Linda Morris from William Fry shares her life and her business lessons.
Morris heads up William Fry’s ‘PeopleBridge’ platform, which connects experienced legal and tax professionals with businesses that need high-calibre expertise at short notice, offering a flexible, modern alternative to traditional legal hiring.
The goal of People Bridge is to reshape the approach of the legal profession, giving employers and employees alike more freedom in their professional careers.
“PeopleBridge was created by William Fry to meet a growing demand for flexible, high-quality legal and tax professionals”
Tell us about your background, what journey did you take to arrive at where you are?
While my career didn’t start in law, I began as a personal assistant and office manager primarily in the construction sector, roles that taught me organisation and adaptability. After a five-year career break to raise my twins, I returned to work at William Fry following a move back to Ireland after more than a decade in London.
Shortly after starting, my husband passed away when our twins were very young. It was an incredibly challenging time, and I will always be grateful for the support I received from William Fry, which allowed me to continue my career while managing family responsibilities.
I was PA to the Managing Partner and then to the CFO and COO also until 2021, when I was entrusted to lead PeopleBridge, a pioneering placement and recruitment initiative by William Fry. Today, I bring my experience and understanding of resilience and balance into everything we do at PeopleBridge. PeopleBridge operates an Alternative Legal Service Provider or ALSP and William Fry is the first full-service law firm in Ireland to offer the model.
Why are you doing what you are doing? What need are you meeting? What’s your USP?
PeopleBridge was created by William Fry to meet a growing demand for flexible, high-quality legal and tax professionals. Businesses need agile support to address short to medium term resource gaps, and professionals increasingly seek flexibility to balance work and life. We bridge that gap by providing experienced interim legal and tax professionals who deliver excellence from day one.
“Empathy and hard work are my cornerstones. I understand the pressures of juggling work and family, and I bring that awareness into every decision”
Our USP is combining agility with absolute quality assurance. Every panel member placed through PeopleBridge has the full backing of William Fry, one of Ireland’s leading law firms and are vetted on the same basis as William Fry lawyers and tax professionals. This gives clients confidence in the calibre of expertise and ensures our professionals have access to resources and guidance throughout their placement, including a dedicated William Fry partner contact.
How did you fund and start the business and what are your growth plans?
PeopleBridge was established as part of William Fry’s strategic vision to innovate within the legal services market.
“Success isn’t just about results, it is about creating environments where people thrive, and effort is valued”
Our growth plans include expanding our panel member network and deepening partnerships with businesses that value flexibility and quality, including in conjunction with William Fry Digital, our technology-enabled legal solutions business.
What are your key skills and qualities that set you apart?
Empathy and hard work are my cornerstones. I understand the pressures of juggling work and family, and I bring that awareness into every decision. I’m also highly adaptable, strategic, and focused on building strong relationships, qualities that help me lead a service designed for flexibility and trust.
What (or whom) has helped you most along the way? Who was your greatest mentor/inspiration?
I’ve been fortunate to work with leaders who champion innovation and people-first thinking. Their guidance taught me that success isn’t just about results, it is about creating environments where people thrive, and effort is valued.
What was the greatest piece of business advice you ever received?
Listen first. Taking the time to really understand what clients and panel members need is the key to creating solutions that work for everyone.
What circumstances/qualities/events can mark the difference between success or failure in life or business?
Adaptability and resilience. Life throws curveballs, and the ability to pivot while supporting others makes all the difference.
What was the most challenging aspect of either starting or growing the business?
One of the biggest challenges was building awareness of how alternative legal services can work in practice.
Sometimes clients come to us looking for a full-time solicitor with three years’ Post Qualification Experience or PQE, but we have shown that a highly experienced solicitor, perhaps 20 years’ PQE, can often deliver the same results on a part-time basis and within budget. It’s about thinking differently and demonstrating that flexibility can deliver exceptional outcomes without compromise.
How did you navigate your business through the pandemic and what lessons did you learn?
The pandemic reinforced the importance of flexibility which goes to the heart of the PeopleBridge ALSP model. We adapted to remote work and showed that legal services can be delivered effectively without traditional constraints.
“Sometimes the best opportunities come from unexpected turns, and embracing them has been key to where I am today”
A number of our panel members now work fully remote from all over the country, from Kerry to Donegal, demonstrating that geography is no longer a barrier to accessing top-tier talent and opportunities. Conversely, many work on location with clients each day or most days each week. The model can adapt to client and panel member needs.
How has digital transformation been a factor in your scaling journey and do you believe Irish firms are utilising digital technologies sufficiently?
Digital transformation has played a big role in how we operate. It’s helped us streamline processes and stay connected with clients and panel members, especially in a world where flexibility is key. Irish firms are making progress, but there’s always room to embrace technology more fully to improve efficiency and client experience. An example of this is the Wiliam Fry Digital Business.
It brings together a multi-disciplinary group of lawyers, project managers and technologists operating at the intersection of law, technology, and innovation with a view to enabling us to provide clients with integrated legal, tax and digital services.
If you were to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
Honestly, I wouldn’t change much because every step, even the challenges, shaped where I am today. If anything, I’d remind myself to trust the process and not overthink the bumps along the way.
Sometimes the best opportunities come from unexpected turns, and embracing them has been key to where I am today. I often share this with panel members too; many are at a crossroads, considering a new direction or leaving a long-standing role to explore flexible working. Change can feel daunting, but it often leads to possibilities you never imagined.
Who inspires you in business today?
I really admire leaders who put people first while still driving results, those who show you can be ambitious and innovative without losing sight of integrity and care.
“Losing my husband was a profound reminder that life is fragile and unpredictable”
I also respect businesses that embrace flexibility and adapt to change while staying true to their values. That’s why PeopleBridge is such a great model: it combines quality and innovation with a genuine focus on people and flexibility, which I believe is the future of work.
What advice/guidance do you give new hires and how do you nurture talent in your organisation?
We make it clear to our panel members that they are never on their own. Every placement comes with the full backing of William Fry, giving them access to expertise, resources, and guidance whenever needed.
This support ensures they can deliver excellence with confidence. Most of our panel members are highly experienced professionals, so our role is to create an environment that empowers them, providing flexibility and ensuring they have everything they need to succeed and grow.
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown for empathetic leadership. It’s practical, inspiring, and reminds us that courage and vulnerability are essential in business.
What technologies/tools do you use personally to keep you on track?
I keep things simple and practical. My calendar is my anchor, I rely on it to stay organised and prioritise effectively. I also use Microsoft Teams and Zoom for communication and check-ins, and I’m a big fan of to-do lists for keeping focus. It’s less about fancy apps and more about tools that help me stay connected and structured without overcomplicating things.
What social media platforms do you prefer and why?
LinkedIn. It’s the best space for professional networking and sharing insights.
What are your thoughts on where technology overall is heading and how it will apply to business generally and your business particularly?
Technology is moving fast, and while automation and AI are exciting, I believe the real value is in how we use these tools to make work easier and more human. For PeopleBridge, technology enables us to match businesses with the expertise they need faster and more effectively, while still keeping the human element at the centre of what we do. For me, tech should never replace the personal touch, it should support relationships, not overshadow them.
Finally, if you had advice for your 21-year-old self – knowing what you know now – what would it be?
Trust your instincts and embrace change. Flexibility isn’t just a business principle; it’s a life skill. At 21, I thought success meant following a clear plan, but life taught me that the unexpected often shapes us most.
Losing my husband was a profound reminder that life is fragile and unpredictable. It reinforced the importance of living fully, taking opportunities, and valuing the people around you.
Build resilience by staying adaptable and open to new possibilities. Surround yourself with those who inspire and support you. Adaptability and courage will not only guide your career, but help you navigate life’s hardest moments with strength and grace.
-
Bank of Ireland is welcoming new customers every day – funding investments, working capital and expansions across multiple sectors. To learn more, click here
-
For support in challenging times, click here
-
Listen to the ThinkBusiness Podcast for business insights and inspiration. All episodes are here. You can also listen to the Podcast on:
-
Spotify
-
SoundCloud
-
Apple
