You may be perhaps two or three years into your legal career now and you’ve cut your teeth on some interesting work. You’ve been well supported by senior colleagues and getting exposure to some very good clients. You’re trying to make your mark as a Solicitor or Associate and are working hard, putting the hours in to deliver for your clients. But you’ve got one eye on moving up the ladder and want to secure that promotion... so how do you take that next step?
It’s important to remember that there’s no “one size fits all” to earning a promotion and nothing is ever guaranteed, but here are five tips which are useful to bear in mind when looking at positioning yourself for a promotion:
Utilise a mentor to help you:
Your law firm may already run a mentoring scheme which is ideal. But even if they don’t, you can approach someone at your firm or choose a mentor who works externally. When deciding who your mentor will be, you should consider:-
- the mentor’s career progression to date
- the length of time they have been with your firm (or the firm they are in if you have gone external) and
- the department they work in.
A mentor within your own firm can provide first-hand experience of the progression pathway within the firm and what in particular the firm looks for when considering promotions. Choosing someone within the same department can be useful for introductions and insight into individuals within the firm that you may need to know. If you choose someone you don’t work with on a day-to-day basis, this can help provide you with an impartial and balanced view.
Devise a flexible career plan:
You can speak to your senior colleagues, manager or mentor or people in your wider network like experienced recruitment agents to help you formulate this. Think about questions such as,
- how do I want my career to progress; what is the next step for me here and can I achieve it?
- is there a particular sector or work type I want ultimately to specialise in?
- do I want to move in-house?
Thinking about where you want to go will allow you to focus on what is required to advance along that path. Be goal orientated and clear with yourself about your ambitions. It’s also important to remember that ambitions are luid and can change so be ready to embrace this if it happens to you.
Do your research and be clear on what you need to do:
Knowing what you need to do to achieve promotion can seem like a simple task, but sometimes the lines are blurred and so understanding what will be required of you is key to avoiding disappointment or misinterpretation. Most firms have some set criteria that a junior lawyer needs to evidence in their work before promotion, so make sure you are familiar with what the criteria are. Keep a record of the clients you work with and the experience you have accrued, so you have this to hand in any promotion meeting or interview. If your firm doesn’t have this in an accessible form, this is where a mentor can be helpful; ask them what they needed to achieve in order to earn a promotion. Ask your line manager, if applicable, and make sure your aspirations are on their radar. Having tangible evidence to provide at review meetings and appraisals will show that you are proactive and have thought this through carefully. This also allows you to have honest and frank conversations about your strengths and where you need to hone your skills. It is never too early to start thinking about the next step and building that bank of evidence to support your applications.
Internal network:
Do not underestimate the value of your internal network. People within your firm will be your greatest sponsors. So building your internal network and reputation will stand you in good stead for progression. Be friendly and helpful and engage with new contacts. When you have worked with a colleague either in your own department or elsewhere on a piece of work or project, ensure you are asking for constructive feedback. Depending on the firm this can be done formally or even via an informal email request. Don’t be shy, ask the question. Keep in touch and maintain your relationships with peers and colleagues at all levels within the firm. It will help you get noticed and perceived in a positive light by others.
Get involved:
Throw yourself into new experiences wherever possible and go the extra mile! Whether it is with specific types of work, business development initiatives, peer group networking, external sector involvement or stepping in to help mentor a more junior colleague, show yourself to be keen and motivated and ready to pitch in. Remote working may have restricted your face time with partners and colleagues but there are always ways to make yourself more visible. It can be small things:- if you have read something in the press that is applicable to your department, field of law or wider firm, think about discussing this at your next team meeting.
These little things all help to paint a positive picture but you don’t need to be conscious of them all the time. You can only control so much. Be confident in yourself and if you go about your business with a diligent, hard-working, enthusiastic and open approach, with a smile on your face, you can’t go far wrong!
Being able to see an avenue for career progression is important to many lawyers. If you are looking to take that next career step and aren’t quite sure if it is possible (or desirable) to do that where you are, whatever your level of qualification, please feel free to get in touch for a confidential chat about your plans and the options available to you.
To discuss your options in 2023 with our legal recruitment experts at Chadwick Nott please get in touch www.chadwicknott.co.uk/meet-the-team/meet-the-directors
