Meet our In-House Division

(Left to Right - Steve, Rachel, Sarah & Claire) 

Moving In-house has typically proven to be an extremely popular option for some lawyers, especially those who have traditionally come from a non-contentious or company commercial background. Joining the busy legal department of an organisation is often seen as a way into a business and commerce and a slight move away from black letter law.  

We have witnessed several changes in market trends over the last decade or so and our recruitment team have very long standing client relationships, including significant repeat business with both major players in the industry as well as some smaller organisations you perhaps have yet to hear of.
 

Meet the team who can help you…

Steve Shakespeare:

What is your role? 
I am the Industry “guru” and work exclusively placing legal professionals In-House, however I can also help with market intelligence, trends and salary information. It’s not always about moving roles…. 

Get in touch if you are considering a switch or a return, or just if you fancy a general chat about types of department, expectations and prospects. 

What has been your most interesting job? 
I’m originally from Blackpool many moons ago and the range of seasonal jobs were often a fairly eclectic mix. From deputy drumming at a Working Men’s club, to dressing up in a shark costume, coaxing people on the promenade to come into the Sea Life Centre. However, the role that seems to generate the most interest is being a “Spook” in the Haunted House, which basically involved hiding in the dark and jumping out at people dressed as a mad-monk………beats washing pots and stacking shelves, in which I am equally experienced!

James Barker:

What is your role?
I am a Principal Consultant based in the Manchester office. I work within the In-House and Private Practice divisions and recruit Solicitors into permanent roles across the North West. I tend to specialise in mid to senior level roles however have placed candidates from NQ to Partner / GC level including several London relocators.

If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?
The ability to teleport, mainly from the office to the beach... preferably Thailand / Caribbean rather than Blackpool (sorry Steve, purely based on the weather).


Rachel Molloy:

What is your role?
I work across two teams here at Sacco Mann – I split my time between our In-House team, helping Qualified Solicitors from NQ up to General Counsel level to move within industries in the North East, working with everyone from FTSE 100 businesses, through to local companies. I also work in our Patent and Trade Mark division where I work with Attorneys across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Mr Brightside by The Killers. People can’t help but sing along which drowns out my terrible singing!


Sarah Murray:

What is your role?
I specialise in interim recruitment securing roles for high-quality legal professionals on a temporary basis across a variety of sectors within industry. I work closely with brands in the North West, North East, Midlands and Yorkshire. For clients I’m here to provide a short-term solution when the need arises such as to cover maternity leave, permanent vacancies or for a specialist project, for example. I ensure that every interim Solicitor or Paralegal we place is fully vetted including references and right to work. 

I support interim legal professionals by connecting them to their next opportunity within our established network. My approach is consultative, so I frequently work on a proactive basis to find candidates their ideal next role.  

What is your favourite city?
I have so many it’s hard to choose but the current front runner is Barcelona. I absolutely love the food and wine, it’s a beautiful city with so much culture. The beach and vast shopping opportunities is a bonus.


Claire Morgan:

What is your role?
The In-house job market is an extremely interesting one encompassing a vast variety of businesses who require Lawyers. I support the Consultants and ensure the smooth running of the division, so whatever assistance is needed I can help. I thoroughly enjoy catching up with existing candidates and registering new ones and finding out what their ideal next role needs to look like. Other day to day responsibilities include, writing and posting adverts, arranging interviews and covering holidays. 

What do you do to turn things around when you’re having a bad day?
I’m mostly a ‘glass half full’ sort of person but if I am having one of those days, I find that going to my happy place in my head (don’t we all have one?) works a treat. As does, eating a little bit of dark chocolate, taking some deep breaths, smiling at strangers, running somewhere or doing a good deed all help to gain a bit of perspective.