Career series: Alice Stephenson, Stephenson Law
Tell us about the course of your career.
On completing my legal practice course in 2009, I spent the next eight years working for a number of law firms, after which I founded my own firm, Stephenson Law. I was hell bent on defining a new way of approaching law and creating a firm that bridged the gap in a law firm's understanding of the challenges that clients face.
With that in mind, I founded a business that ditched legal jargon, archaic traditions, and outdated processes and, in doing so, created a place that felt like home.
Four years on and we’ve grown to more than 30 staff, all focused on innovating the world of law. This led to the launch of Flamenco, Stephenson Law’s sister business, a legal tech platform to offer accessible legal support to startups.
Outline a typical day in your role.
I’ve been running my own business for more than four years, and no two days have been the same. Despite being the founder I’m still very hands-on, and as a result my days are extremely colourful.
Whether it’s discussing a tricky IP issue with the legal team, or joining forces with my marketing team, each day requires me to be agile. My role spans a range of teams, and flits between strategy and writing, to long-term project management.
What are the best parts about your job?
When founding Stephenson Law I wanted to challenge what it meant to be a lawyer in the modern age. The legal industry suffers because of an age-old stereotype: the grey-faced amoral suited and booted solicitor.
My job revolves around challenging that and as a result, my work can be highly creative. My team and I push boundaries, we innovate, we challenge our peers, and we reap the rewards of our efforts.
I’ve been contacted by a host of aspiring lawyers and qualified solicitors alike who have found our mission inspiring. Knowing we’re proving that there is “another way” is phenomenally rewarding.
What is the most difficult part?
Entrepreneurship is no walk in the park, especially if you’ve decided to go against the grain. Challenging legal tradition is an uphill battle and, as an ambitious scale-up, our team shares an almost personal mission to do better by the next generation of lawyers.
Setbacks can be felt greatly by such a (relatively) small team and as the founder of the business, it falls to me to keep the team’s motivation afloat when the going gets tough. Sometimes that means difficult conversations and a strain on resources, and sometimes it simply means going back to the drawing board and starting again.
