Aviation Consultancy with Ali Agah
In this episode of Legal Tea, Ali Agah describes in fascinating detail his role as a consultant at the aviation consultancy, Helios. During the course of his law studies, Ali was inspired by a module on ‘Law and the Business Environment’ to explore a career which combined his passion for the law with his keen interest in business. From helping coordinate national supervisory authorities to advising on the impact of climate change on industry stakeholders, it’s clear that Ali’s career choice opened up a wealth of exciting new opportunities. So, could this path also be right for you?
As a law student, you might not have previously considered a job as a consultant. As Ali shows, the fundamental role of a consultant is very similar to that of a solicitor; you have a client with a problem and it’s your job to get them where they want to be through research and analysis. The advantage of consultancy is that you get to combine this role with the dynamism of a business environment. You might be aiding supervisory authorities with the implementation of regulation or helping companies navigate regulations, but at every stage the legal considerations need to be balanced against business concerns, such as pricing, budgeting or timelines.
When it comes to consultancy, you’re probably already familiar with the Big Four: Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC. But, despite what you career advisors might tell you, it’s important to remember that these aren’t your only options. Ali describes a number of advantages of working at a smaller firm. From forging closer personal and professional connections, to more direct interactions with the directors, to really feeling you’re making a tangible, personal impact on projects, the more intimate nature of companies like Helios facilitate greater professional development and, more importantly, satisfaction. Working at places like this can be incredibly empowering. And smaller doesn’t mean less important – you’ll still do incredibly important work and have the opportunity to work on big projects working for companies outside of the Big Four.
That said, you might need to do a bit more groundwork to actually find these companies. Sadly, when it comes to consultancy, you’re going to have to do a lot of your own research. As the role and degree of specialism required of a consultant can vary greatly, it’s important that you explore as many avenues as possible. The good news is that, once you’ve found a few places which look like a good fit for you, the job application process is likely to be a lot more straightforward than for roles in corporate law or at the Big Four.
So, now you’re convinced and have decided on becoming a consultant at the end of your studies – great! But what do you need to do to get there? What are the major skills you should be looking to develop? Technical skills and feeling comfortable working with data are critical, but these don’t tend to be covered in detail over the course of a law degree. Consider seeking out those courses or modules which do touch upon the business side of things but be prepared to go further. Seek out your university’s professional societies and make use of free online courses in data analytics. However, don’t lose sight of the core, foundational skills which a law degree teaches you. You can gain an awful lot of business knowledge on the job but it’s your analytical mindset and your ability to think through problems methodically that will be really attractive to potential employers. After all, as Ali says:
“Management consultancy firms like the way that law students think, but love the way business students know”
Sell the skills you have, do some research and demonstrate a willingness to learn and you’ll be well on your way to a career as a consultant. To help get you there, here are our top 3 tips:
Sell the skills you’ve developed as a law student. The way you’re taught to think as a lawyer is an incredible asset that is often under-appreciated by law students taking a different path. People who can think critically are valuable to companies so don’t be afraid to talk about this and emphasis how invaluable your analytic mind will be to the business.
Be proactive in filling gaps in your knowledge. It’s also important to recognise the gaps you do have in your skill-set. Nobody can be an expert in everything but employers will be impressed if they can see that you’ve been proactive in expanding your knowledge and filling these gaps. Even free online courses can go a long way to developing a business mindset and demonstrating a willingness to adapt and learn.
Do your research. There are a many consultancy firms of varying sizes and specialisms out there, so don’t let your search to just the Big Four. They may sometimes be harder to find, but smaller companies can often offer you a greater amount of satisfaction and personal involvement in key projects. And casting a wider net can only increase your chances of landing your dream job in consulting.
