Strategies to Advance Your Legal Career
By
Jamy J. Sullivan, J.D., Robert Half
Whether you’re just starting out in the legal profession or have years of experience, to take your legal career to the next level, you must actively seek opportunities to demonstrate leadership, build enduring relationships and showcase your contributions to your employer's longer-term goals. Here are five ways to move your career into the fast lane.
1. Request stretch assignments
Ask your supervisor for projects or assignments pushing you beyond your comfort zone. Entry-level professionals might volunteer to take the lead on an assignment or work on a transaction with a high level of complexity or matter outside their usual work scope.
2. Showcase leadership skills by becoming a mentor
3. Build strong and enduring relationships
Personal relationships become more important as you rise in the legal profession. They’re often crucial to developing new business opportunities, as people are more likely to hire or provide a recommendation to someone they know and trust. Over time, strong relationships will generate quality referrals that are a good fit for your skills and experience and can help propel your career forward.
To build and maintain positive relationships, network with colleagues in your organization, attend industry events and conferences and become an active member of professional associations. But don’t stop there. Take an interest in your colleagues and clients as individuals, not just as professionals. Get to know their interests, hobbies and passions, and use this knowledge to build deep connections and rapport.
4. Embrace the future of legal work
Technology has already transformed the legal field, and its impact should only accelerate in the coming years. For example, AI and data analytics are being used to review and analyze large volumes of case materials, scrutinize case outcomes, costs and client feedback. These tech tools are enabling legal professionals to make more informed decisions and improve services.
You don’t have to be an IT expert to champion these technologies. Stay informed by reading industry publications and following thought leaders in the legal tech space. Build relationships with tech experts within your organization to better understand the capabilities and limitations of different technologies. And when advocating for the use of technology with leadership, focus on benefits such as increased efficiency, reduced costs and improved delivery of legal services.
5. Nurture your personal brand
To advance your legal career, don’t wait for opportunities. Create them. With a proactive approach, you will not only boost your promotion prospects but also your chances of fulfilling your long-term goals.
Jamy J. Sullivan is executive director of the legal practice at Robert Half, the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm. Robert Half offers contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions, and is the parent company of Protiviti®, a global consulting firm. Visit RobertHalf.com.