Career Development --> Getting Ahead

Taking Stock

The first step towards achieving career success and satisfaction is an honest self assessment. Just like an annual physical exam, it is a good idea to give yourself a regular career check-up. If you are not clear about where you’ve been, where you are, and where you want to go, it is difficult to determine if you are on the right path or what your next step should be. Periodic reflection on your career progress and satisfaction will keep you from wandering too far afield.

By taking a good look at yourself, you can determine whether you need to make some large or small changes in your current employment situation; change practice areas, law firms, or type of legal employer; or leave the practice of law all together for a related or completely different field of endeavor.

At the very least, you should take stock both personally and professionally before embarking upon a job search, to save yourself unnecessary steps along your path to career fulfillment. As legal recruiters, we have worked with candidates who were dissatisfied in their present jobs, but did not take the time to figure out what they wanted before making a move. There was the litigator who thought that it was her particular law firm that she did not like, only to move to another firm’s litigation department and discover that she was even more miserable. It took a further job change to join the corporate department of a third law firm before she was content. And, there have been other attorneys who, just months after moving to a new law firm, decided that they really wanted to become a therapist or open a bakery.

Your self assessment should include a look at the pros and cons of past and current jobs, your preferences, strengths and weaknesses, your family or personal responsibilities, and your values, life goals and dreams. What do you like and dislike about various positions your have held or projects you handled? For each one, look at the actual work you did on a daily basis, the people with and for whom you worked, staffing, the culture of the organization and its position in the legal marketplace, your clients, the practice, business development opportunities, and your professional growth prospects. Are you more comfortable in a formal, corporate-style setting, a more informal team-style firm, or a small, entrepreneurial or solo practice where you can be your own boss?

Consider also the details: the physical environment, your commute, the pay and benefits. Are you living in the geographic location that is best for you personally and professionally? Think about what the specifics of the projects or tasks you most and least enjoyed, and why. If you could imagine an ideal work situation, what would it look like? You should be clear about both what you want to move away from as well as what you wish to move towards.

If you are like most people, the work you do is integral to your self-image. Do you like what you see? Give yourself an unvarnished once-over. Look at what excites or bores you, your strengths and weaknesses. Honestly evaluate whether there are some skills you would like to develop or enhance. How are your mental and physical health, appearance, energy level, and work/life balance?

Think back to the reasons you went to law school and what you hoped to accomplish. What were your dreams? Are you headed towards those goals, or have your goals changed? Keep the reality of your current financial and family responsibilities as sometimes priorities change along with your stage in life. You may also want to talk things over with trusted friends and colleagues for a reality check: are your goals realistic given your education, experience, personality, and family responsibilities? If not, is there something that can be changed?

An important question to ask yourself is whether your work reflects your core motivations and values. Are you representing the type of clients and working on the kinds of cases or deals that resonate with your beliefs? It is difficult to effectively and zealously represent a client whose goals conflict with your personal ideals. Sometimes pursuing pro bono activities or an interest outside of law—charity, civic organizations, sports, or a hobby—can add balance and perspective.

Once you have made an honest assessment, you will be able to gather relevant information, consider your options, and create an action plan to get you where you want to go—both the next step and your ultimate career destination. You may discover that you need merely to tweak your current situation, make a radical change, or something in between.

Make a plan including both short and long term actions to achieve your goals: take MCLE or extension courses, talk to your boss or clients, write and speak on your specialty, join and take leadership roles in relevant organizations, review and renew your networking contacts, update your resume, and see a career counselor or recruiter, if necessary, to help you on your way.

The better you know yourself and what you want, the better chance you will have at achieving a good professional “fit”, enhancing your career success and satisfaction.

Career Development --> Getting Ahead Taking Stock The first step towards achieving career success and satisfaction is an honest self assessment. Just like an annual physical exam, it is a good idea to give yourself a regular career check-up. If you are not clear about where you’ve been, where you are, and where you want to go, it is difficult to determine if you are on the right path or what your next step should be. Periodic reflection on your career progress and satisfaction will keep you from wandering too far afield. By taking a good look at yourself, you can determine whether you need to make some large or small changes in your current employment situation; change practice areas, law firms, or type of legal employer; or leave the practice of law all together for a related or completely different field of endeavor. At the very least, you should take stock both personally and professionally before embarking upon a job search, to save yourself unnecessary steps along your path to career fulfillment. As legal recruiters, we have worked with candidates who were dissatisfied in their present jobs, but did not take the time to figure out what they wanted before making a move. There was the litigator who thought that it was her particular law firm that she did not like, only to move to another firm’s litigation department and discover that she was even more miserable. It took a further job change to join the corporate department of a third law firm before she was content. And, there have been other attorneys who, just months after moving to a new law firm, decided that they really wanted to become a therapist or open a bakery. Your self assessment should include a look at the pros and cons of past and current jobs, your preferences, strengths and weaknesses, your family or personal responsibilities, and your values, life goals and dreams. What do you like and dislike about various positions your have held or projects you handled? For each one, look at the actual work you did on a daily basis, the people with and for whom you worked, staffing, the culture of the organization and its position in the legal marketplace, your clients, the practice, business development opportunities, and your professional growth prospects. Are you more comfortable in a formal, corporate-style setting, a more informal team-style firm, or a small, entrepreneurial or solo practice where you can be your own boss? Consider also the details: the physical environment, your commute, the pay and benefits. Are you living in the geographic location that is best for you personally and professionally? Think about what the specifics of the projects or tasks you most and least enjoyed, and why. If you could imagine an ideal work situation, what would it look like? You should be clear about both what you want to move away from as well as what you wish to move towards. If you are like most people, the work you do is integral to your self-image. Do you like what you see? Give yourself an unvarnished once-over. Look at what excites or bores you, your strengths and weaknesses. Honestly evaluate whether there are some skills you would like to develop or enhance. How are your mental and physical health, appearance, energy level, and work/life balance? Think back to the reasons you went to law school and what you hoped to accomplish. What were your dreams? Are you headed towards those goals, or have your goals changed? Keep the reality of your current financial and family responsibilities as sometimes priorities change along with your stage in life. You may also want to talk things over with trusted friends and colleagues for a reality check: are your goals realistic given your education, experience, personality, and family responsibilities? If not, is there something that can be changed? An important question to ask yourself is whether your work reflects your core motivations and values. Are you representing the type of clients and working on the kinds of cases or deals that resonate with your beliefs? It is difficult to effectively and zealously represent a client whose goals conflict with your personal ideals. Sometimes pursuing pro bono activities or an interest outside of law—charity, civic organizations, sports, or a hobby—can add balance and perspective. Once you have made an honest assessment, you will be able to gather relevant information, consider your options, and create an action plan to get you where you want to go—both the next step and your ultimate career destination. You may discover that you need merely to tweak your current situation, make a radical change, or something in between. Make a plan including both short and long term actions to achieve your goals: take MCLE or extension courses, talk to your boss or clients, write and speak on your specialty, join and take leadership roles in relevant organizations, review and renew your networking contacts, update your resume, and see a career counselor or recruiter, if necessary, to help you on your way. The better you know yourself and what you want, the better chance you will have at achieving a good professional “fit”, enhancing your career success and satisfaction.	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