5 minute read
The snakes + ladders of career moves
The snakes + ladders of career moves
Introduction
In an uncertain world and with talk of recession, it has never been more important to have a career strategy and plan. Do you?
This ensures that you are on ‘the front foot’ not ‘the back foot’ and positively and proactively managing your career in 2024. Have you thought about the possible scenarios that may impact your career this year?
Whatever career move you aspire to, this article shares tips and insights to get you started.
Market context
The legal profession now has many more career options to choose from than in the past. There are also more alternative careers outside the law which can appeal.
Too many career choices can cause a problem - it is common for lawyers to get stuck in a ‘vicious circle’ analysing the risks, procrastinate and feel overwhelmed.
Key aspects of positive career management are:
1) self-awareness (internal),
2) market, trend and risk analysis (external),
3) a future-proof career strategy and plan and
4) a career option screening + decision making strategy.
Types of career move
What possible career move are you considering this year?
• Promotion
• Lateral hire
• From private practice to in-house
• Platform law firm
• Alternative Business Structure ‘ABS’
• Setting up your own firm
• Portfolio career
• Non-Exec Director
• Career sabbatical
• Career secondment
• Freelance lawyer
• Different practice area
• Leaving the law
• Something else?
16 reasons why lawyers find making a career move hard
There are 16 reasons why lawyers find making a career move hard and put it off. In uncertain times, inertia and complacency are dangerous.
1. Conformist by nature;
2. Trained to follow precedent, not go the opposite way;
3. Risk averse in character;
4. Parental pride in offspring being a lawyer;
5. Fear of people thinking you’ve failed;
6. Avoidance of showing weakness e.g. asking for help;
7. Difficulty of letting go of perceived status ”Oh, you are a lawyer!”;
8. Linear thinking does not help to identify new career options/jobs;
9. Legal training includes seeing risks, so seeing the negatives in career options can be magnified out of proportion;
10. Leaving behind career milestones of the legal profession can feel like stepping off into a void;
11. Anxiety – worry that you will make the wrong decision;
12. Deep specialism of law makes it feel like you have more to lose if you leave the profession;
13. High cost of training to be a lawyer feels like £ ‘down the drain’;
14. Catastrophising– ‘I will never get another job again’;
15. Dislike of marketing yourself/negative associations with self-promotion; and
16. Feel inauthentic and exposed, lacking experience in a new area.
Which reasons do you relate to most?
12 reasons why lawyers are well equipped to create a successful career move
The good news is that lawyers are well equipped to create a successful career move because:
1. Research skill useful to explore new career options;
2. Intelligence to make a good decision;
3. Persistence to make it work, having spent many years training;
4. Society’s perception of lawyers as professionals helps you be considered as a candidate;
5. Rigorous approach analysing and synthesising information;
6. Robust risk assessment increases the likelihood of making a good decision;
7. Keeping up to date with the law – new careers appearing all the time;
8. Commitment to study and learning useful to get up to speed fast;
9. Adaptability – experience of working in different practice areas;
10. Tolerance and resilience acquired when junior working in a law firm;
11. Breadth and mix of lawyering skills i.e. critical thinking, client relationship management, negotiation, advising, analysis and synthesis gives a transferable and useful skillset;
12. CPD requirement makes you open to skills refreshment.
Which of these factors do you most relate to?
So how can you ensure that you positively and proactively manage your career in 2024?
5 Career adaptability competencies
Developing these 5 career adaptability competencies will increase your chances of success. Include these in your 2024 CPD plan.
• Control - being proactive, decisive & taking responsibility for your career;
• Curiosity - broadening your horizons by seeking options, possibilities and knowledge;
• Commitment - passionately pursuing & taking action to move to the career horizon of your choosing;
• Confidence - belief in yourself & that you can achieve your goal;
• Concern - having a positive & philosophical attitude to mistakes or rejection.
7 career change skills
These 7 skills are important to successfully manage and develop your career. How do you rate yourself against each of these out of 100%?
1. Know yourself;
2. Stretch yourself;
3. Adapt to change;
4. Spot the opportunities;
5. Build your network;
6. Build your brand;
7. Reflect and plan.
For a free career change skills evaluation questionnaire, e mail Rachel Brushfield:
Self-reflective questions
Block out time in your diary and find a quiet place to ask yourself these questions.
• When is the best time for me to regularly ring-fence time to focus on my career?
• What support will best help me to make a successful career move e.g. mentor, career coach, personal board, accountability buddy, my local Law Society etc?
• What does career success mean to me?
• How can I increase my career fulfilment in 2024?
• What is my future-proof niche?
• What are my personal development priorities?
• What are my career capital K.P.I.s?
• What is my attitude to career risk?
• What is my purpose?
• What 3 words sum up my personal brand?
• How do I sabotage my career progress?
• What is the question I most need to ask myself?
Conclusions
The V.U.C.A. (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world in which we live is here to stay. For lawyers especially who dislike ambiguity, this is challenging.
Doing nothing is the worst thing to do.
Make positively managing your career as important in your week as your most important client. What’s your first step to create a successful career move?
Rachel Brushfield
The Talent Liberator
EnergiseLegal www.energiselegal.com
