The Flex Legal blog

Discover how UK law firms can improve lawyer utilisation, boost retention, and future-proof their resourcing strategies. Based on insights from over 90 legal professionals, this report from Flex Legal and The Lawyer explores the challenges of traditional models and offers practical solutions for sustainable legal team success.

Resourcing strategy is a top priority for law firms. It varies based on your firm's goals and focuses on delivering client work efficiently. Read on to learn more.

Ever wondered about the difference between eDiscovery and document review? Or puzzled over what it means to 'tag' a document? These are common questions for those stepping into the legal world. With the rise of AI, these processes are becoming faster and more precise, making them essential in today’s legal practice. Read this blog to discover everything you need to know.

This definitive guide for litigation teams and senior litigators alike features actionable guidance, based on wisdom imparted from two seasoned group litigators; Ibukun Alabi and Elina Landsman, that will constructively better your practice and improve client service levels.

7 Years, 60 Projects, 420 Paralegals. Since opening their Manchester Hub in 2017, Flex and Freshfields have worked hand-in-hand to confidently navigate the ever-changing landscape of the legal sector. With the support of Flex Paralegals, the Freshfields' Hub have been able to flexibly scale-up (and down) their legal workforce. Read the full story here.

Julia joined the Flex Legal platform towards the end of 2021 on the lookout for a remote, real estate role. Within three days, we found her the perfect position at DWF and since then, she's thrived on a second placement at BCLP. Take a read to see what she has to say about working as an interim lawyer through Flex!

Melissa Kelly and Deborah Baxter founded TMFLC with the aim of doing things better. This people-first approach aligns strongly with our mission at Flex Legal. So, as you can expect, when Melissa and Deborah approached Flex in July 2021 looking for an interim paralegal, we were delighted to help.

Application season is well underway! If you're looking to break into a career in law, you're going to have to contend with open days sooner or later. Here are our top tips for getting the most out of them, and how to make a great impression!

The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) came into effect on 1 September 2021, with the first round of SQE 1 exams commencing in November 2021. This blog article highlights the SRA’s transitional arrangements and 12 city law firms’ approaches to the SQE.

With the SQE examinations rapidly approaching, it's wise to be thinking about the flexibility of the QWE requirements on offer. Read this article to learn more about your QWE, and how to get the most out of your SQE qualification!

We put some of YOUR burning questions about law firm assessment centres to two brilliant legal professionals - Jess Heap, ofLatham & Watkins LLP, and Chloe Lloyd of Gowling WLG. Read what they had to say!

Starting your legal career is the hardest part of the journey. We recently hosted a virtual careers session to get expert opinions on what works and what doesn’t when it comes to applications and assessment days. Read what they had to say now!

Navigating the high-volume demands of litigation requires more than just a robust legal strategy – it demands a carefully structured resourcing model that balances efficiency, quality, and scalability. As specialists in flexible legal support, we’ve seen how the right resourcing approach can make or break a firm’s success. Here are some actionable tips for volume claims law firms to optimise their workforce.

In today’s dynamic legal landscape, flexibility and adaptability are no longer just buzzwords—they are essential for success. Legal teams are constantly grappling with the challenge of balancing workloads, meeting client demands, and staying ahead of emerging trends. One of the most innovative and effective ways some law firms are meeting these challenges is by tapping into their alumni network. Read on to find out more.

In recent years, public inquiries have become a cornerstone of the UK's legal landscape. But what exactly are they, why do they matter, and do they actually lead to meaningful change? In this blog, we aim to answer these questions, shedding light on how public inquiries work, their impact, and how legal professionals can engage with this type of work.

This report casts a light on some best practice rules for working with litigation funders. With direct input from the investment team at Therium, a leading global litigation finance firm, we present inside knowledge on how to work effectively with funders.

Tony, a commercial solicitor with four and a half years' PQE, came to Flex Legal in June on the lookout for a new challenge. Keen to diversify and broaden his legal experience, he's adapted to an entirely new industry whilst on an interim placement at a global automotive company. Take a read to hear all about his experience of using Flex.

Document review is a bread and butter task within the paralegal world. As a legal professional, the importance of having a good grasp of document review cannot be overstated. Read our comprehensive guide to paralegal-level document review here!

Dan Kayne is Founder of the O Shaped Lawyer, and a GC at Network Rail. In this episode of the podcast, he talks with Louise Anderson about how and why he wants to make the legal industry more human-centric.

In this podcast episode, Mary is joined by Catie Sheret, General Counsel at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. They have a chat about getting the best of your legal team, managing people during the age of hybrid working, how in-house lawyers can demonstrate value to their organisations, and more!

Law firms aren't just places where the rule of law is argued for, they are also businesses. Each law firm needs to operate profitably, and everyone in the firm plays their part in this. Learn how law firms work as a business here!

There's a lot of key differences to working and training in-house or in private practice. There's a number of cultural differences between both, which affects what it's like to work in those environments. Read this article to learn which one is right for you.

We were delighted to welcome Sarah Hunt, Neil Campbell and Emma O’Connor as guest speakers at our latest Virtual Lunch in collaboration with LexisNexis and Crafty Counsel. Sarah is Head of People Development at Osborne Clarke; Neil is Managing Legal Counsel at RBS; and Emma is a Talent Development Manager at Dentons. The topic for the call centred around the key skills that junior lawyers need to succeed, with the speakers drawing on their own experiences to offer excellent insights to attendees.

When planning to bring new talent into an organisation, most employers consider salary as the main expense involved in recruitment. However, direct hiring comes with a range of hidden costs that, if overlooked, can have a significant impact on a company’s budget and resources. Understanding these costs can help businesses make informed hiring decisions and even consider alternative solutions like Flex Legal.

In recent years, the way people work within the legal sector has undergone a major transformation. Whether it’s the systems used, or how firms structure their talent acquisition strategy, it’s clear that the traditional legal industry has evolved and adapted to thrive in the modern age. But what is the difference between an FTC and interim contract? And how do you choose the right option for you? Take a read to find out more.

Discover how inclusive hiring, mentorship, and training can transform the legal profession. Our latest report explores strategies to break down barriers, boost diversity, and drive innovation. Learn how top firms are fostering social mobility. Download the report now and build a more equitable, high-performing legal team.

After three years of growth, Flex Legal’s award-winning Flex Trainee scheme is now launching in the boutique law firm space. Flex Trainee is a unique social mobility scheme, designed to empower legal teams to take on trainees and grow their own talent in-house where they may not previously have had the resources or processes in place to do so.

Inclusion is everything. Studies have repeatedly shown that higher workplace inclusion directly contributes to increased productivity, wellbeing, and staff retention. Flex Legal are proud of the reputation we have built in this space, and now want to share our insights with the wider legal industry.

With 'blame culture', unreasonable pressure and impossible deadlines being seen across the legal industry, change is needed now more than ever. But what changes need to be made? For the latest instalment of our Junior Lawyer Lunches we tried to answer this very question.

Kiran Radhakrishnan is Head of Norton Rose Fulbright's Newcastle Hub, and NRF Transform (EMEA). He sits down with Mary Bonsor to discuss legal trainee schemes, how they're looking to shape the industry, and the opportunities and challenges ahead of them.

Runnymede Law is a specialist law firm providing affordable dispute resolution and claims handling services to insurers and other clients. Read all about how we've responded to their quick turnarounds and helped to ease their busy workload.

When you're a junior in the legal industry, it can be daunting to make sense of the hierarchies at work within them. Fortunately, we've broken law firm structures down into an easily digestible guide. Have a read!

The Flex platform is designed to pair the right paralegals to the right opportunities. This is exactly what happened with Armand Derri and Schroders. Read more about how this pairing happened here!

A few weeks ago, we were delighted to welcome Ehsan Haque and Daniel Morgan as guest speakers at our Virtual GC Session in collaboration with LexisNexis and Radius Law. Ehsan is the Global Head of Legal and Compliance at Hamilton Capital, and Daniel is Managing Partner at Haines Watts. The topic for the call surrounded the second wave of COVID-19 and its potential impacts on businesses.