This month at Alex Correa Executive, we’re celebrating an important milestone: the 7th work anniversary of Sophie Page-Warr (formerly McMenamin). As our Senior Recruitment Consultant, Sophie partners with leading Brisbane employers to connect high-calibre legal talent with private practice and in-house opportunities.

To mark the occasion, we’re sharing one of Sophie’s recent candidate stories that demonstrates her consultative and reflective approach to recruitment.

The Candidate’s Aspiration

Sophie worked with a private practice lawyer who applied for an in-house role, motivated by the promise of better work-life balance and freedom from billable hours. Although the candidate lacked in-house experience, Sophie took the time to have a genuine conversation.

“I had a discussion with her anyway, because I think it's always good to have those discussions with people to find out what’s motivating their desire for change. Why did you apply for this role? What does the ideal role mean to you?” Sophie explained.

Uncovering the Real Motivation

As the conversation unfolded, Sophie discovered the issue wasn’t a genuine desire to move in-house, but uncertainty about the candidate’s long-term future at her current firm.

“And as it transpired through these discussions, it wasn't so much that she wanted to move in-house. It was that she just couldn't see herself long term where she was,” Sophie reflected.

This insight shifted the focus of their conversations. Instead of simply concluding she wasn’t right for the in-house role, Sophie encouraged the candidate to reflect on her broader goals and consider opportunities she hadn’t previously imagined.

“While she wasn’t the best fit for this particular role, I wanted to understand what she really wanted. Instead of simply saying, ‘She’s not right for this position,’ I asked myself, ‘What other opportunities could be the right fit for her?’ That shift in thinking allowed us to explore options that better aligned with her aspirations.”

The Outcome

With Sophie’s guidance, the candidate ultimately secured a role at another law firm - an option she had not initially considered, but one that proved to be a much stronger fit for her long-term career goals.

A Reflective, Consultative Approach

This story highlights Sophie’s strength as a recruitment consultant: she doesn’t just fill roles. She invests in understanding the real motivations behind career decisions, helping candidates clarify what they want and guiding them towards opportunities that align with their true aspirations.

For Sophie, successful recruitment is not transactional - it’s about helping lawyers navigate career-defining moments and supporting them to find paths they may not have considered on their own.

Let’s Talk About What’s Next

At Alex Correa Executive we are committed to helping you define your ideal, whether that be your next step or negotiating your next salary review. With a personalised recruitment approach and extensive networks in the legal industry across Australia, we empower you to consider what your ideal looks like. The legal market is full of opportunities—you just need the right strategy to make the most of them. Reach out out to Sophie or Alex for a confidential chat.