Connecting the South West’s legal talent: Inside Aspiria Recruit

When James Kapadia launched Aspiria Recruit in 2017, he wasn’t dreaming of a recruitment empire or flashy offices. He just wanted to do things properly. Personal, honest, and refreshingly straight-talking, the Exeter-based firm has since become a trusted name for legal recruitment across Devon and beyond.

“I didn’t have a big five-year plan when I started,” he says. “But very quickly it became clear that the legal sector was where we could really add value - and where we were building genuine relationships.”

Fast-forward a few years, and those relationships now span the region - from boutique firms in Exeter to established practices in Taunton, Plymouth and Cornwall. The business remains deliberately compact, with James focusing on Exeter and Somerset while his colleague, Kate Ostler, leads on Plymouth and Cornwall. Together, they offer a one-two punch of local knowledge and hands-on support that bigger firms would struggle to replicate.

The name Aspiria, James explains, is a blend of “aspire” and the tail end of his own surname - a small nod to the personal nature of the business. “Naming it was probably harder than launching it,” he jokes. “But it needed to be unique and Googleable. Once we landed on it, it just made sense.”

It’s this mix of considered thinking and human touch that underpins everything Aspiria does. The firm specialises exclusively in legal recruitment, from solicitors and legal execs to paralegals and legal support roles. But they’re not in the business of waiting around for the perfect job to land on their desk.

“I like to think we’re really proactive,” says James. “We don’t just sit back, post a vacancy and cross our fingers. If someone comes to us, we go out to our clients and say: ‘Look, we’ve got someone here who could add real value - how about a coffee and a chat?’ More often than not, that leads to something.”

It’s a relationship-led, candidate-first model that seems to be working. With over 200 five-star Google reviews and glowing feedback from firms across the region, Aspiria’s reputation has been built the old-fashioned way: by being helpful, honest, and getting results.

One of James’ favourite parts of the job is something you won’t find in many job ads: the interview prep call.

“I spend about half an hour on the phone with each candidate before they go in,” he says. “It’s one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. It’s where we can really give them that edge. We know what the firm is looking for, what kind of questions they might ask, what to focus on. That kind of insight can make all the difference.”

That personal attention doesn’t just stop at the hiring process. Aspiria offers CV reviews, salary guidance, and honest, balanced advice on whether a role is the right fit - no sales patter, no false promises.

“We’ll always tell people the truth, even if it’s not what they want to hear,” says James. “It’s about long-term relationships. We’re not here to shoehorn people into jobs just to hit a number.”

This year, that relationship-focused ethos will be front and centre at the DASLS Legal Awards, where Aspiria is sponsoring the Team of the Year category. It’s a natural fit - but James admits to a flicker of awards-night anxiety.

“I’m really looking forward to it, although I’m slightly concerned because I’m terrible with names and faces,” he jokes.

Despite the nerves, this event couldn’t align more perfectly with Aspiria’s outlook: all about connection, collaboration and celebrating the people behind the roles. “It’s not about making a quick buck,” James adds. “It’s about being present and strengthening the relationships we already have. And maybe having a glass of wine while we’re at it.”

Looking ahead, Aspiria will grow - but slowly, and only if it means the quality doesn’t slip. “I’d love for us to get to four, maybe five people. But it has to feel right,” James says. “Once you lose that personal touch, you’re just another agency.”

With a reputation for integrity, deep local roots, and an approach that’s more about matchmaking than metrics, Aspiria is showing that in recruitment, doing things the right way never goes out of fashion.