A lawyer who set up a successful consultancy firm despite suffering chronic stress, is now helping others in the legal profession to do the same.

Having spent ten years as a self-employed consultant solicitor, Hannah Beko has decided to write a book – The Authentic Lawyer – and is helping set up a new work campaign designed to help lawyers work smarter, not harder.

Hannah said: “I loved being a business owner, but I was starting to fall out of love with being a lawyer.  I worked long hours, didn’t turn down any work and had no boundaries with demanding clients.”

She managed to buy her dream home and car and had three children – but then realised she had all the symptoms of chronic stress.

“I wasn’t living the dream anymore, but I couldn’t afford to reduce my income because of buying my dream house,” she added. “After investing in my own training, mentoring and business support groups, I started to learn how to create the consultancy business I wanted to run rather than giving it up as I’d expected I would.

“I learned to delegate.  When it failed the first time, I picked myself up and tried again.  I started charging properly and sacking clients who didn’t pay or were overly rude!  I gradually imposed boundaries around my time, money and the use of my expertise.”

Now Hannah is sharing her experience and knowledge in her new role as head of mission at Legal Studio.

She said: “I love learning from other business owners and also realised that lawyers didn’t really know that such support existed, or where to reach out for it.  I created various courses, trainings and qualified as a coach to support lawyers in firstly identifying and then going on to create the life and business that they want to have.”

Legal Studio director Matt Dowell has been creating a place for consultant lawyers to call home and so Hannah’s idea merged well, allowing them to join forces.

Matt said: “We are delighted to have Hannah join us to help deliver on the Legal Studio brand promise of helping lawyers to enjoy work. Reflecting on my own personal motivations, top of the list for me at the moment are freedom, control and financial security. This is what we want to deliver for all of the Legal Studio family and I know that Hannah will help us deliver that.”

Litigation solicitor Ian added: “Legal Studio exists to help lawyers enjoy work. We’re honoured to have Hannah join us to further that mission.  I can’t wait to work with Hannah to further support our team to build legal businesses and lives that they enjoy. I’m also particularly excited by the upcoming launch of the Legal Studio Academy which will empower our team, old and new, to do just that.”