8 Career Planning Steps for Lawyers

As one of Melbourne’s leading legal recruitment agencies, we often see Lawyers at a point in their career where they are unhappy in their current role but not quite sure what their next career step might be.

Equally, it’s also in your employer’s best interests for you to have a fulfilling career. A happy Lawyer is more productive, better engaged with colleagues and clients which in turn has a more positive impact on workplace culture.

These are our tips for a fulfilling and rewarding career in the Legal Industry.

1. Be Self Aware and Reflect

This involves being present and taking a considered approach to your working life. Be self-aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Consider the following questions:

What are you great at?

What areas need development?

What are your skills and interests?

Are you great at dealing with numbers and contracts? Are you an excellent public speaker? Are you a talented leader?

Take the time to reflect on the matters you are dealing with. What are they teaching you? What would you do differently next time?

2. Focus on Professional Development

We all get busy, but without professional development your skills stagnate. You also miss opportunities to be at the forefront of technological development and new areas of the law. Take up every opportunity for professional development you are offered, In Australia you need to be doing continuing professional development (CPD) every year to maintain your credentials.

If your firm is not offering the development to suit you, consider organisations such as the Law Institute of Victoria or Bulletpoints

There are many areas of professional development relevant to the Legal Industry such as:

· Ethics

· Business Skills

· Substantive Law

· Practice Management

· Soft Skills such as Emotional intelligence, communication, public speaking,

· Leadership Skills

3. Consider your Current Role

How satisfied are you with what you are doing right now? Does it suit your talents, interests and experience? Do you enjoy it? Is it a step on your career path or are you in a holding pattern?

What are you learning from this role? What are you learning from the people around you? If it isn’t adding value to your career, it may be time to be thinking about what is next.

4. Seek out a Mentor

Over the course of your career take the time to watch those around you. Colleagues, Team Members, Barristers, Opposing Counsel. Do they have skills you want to emulate?

Are there any amongst this group that would be a suitable mentor? A mentor is invaluable when it comes to sharing their own career experience and help you with career advice to take the next step in your career. They can be a sounding board when you are needing a second opinion

5. Build your Network

Take advantage of networking opportunities both within your firm, any associations you belong to and your client network. This will become a valuable asset in any Career Plan. Ensure you take advantage of professional networking platforms like LinkedIn to continue to network with colleagues, former colleagues and clients online.

6. Consider a Career Coach

Sometimes described as an executive coach, investing in this service can help you define your values, objectives and goals. They can also keep you accountable for staying on track. Your firm may already have someone in HR that fulfils this role – particularly if you are looking to move companies an objective independent consultant may be best. You have invested in your Legal Career significantly during your 3+ years of University, why wouldn’t you invest in the potential 30+ years after that with a plan??

7. Have a Written Plan

It can be easy in our daily lives to get bogged down by fire-fighting, work-product, billable hours, court schedules and dealing with clients. Put some time in your schedule so that you can consider your own career plan. Generally it is a good idea for this to be away from your office.

You would be surprised the number of lawyers we see who do not have career goals. We highly recommend writing these down. Have both short and long term career goals. Ensure they are SMART goals – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Revisit these often. Ensure they align with your values.

Having clear goals can help with your decision making framework. For example if one of your career goals is to be a Director for an ASX200 Board, you might take advantage of an opportunity to accept a Board position on a Not-for-Profit in the short term.

Your goals should consider the parts of your role that you enjoy the most – is it liaising with clients, preparing contracts , negotiating, advocacy, doing research? Your long term approach should be to do more of what you enjoy and less of the tasks you find mundane.

Having clear career goals will give you more purpose.

8. Don’t Forget to Have a Life.

Goal setting is just as important in your personal life. Having short and long term goals will add to your satisfaction with life. Consider what you are passionate about, what you want to be involved in outside of work. Consider your relationships and make time to nurture them. Consider what you want your legacy to be. Have travel goals and a bucket list and do things you enjoy!

A final word….

When you have reached your goal and have made Partner or Managing Director, changed areas of Specialisation or have built your own client base, don’t forget to take the time to work out what’s next! Figure out the next career goal, revisit the Career Coach and continue to learn. It will make a difference!

Are you a Lawyer dissatisfied with their current role? Have you read this and thought, yes! A Career Plan! I must get onto that. Get in touch. We can help.

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