This month marks a special milestone for us at Realm: we’re officially 10 years old. From our beginnings in 2015 to becoming one of the regions’ most trusted legal talent consultancies, it’s been quite a journey.
The idea for Realm came from a conversation with one of our long-standing clients, Michael Jefferies. As our Managing Director Duane Cormell puts it: “He actually suggested the idea in the first place. I don’t think the younger version of me ever imagined we’d become the business we have – or that we’d have supported well over 1,000 lawyers in finding the right roles for them.”
Helping that many legal professionals make career moves they’re proud of is something we take huge pride in. But placements are just the start. At Realm, we’ve always believed that happy people drive successful businesses – and it’s that belief that continues to guide our work with law firms, our support for the lawyers we represent, and how we’ve built our own team.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is our retention of some of our most key and influential team members,” says Duane. “The fact that they’ve chosen to build their careers here means the world.”
In 2021, we hit a big milestone, more than doubling our previous best turnover and breaking the £1 million barrier. As Duane recalls, “That was a real key moment where we realised: we’re a real business now, and we’re heading in a good direction.”
More recently, we’ve continued to grow and thrive, even in a tougher economic climate. That resilience has come down to deliberate decisions about culture and values – and a team that truly believes in what we’re building together. “We’ve found our way,” says Duane. “That’s given everyone in the team a great deal of confidence about where we’re going.”
We’re also incredibly grateful to the law firms that have partnered with us over the years. “Some we’ve placed multiple lawyers with and helped grow significantly. Others we’ve helped once, but in every case, we’re genuinely grateful. Without them, we wouldn’t have a purpose to exist.”
Looking ahead, there’s lots to be excited about: expanding our team, broadening the range of specialist legal practice areas we cover, and deepening our reach across the North West, Yorkshire and the West Midlands. More importantly, we’ll continue our mission to be the best possible place to work, supporting our people to grow and thrive.
“Thank you to everyone who’s been part of our story so far,” says Duane. “I really, really appreciate the role that every person who’s been involved in Realm, one way or another over the years, has played in getting us to where we are today.”
Here’s to the next chapter.
