Build Your Own Legal Business Within the Jonathan Lea Network

For experienced solicitors across Sussex and beyond, there’s never been a better time to take control of your career.

The Jonathan Lea Network (JLN), a full-service law firm headquartered in Haywards Heath, is expanding its network of consultant solicitors — offering experienced lawyers the opportunity to work independently, own and grow their own client base, build their own team and significantly increase their earnings within a supportive, forward-thinking firm.

From Consultant to Founder

JLN’s founder, Jonathan Lea, has a unique perspective on the consultant model, having spent several years as a consultant solicitor himself before establishing JLN as a regulated law firm in 2019.

“Working as a consultant solicitor allowed me to build my own team, grow my client base, and increase revenue and profit, all while enjoying flexibility and autonomy,” Lea explains. “I created JLN to make that experience even better for others — by providing the systems, support, and culture that help consultants thrive.”

A Proven Hybrid Model

When JLN began, Jonathan was joined initially by consultant solicitors he worked with at his last firm. While these consultants have remained with JLN over the last few years, much of the firm’s growth since has instead come through employing solicitors, trainee solicitors and paralegals at its Haywards Heath HQ. Throughout, JLN has operated a successful hybrid structure, combining the collaboration of an in-office team with the flexibility of a distributed consultant network.

Now, with a strong infrastructure and brand reputation in place, the firm is launching a campaign to bring in new consultant solicitors to complement its employed team and meet rising demand.

Freedom With Support

Becoming a consultant solicitor with the Jonathan Lea Network offers the independence and opportunity of self-employment without the isolation and overheads of running your own regulated firm. Consultants are freed up to focus on managing their own clients and workload.

JLN handles all regulatory, compliance, and administrative burdens, including professional indemnity insurance, billing, IT systems, and client onboarding, leaving consultants free to focus on client work and growth.

The firm also offers a market-leading fee share of up to 85% for consultants billing over £150,000 annually (subject to practice area), ensuring that high performers are properly rewarded. The JLN fee share otherwise starts at 70% for consultants doing work for their own clients.

Cutting-Edge Technology

JLN prides itself on combining legal expertise with innovation. The firm uses the latest, user-friendly systems, including Clio (and Legl) for case management, client onboarding, billing, and compliance, to make processes as seamless as possible for both clients and consultants.

Over the past year, JLN has also integrated powerful enterprise-level generative AI tools into almost every aspect of its work, from administrative tasks to legal drafting. This has dramatically improved efficiency, quality, and turnaround times, creating what Lea describes as “an infectious culture of innovation and development.”

From speaking with consultants who also work for larger virtual firms, Lea says JLN’s infrastructure “is second to none — faster, smoother, and better supported than anything else in the market.”

Build and Lead Your Own Team

Some consultants join JLN because they no longer wish to run their own regulated firm, with all the overheads and compliance headaches that entails. At JLN, they can enjoy the benefits of independence while the firm takes care of insurance, systems, and back-office functions.

Otherwise, many ambitious solicitors who want to leave employment join us as consultants so that they can build and manage their own teams — employing via JLN their own solicitors or trainee solicitors exclusively within their practice — giving them the opportunity to scale revenue and profits well beyond what’s possible in traditional partnerships.

National and International Reach

Although JLN’s roots are proudly in Sussex, the network’s reach is nationwide — and increasingly global. Consultants are based across the UK and beyond, including in the Isle of Wight, Spain, Monaco and Switzerland. The firm’s technology-driven approach means location is no barrier to success or collaboration.

A Culture That Encourages Success

Unlike some virtual law firms where consultants operate in isolation, JLN fosters genuine connection and teamwork. The firm’s employed team at its Haywards Heath HQ provides daily support to consultants, and there is a strong flow of cross-referrals and shared knowledge between all members.

“We’ve built a culture that values entrepreneurship and collaboration,” says Lea. “Our consultants are their own bosses, but they’re never alone. They can focus on growing their practices, knowing that our systems, team, and reputation are working alongside them.”

Who Should Apply

JLN welcomes applications from solicitors with at least three years’ post-qualification experience, ideally with their own client following or strong business development skills. The firm is particularly interested in those practising in property, private client, corporate, dispute resolution, employment, or family law.

For the right lawyers, the model offers a rare combination of freedom, income potential, and infrastructure — the ability to own and grow a practice while enjoying the strength and credibility of an established firm.

A Smarter Way to Work

The consultant model is transforming how lawyers practise, offering flexibility, higher rewards, and a better quality of life. The Jonathan Lea Network stands out for marrying that freedom with exceptional support, advanced technology, and a culture of innovation.

For experienced solicitors ready to take charge of their future — to build something of their own while being part of a modern, ambitious firm — joining JLN could be the smartest move you ever make.

For more information about becoming a consultant solicitor with the Jonathan Lea Network, visit www.jonathanlea.net or email diana.garzon@jonathanlea.net.