Consultants
Julian McCombe LLB, LLM, MSc Organisational Psychology, Dip Psych, PGDip Psych, MBPsS
Barrister and Principal Consultant
Julian was called to the Bar in 1992, and initially pursued a legal career in the public sector. He was appointed head of research for the Immigration Appellate Authority in 1995, Acting Head of Recruitment for the Financial Services Authority (now the Financial Conduct Authority) in 1999 and Head of Resource and Risk for the Authority’s Enforcement Division in 2001. 20 years ago, he established his now pre-eminent organisational psychology practice, specialising in coaching, recruitment and organisational development in the legal sector.
Appointed consultant and interview panel member for the 2005-2006 QC competition, Julian was engaged in the implementation and review of the new competency-based selection and assessment process. He worked alongside Baroness Butler-Sloss, interviewing and assessing more than 50 applicants for silk, as well as conducting over 150 assessor interviews. At the conclusion of that year’s competition, Julian recommended changes which were then adopted for the revised 2006-07 selection and assessment process.
Julian is a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the BPS Specialist Group for Coaching Psychology; he is a recognised expert in competency-based selection and assessment, and specialises in assisting candidates with their applications for silk and judicial appointment.
Previously, Julian recruited for the full range of legal specialists, designing and implementing selection and assessment frameworks and processes, and leading recruitment, HR and organisational development projects for a series of high-profile private and public sector clients, including the Financial Conduct Authority, the Olympic Delivery Authority, the Office for National Statistics and the Ministry of Justice.
Julian is increasingly engaged in high performance coaching in the legal sector, utilising strength-based approaches to assist lawyers in realising their full potential. Identifying those areas in which his clients are naturally gifted and professionally excel, he works with them to elevate their performance to a level of outstanding achievement, whilst downplaying those areas in which they perform less well. He is also concerned with the increasing lack of well-being in the legal sector, and has focused his current research on efficient working for lawyers leading to a better work-life balance, whilst maintaining or increasing revenues. With the freedom to focus on what they do best and the ability to more effectively manage their diaries, clients and workload, Julian’s clients enjoy enhanced levels of professional delivery, higher rewards, and deeper levels of professional and personal satisfaction.
Equality of opportunity has sat at the heart of Julian’s professional activities for over 25 years. Approximately one-third of his work is now devoted to the empowerment of women, ethnic minorities, and other underrepresented groups to reach the highest ranks of the Bar and judiciary. He has been recognised for his achievements in this field as winner of Mentor of the Year in the Women & Diversity in Law Awards.