The Counter Offer

Mentorship, Mistakes, and Million-Dollar Months: Inside JMC with Jason Connolly

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“They told me I’d never make it in recruitment.”


Jason Connolly’s career started with magic tricks and ended in million-pound billing months—but only after surviving a toxic police department, a mountain of self-doubt, and a manager who swore he’d fail.


In this raw and riveting conversation, Jason sits down with Susanna and Tiarna to talk about the truth behind career pivots, burnout, and what it really takes to succeed in legal recruitment. From busking in Covent Garden to founding one of the UK’s most people-focused recruitment firms, Jason proves that resilience, mentorship, and a little unfiltered honesty can change everything. If you've ever questioned your path or been underestimated, this episode is for you.


Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments


    • From Magic to the Met – Jason shares his unconventional beginnings as a magician and Virgin Atlantic crew member, and how a random police application changed the course of his life.
    • Why the Police Almost Broke Him – Jason opens up about the trauma, institutional dysfunction, and discrimination he faced during his time as a police officer—and how it nearly cost him his self-worth.
    • The Recruitment Rebuild – After leaving the force, Jason reveals how self-study, podcast binging, and a refusal to quit helped him go from billing zero to becoming the top recruiter in his agency.
    • The Birth of JMC Legal – Jason shares the real story behind starting his firm, mentoring trainees to MD level, and the painful lessons learned from hiring mistakes and toxic management cultures.
    • Feedback, Pressure, and Real Talk – The trio dives into why feedback is non-negotiable, how to lead without ego, and the “pressure cooker” reality of recruitment culture—and how to survive it.


    • Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode


    • “The worst thing you can say to me is, ‘You can’t do it.’ That’s my fuel.” – Jason Connolly

    • “I didn’t need recruitment to save me—I needed it to test me.” – Jason Connolly

    • “I don’t care what your degree says. If you’ve got grit, I’ll teach you how to bill a million.” – Jason Connolly

    • “The recruiter’s opinion doesn’t matter. It’s about understanding what the candidate really wants.” – Jason Connolly

    • “Feedback isn’t an insult. It’s a gift. But only if you’re brave enough to take it.” – Susanna Gray

    • “It’s not about KPIs. It’s about mentoring people into the version of themselves they don’t believe in yet.” – Jason Connolly

    • “Sometimes the most powerful thing a recruiter can do is hold up a mirror.” – Tiarna McCormack

    • “You don’t need a script—you need emotional intelligence.” – Susanna Gray

    • “Success is being unhinged in your pursuit, but grounded in your values.” – Jason Connolly

    • “Legal recruitment didn’t need more ex-lawyers. It needed more heart.” – Jason Connolly


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    The Counter OfferBy Susanna Gray-Jones