Samantha’s Story – Life at Nexa with Samantha Downs

David Roth, People & Systems Manager

Estimated read time: 2 Minutes

Samantha’s Story – Life at Nexa with Samantha Downs

Continuing our ‘Consultants’ Stories’ series where our lawyers share their journey to becoming a consultant solicitor and joining Nexa, we caught up with Samantha Downs.

Meet the consultant…

Samantha is an experienced private client solicitor who advises across a whole range of matters, from simple wills to complex trusts and inheritance matters.

She is a fully accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly (now known as The Association of Lifetime Lawyers) and a full member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners.

Here’s what she had to say:

“I qualified as a solicitor in 2007 and worked for various traditional law firms where I got some great experience across all aspects of private client work.

I was heading up a wills and probate team at a leading East Midlands law firm, but I started to feel restricted in the way I was having to work.

Often, in traditional firms there isn’t the time and space for individual lawyers to cultivate and explore their own entrepreneurial spirit. At Nexa I’ve been able to do that, it’s all been about grasping the opportunities that are out there.

I chose to come to Nexa rather than any other legal firm or platform for a number of reasons. Of course, the support offered, the fee structure and technology platform are important, but a lot of my decision came down to gut feeling; everyone I spoke to at Nexa was straight-forward and I felt I could have a good working relationship with them as a consultant. Sometimes you just have to make a leap, and in this case my gut served me very well!

I’ve been at Nexa for nearly four years now and I’m incredibly happy here. Becoming a consultant solicitor has enabled me to do the work I love while enjoying the rewards directly, as well as giving me immense professional satisfaction dealing with my own clients.

The set-up at Nexa is highly conducive to a great work/life balance but for me that is not the primary advantage. For me, it is the freedom to operate how I want to, which really stands out.

It means that I can do the work I enjoy and want to do and give clients a really great service as a result. On the flip side I don’t have to do the work I can’t or don’t want to do. I have many great colleagues here across a very broad range of specialisms who can assist me and with whom I’m very happy to work.

To any lawyers considering becoming self-employed I would say don’t be afraid to start talking to people just to find out what is out there and how things could be different for you. There’s no obligation and (certainly at Nexa) no hard sell, you’ve got nothing to lose by gathering information on the alternatives!

My only regret is not doing it sooner (and I know I am not the only consultant here who feels like that).

Want to find out more?

If you’re interested in finding out a bit more detail about life as a consultant lawyer and what we can offer you at Nexa, check out our careers pages here or, have a look at our brochure. For a confidential, no obligation chat, contact David Roth.