So, you’re an attorney and might want to become a partner one day? Success is pretty clear cut and obvious in law school, but the real world is a bit of a different story. Although some organizations and law firms may train and prepare you for success, your professional development is really on you. You will gain some understanding for the skills and expertise needed to move your career forward over time. Unfortunately, is really up to you to learn these skills and what is needed to move forward.
Here at Prime Legal, our team comes out of the legal industry. And we understand what it takes to succeed as an attorney and get ahead in your career. While each person is different, we have taken the time to provide some pointers that will help you build a successful career as an attorney.
THE PLAN – BETTER PLAN AHEAD
Invest time creating your short-term and long-term goals. Most importantly write your goals down. Create dates, targets, action items and other additional information that could help you achieve these goals and successfully progress in your career plan.
Reflect on your values, your personality and make sure your goals align with who you are. Examine yourself critically and identify shortcomings or areas to work on and improve.
As you continue to grow in your career, return and review your plan, revising where necessary and ensuring you stay on top of yourself in order to meet the goals you laid out. As you gain experience in the legal field and in life, your goals will change. Don’t worry about that. Use your experiences to adjust your goals to what’s best for you and your family.
WHAT’S IN A MENTOR?
In a word, “everything.” Mentors help you weather the storm and better understand the nuances of the industry and best approaches to overcome the obstacles you will face.
Additionally, mentors can help you develop new ideas about your employment future and help your identify your brand within the legal community.
At times mentors can offer you the most important resource you and your career may need, an open ear. Speaking out loud to someone who wants you to succeed will help you understand what is in your best interest and your future courses of action.
BE OPEN TO NEW EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Good things come to those who work hard, are patient and able to recognize a great opportunity when it presents itself. Even if something comes up that is off your career plan, that’s okay. Consider it carefully, it may be the best decision of your life.
Find the good in any situation, project or case. Even if it isn’t as exciting as you would prefer it to be, find ways to improve the experience and gain something valuable out of it as a result. This will enable you to continue to grow and develop skills you may need for the next big move.
Keep your eyes and ears open, at all times. Not doing so may cause you to miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime. Be ready, be open and consider everything.
NETWORK – MEET EVERYONE
Most of the best opportunities in life come from your network. For years, we have heard and used the saying, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” So, get out there, meet people and develop meaningful relationships, making some new friends along the way.
This is just as important in your own office settings as well. Get to know the ins and the outs of the office, who the key players are and what the office dynamic is like. You’ll be working together, so find the things you have in common and build relationships. It is always easier to lean on someone you know and work well with for a favor than a stranger.
GET INVOLVED
Whether it’s within the activities and efforts of the organization or law firm, or in the community volunteering, get involved and begin building your brand. Join committees and boards, meet new people and develop relationships at all levels.
Balancing what to do and what to respectively pass on takes grace and skill. However, being involved can do wonders for the advancement of your career and should be a consideration at every step along the way.
WORK WITH PRIME LEGAL
This one certainly seems to be the most obvious one to us! We know legal and we only do legal. Our team has a background in the legal industry and we can work with you throughout your entire career to ensure that your next career move is the right one.
We have a network of employers that we have built over the last five decades and we are always meeting and engaging with new organizations daily. We can prepare you for interviews and the selection process. We can help you make your resume stand out among the crowd.
We work with you every step of the way. You will never be left in the dark. Our goal is your satisfaction with your work and your career advancement. We take the time to understand you and learn your career goals.