep our team of 40+ in-house lawyers as busy as they want to be.
And at this stage of my career, I feel fortunate to be able to say that I am doing something I enjoy. My job plays to my strengths and I’m good at it. I find it fulfilling and challenging but not all-consuming. I have plenty of interests outside work and family and friends that I like to spend time with.
I appreciate I’m lucky, but I didn’t just fall into this position. I started my legal career on a training contract with Watson Farley & Williams in 1991 and realised very quickly that private practice wasn’t for me. I qualified in commercial property but found the work uninteresting and couldn’t identify anybody in a senior position whose career or lifestyle I found aspirational or inspirational.
So, despite some opposition and a lot of raised eyebrows, I left the prestigious world of private practice and moved in-house. I became the sole lawyer in EMEA of Madge Networks in 1994 and had a baptism of fire when I got to grips with the variety, the responsibility and the commercial knowledge that it takes to be a General Counsel. As there was no precedent for this job at the company, I was able to carve out a role that I loved and that I could see benefiting the business.
I went on to be co-owner and thrived meeting the challenges that running a business throws up. The liquidation of that business in 2006 while I was on maternity leave left me with an option that I never expected to have: I could get another GC role, or we could relocate back to Yorkshire and, with dramatically reduced living costs, I could take some time out to be a full-time mum.
Fast forward three more years by which time my daughter was almost four and my son 18 months old and I was thinking about what my next career move should be. In 2009, I joined TLD, first as a Client Legal Director and then as a member of the board and co-owner. I took a step back from fee earning client work in 2017, something I never thought I would do, but which I don’t miss one bit.
I have learnt a lot during my career, and if I were going to pass on my advice to somebody starting at the beginning, my top tips would be:
Be flexible
If things aren’t working, change. That is not to say you should give up at the first set-back but if you are pursuing a path that you know is not right for you, look at other options. It is important to trust your own instincts. Nobody knows yourself better than you. Work hard and be prepared to take risks.
Work with the right people
I am a sociable person and work best when I’m surrounded by people who I respect, who challenge my perceptions and whose skills and experience bring additional and different benefits to the team. Never stop learning and be prepared to take advice. Also, don’t burn bridges – you’re in work a long time and don’t know what the future holds.
Discover what motivates you
I have invested considerable time finding out what makes me tick. After some soul searching and professional coaching, I have learnt that I value independence and variety and yet need to have contact with people. If you prioritise what you enjoy and your skills, you are more likely to do better.
Give back
When I started my career, I had nobody to look up to. The few women I saw in senior roles seemed to have sacrificed everything to get where they were and either didn’t want to, or felt they couldn’t, give support to the young women following in their footsteps. It is important to me to be a role model and a mentor. I don’t want to pull the ladder up behind me and feel proud I am a part of a business that facilitates a work/life balance and values the skills and experience that a life outside law brings. So, if you’re in a position to empower those around you, do so, and enjoy the successes of those you’ve helped.
These are the key lessons I’ve learned. Please do let me know what your career has taught you. And if you’d like to learn more about The Legal Director, explore our website or get in touch on 020 3056 8538 or email: info@thelegaldirector.co.uk
