In a talent-driven market it is tempting to rest on your laurels. The lawyers at the top did not land there without effort, strategy, goal setting, and an open mind about changing technology and culture. Building a career in law is a challenge, and for those who meet it the rewards are considerable.
Vision
Determine your purpose. Why did you go to law school? What do you want to gain, for yourself and for others, in practicing law? What do you want to have accomplished when you look back on it? Write out a mission statement. It becomes the measure for every decision that follows.
Goals
What milestones stand between you and that goal? Put them on a timeline. Where do you need to be in two years, in five, in ten? Where do you want to be in twenty-five? Do not limit the list to business goals. Include personal ones, such as marriage, children and a home, and community or public ones, such as elected office or a national board.
Strategy
Break the goals into steps, and align the professional steps with the personal ones. Look for actions that serve more than one timeline. Watch for conflict between goals. Sixty-five-hour weeks scheduled over the same years as the early days of parenting means one will undo the other.
Tactics
These are the moves you make daily, weekly, monthly and annually to carry out the strategy and serve the purpose. Vision, goals and strategy come first. This is the work.
- Evaluate your skills, temperament and connections honestly. What continuing education do you need? Which memberships will help, and which will only take time? Which pro bono opportunities should you accept? Does the plan require a change of location?
- Keep up with the industry. Pay attention to what is actually changing. Test new ideas before you adopt them, and do not fear them.
- Deliver excellent service. Listen to your clients, communicate promptly and deliver what you promised. Growing a career means building a clientele, and satisfied clients both return and give your name to others. Experienced attorneys will tell you that client service is most of the practice of law.
- Embrace diversity among your colleagues. Learn from different perspectives. Treat everyone with respect and courtesy.
As you ask the questions, make the decisions and put the plan into practice, keep going back to the mission statement. It will tell you which course is the right one.
A successful path includes knowing what your options are. At OnBoard Legal we offer candidates strict confidentiality, market expertise, access to opportunities and candid advice. If you are ready to take the next step, or to consider it, contact us.