You are a Legal Support Superstar -So What's Next?
So you have had another successful year. Your boss sings your praises and your performance appraisal sits at the top of the rankings…. Again.
Being appreciated for your efforts is rewarding. However, going above and beyond in the same role year on year out can start to feel harder each year. Stagnation and boredom are the enemy of personal growth!
We are Melbourne’s leading legal industry recruiter. We specialise in the recruitment of legal support staff. This means we often see senior legal secretaries, legal assistants and administrative staff who have been with firms for a long time. They have grown in their roles and over time have worked their way towards seniority. Many get to a point in their careers where they start to wonder what is next.
It can be tricky to stay motivated when you are at the top of your game. Daniel Pink in his book Drive , has researched employee motivation and he says that it comes down to:
- Autonomy: where you are trusted to take ownership of your own work or development
- Mastery: where you feel highly skilled at your work and are given no limits to your potential. You are provided with the tools you need to continue to grow your skills.
- Purpose: where you are encouraged to contribute to a greater purpose. This could be a company mission, or a cause you are passionate about.
Do You Understand What Motivates You?
It can be useful to spend some time thinking about your current role. Does it offer you any of these key concepts of intrinsic motivation? Ask yourself:
- Do you feel like you are continuing to grow in your role?
- Are you trusted to work autonomously?
- Are the resources and tools you are provided adding to your development?
- Does your work feel like it has real purpose?
How did you go? Did you come to the conclusion that your current role is lacking in any of the above? Never fear, there are career options to consider.
1. A New Internal Role
You may love the firm you are working for. You may have earned yourself a little flexibility and be worried about retaining this somewhere else. Is there something else internally you could put your mind and skills to?
Could you work for a partner or associate that is specialising in an area of law that is at the cutting edge?
Could you ask to be allocated some time to work on a project of your choice? This might be implementing some new helpful tech. It might be starting up a mentor program for support staff. You may even have an idea that would help improve client profitability.
Could you cross-skill into another area? You may be surprised how transferrable your skills are.
Consider letting your manager know that you are open to alternative internal opportunities. As a high performing employee they should be keen to keep you. This gives your employer a chance to provide development and career opportunities before you start to look elsewhere.
2. Further Study
Is there a particular concept relating to the business of law that you find intriguing? Is it practice management? Marketing? Litigation Support? Or becoming a lawyer yourself? Having already worked in the legal industry you already know the lay of the land. This is a head start in further education in related fields.
3. A Different Style Firm
Maybe you work for a top or mid-tier law firm, or maybe you have earned your stripes in a boutique firm. Consider whether a move to the alternative might be a refreshing change. Larger firms are considered to have extensive resources and higher salaries. This is not always the case.
They possibly have higher calibre clients and the most interesting work. They may also have luxurious offices in prime CBD locations. Some will have global offices offering opportunities for overseas secondments.
Having said that, a boutique firm can offer you the opportunity to get your teeth into a particular speciality. This ensures you develop your technical skills, expertise and reputation in a niche area. Some boutique firms offer great training programs and mentor opportunities.
One of the key advantages of a boutique firm is it is likely to be less bureaucratic. This can give you a chance to help build and shape HR policies and be more nimble in your work.
4. A Lifestyle change
As a senior legal secretary or assistant, you may have been working for the same partner or associate for a long time. Have you considered whether shaking this up might give you an opportunity for career growth?
Many legal secretaries/assistants come to us at Legal People looking to make a move away from the CBD. They might be at a point where the commute is becoming frustrating (isn’t it!) or others come to us wishing to return to work in a CBD law firm, wanting the city buzz!!
Moving to a role close to home or away from suburban Melbourne can mean a real lifestyle and work life balance revolution!
If you truly are at the top of your game and are wondering “so what’s next?” there are plenty of options to consider. A new role, a new firm or a new skill can freshen up your skills and get you out of a rut. If you need help determining what's the right next step for you in your legal support career, please get in touch with us here at Legal People for a confidential discussion. We can talk you through market rates, and opportunities to help you make an informed choice.
Are you looking for a new and challenging role in the legal industry in Victoria? Legal People is your gateway to legal support opportunities. We are specialists in the Legal Industry. We 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. To browse our currently available roles click here.
