5 Years at Sort Legal - Celebrating Janet Quinlan-Jones
19 Jan 2026
This month, we’re celebrating a huge milestone as our Remortgage Director, Janet Quinlan-Jones, marks 5 years with Sort Legal. Over the last five years, Janet’s time with the business reflects everything that Sort Legal stands for: growth, collaboration, communication and trust.
Starting out with a small Remortgage Team, Janet has been a part of its journey, watching it evolve into the team of 18 it is today. What began with learning the role has developed into strategically leading the team and mentoring future talent, playing a key part in the team’s growth and success. In recognition of her efforts, Janet was awarded Mentor of the Year for the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Apprenticeship Awards in 2023.
In this blog, she shares some of her proudest moments, achievements, behind-the-scenes moments you might not know, and lessons learned that she’ll carry throughout her career…
What does reaching 5 years at Sort Legal mean to you?
Reaching 5 years at Sort Legal is something I’m incredibly proud of, and to me represents growth, trust and the opportunity to build meaningful relationships along the way. It means a lot to look back at where we were with the Remortgage Team 5 years ago to where we are now… from having a team of 5 paralegals to the 18 of us that we are now. I’m also very proud of how far we have come in terms of learning and experience within the Team.
How has your role evolved since you first joined?
Since joining Sort Legal, my role has evolved significantly. What began with a focus on learning the foundations of the role has grown into taking on greater responsibility, broader oversight and a more strategic approach to my work. I have had the opportunity to support others in their development and have been allowed to continuously develop and adapt as the firm has evolved. Due to there now being a much larger team and becoming a Director in 2023, this has resulted in more managerial duties. The extra support and assistance offered by Catherine and Yahye has been invaluable.
What have been some of your proudest moments/achievements over the past 5 years?
Some of my proudest moments over the past 5 years have come from seeing the impact of consistent, collaborative work over time. Whether it’s contributing to positive outcomes for clients, supporting the growth and confidence of team members, or helping improve processes that make a real difference day to day, those moments have been especially meaningful. I’m also proud of the trust I have earned and the responsibility I’ve been given.
Other specific highlights have included helping Yahye along to the way to professional qualification as a Licensed Conveyancer and receiving the Award for Mentor of the Year in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Apprenticeship Awards 2023.
What’s one part of your job that people might be surprised to learn about?
One part of my role that may surprise people is how much of it involves problem-solving behind the scenes. While the work can appear straightforward from the outside, there’s a lot of strategic thinking, coordination and adaptability involved to try to ensure that everything runs smoothly for both clients/brokers and the team.
What’s one lesson you have learned at Sort Legal that you’ll carry with you throughout your career?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned at Sort Legal is the value of clear communication and collaboration. I have reinforced my key skills of realizing how impactful it is to listen, support others and approach challenges with both professionalism and empathy, also how important it is to always believe in yourself – skills which I will carry with me throughout my career.
How do you approach developing future leaders within your team?
I believe developing future leaders starts with trust and empowerment. I try to lead by example, encourage open dialogue and provide opportunities for growth, offering guidance where needed. Creating an environment where people feel confident to take initiative, ask questions and learn from mistakes is key to building strong, capable leaders for the future
If you could sum up your Sort Legal journey in 3 words, what would they be?
Rewarding – watching the team develop and learn
Fulfilling – dealing with lots of fantastic personalities across multiple departments offering strong support and professionalism
Supportive – across the whole company
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