As a legal professional, your career is not just about the cases you handle or the deals you close; it’s about the value you bring to the table and how you convey that to others. To truly advance in your legal career, you need a strong professional brand. Here’s how to build it:
- Start With a Clear Career Plan
Begin by mapping out your ultimate long-term goals. Consider what specific job elements are most important to you, how your qualifications align with those elements, and how your leadership experience sets you apart. Building a solid foundation for your career search involves strategic networking to gain support and identify opportunities, followed by lead generation to explore concrete job prospects.
Having a clear roadmap allows you to approach your career with purpose and direction, ensuring that each step brings you closer to your ultimate goals.
- Be Proactive in Shaping Your Career Path
Think ahead and take proactive steps that will help you reach the next phase of your career. Consider the factors that may influence your desire to move forward, such as opportunities for a new title, salary growth, addressing boredom or conflicts with your boss, or the need for a change in work-life balance. Evaluate both your short-term and long-term needs/wants and determine how they fit into your overall career strategy.
Whether you’re seeking board roles, new challenges in a different geographic location, or even considering a shift to different industries, be clear about how each step aligns with your broader goals. Reflect on how your decisions can lead to greater impact and sustainability, ensuring that you’re moving toward a career that supports your passions and personal life.
- Understand Your Employment Value Proposition
At its core, your career is an equation: your time + your expertise = RESULTS (value). Whether you’re in private practice, in-house, or a government role, your time and legal expertise combine to solve complex issues for your employer or clients. This is your value proposition, and it’s what you should focus on communicating at every opportunity.
- Control What People Remember About You
The way you present yourself professionally will shape how people perceive and remember you. Being deliberate about your brand can set you apart in the legal industry, where competition is fierce.
Ask yourself: Are you pursuing a career that you’re passionate about and engaged in? If so, ensure that passion comes across clearly in every professional interaction.
Think of your brand as the story you want others to know about you. It should reflect not just your technical skills, but also your commitment, work ethic, and areas of expertise.
- Convey Your Value Clearly and Cohesively
The key to professional success is understanding that you are a problem-solver. Employers or clients come to you because they have an issue that requires your legal expertise to resolve. It’s essential that this story is told in a clear, cohesive manner across all of your professional tools.
- Resumes & Cover Letters: Highlight how your past experiences have delivered results. Focus on achievements that illustrate your ability to solve problems effectively.
- Online Presence: Your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or online portfolio should be up-to-date and reflect your career trajectory, showcasing your skills, endorsements, and content that underscores your expertise.
- Networking Interactions: When meeting others, whether at industry events, conferences, or even online, be prepared to articulate your value proposition succinctly.
Your legal career is more than just your daily tasks and responsibilities; it’s about how you leverage your time and expertise to deliver results.
By starting with a clear career plan, being proactive about your career steps, controlling what people remember about you, building trust, and clearly conveying your value across all platforms, you can create a strong professional brand that will help you advance in your career.