6 Career Tips from a Specialist Recruiter to Young Lawyers

In this article discover the advice we often give young lawyers for surviving their early career in law and to go on to have a thriving legal career.

The Australian legal industry is experiencing an interesting phenomenon. According to this article published earlier in the year in the Australian Financial Review , we have approximately 39 law schools in Australia.They graduate approximately 8000 new lawyers every year.

Around 60% of these graduates land a suitable role in the legal industry or a graduate position with an Australian Law Firm.

What we have found is that many of them, within 3 years of working for a major firm, become disillusioned and leave to find other employment. This then leaves the industry with a smaller pool of talent for high quality, mid-level three-to-seven-year PAE. And guess where a lot of the client demand for candidates currently sits?

Here at Legal People we often ponder this conundrum. Are Law Schools possibly not preparing students for the long hours and mental-health-taxing nature of a career in law?

Or, is it that firms are not reflecting the needs of millennials who tend to be a little less focussed on money and the corner office and a little more focused on doing good deeds in the world and having a balanced life?

One thing we do know, is that when we ask a young lawyer where they want to be in 5-10 years, it is becoming rare to hear the statement “I want to be a Partner at a top tier law firm”.

We spend a lot of time offering career advice to talented young Lawyers. This advice is designed to help you get through your early career and to help you thrive in your chosen profession.

​The reality of a career in the legal profession means that it is often very tricky to switch specialisations or type of firm once you are entrenched. We find that some junior lawyers will happily take any role, thinking they will be able to switch down the track.

If you want to work for the government, try and start there.

If you want to be an in-house counsel, aim for a graduate position along these lines.

If you want to work for a private practice with a specific specialisation then aim to start there. See this article about areas of law that are the hardest to source talent for some ideas to future proof your career!

The importance of building your network during your legal career should not be underestimated. A solid network of colleagues, clients and mentors will help open doors to opportunities. Attend law firm functions and keep an eye out for relevant association events. Also consider during this time the importance of building your network of industry specialist recruiters who can help you navigate your career over time.

During the course of your career, there will be moments that test you. You choose how you react to perhaps being treated unfairly or to unreasonable client demands. Not every battle is worth waging a war on and choosing your battles wisely is a skill. Managing your health and stress levels during difficult times in your career is a wise investment in time and money.

Early in your career you will likely be required to put in extra and work longer hours. You will be required to meet billable hour targets. It can be difficult to balance relationships and a life outside the office. Make sure your time management skills are top notch. Be sure to have good support around you and know when to ask for help.

Junior lawyers should know their workplace rights, and be clear when they are being taken advantage of. It can be a fine line between earning your stripes and potential exploitation! Where you can, make the most of technology and remote access. Do what you can at this time in your career to reduce your commuting time. Know when to ask for time in lieu and ensure you book some annual leave to unplug and recharge.

Balancing long hours for junior lawyers against client demands and expectations continues to be a challenge for law firms. Many seasoned partners will have served the same apprenticeship of arduous hours and wear this as a badge of honour. That said, wellness initiatives and the rise of flexible roles may be a hint that change is in the wind. In 2018 up to 25% of the lawyers we placed went into flexible roles. This compared with 9% in 2017.

Your early legal career is a great time to learn to meditate. Whatever it is that you do to relax, ensure there is time in your life to do it. Get out into green spaces, hike, walk, ride, take up boxing.
Read a book, see a reflexologist, a masseuse, listen to music, see a show. Try a gratitude journal, eat nourishing food and stay hydrated. Your early career in law should be considered a marathon. You need to look after your body and mental health accordingly.

Continued professional development opportunities will build not just your technical skills, but your business and soft skills as well. The legal industry is embracing technology and innovation. Many say disruption is coming with machine learning, chat bots, Artificial Intelligence and other legal tech. Also consider the development possibilities within your own role. Put your hand up for projects and opportunities where possible. You are the captain of your own career ship and should keep an eye on your development needs and opportunities to grow.

And lastly, know that the challenges in your early career won’t last forever. As Robert Frost once said “The best way out is always through”. Your early career will build resilience. Even better if you remember the challenging times so that you can empathise, respectfully balance client expectations and support those young lawyers that follow you.

It is a great time to be an experienced lawyer in Melbourne. We have a number of exclusive opportunities , for talented lawyers with 3-5 years PAE , with employers of choice. We can help you take the next step in your high flying career.

Legal People is your gateway to the best legal career opportunities. We are specialists in the Legal Industry and recruit Lawyers, Support staff and HR professionals in Melbourne, Australia. If you enjoyed reading this article, you can follow our Company Page on LinkedIn for regular updates.