I wasn’t expecting this…
Kindness is, after all, very much not a prerequisite for working in a law firm. Indeed, I suspect it would be actively frowned upon by certain members of the profession.
And yet…
What will we remember when we reach the end of our careers?
Yes, of course, we’ll remember the highs and lows of a career in a highly competitive (and occasionally dramatic) profession.
But won’t we remember most of all the times when we were treated with kindness in a profession where it can be in somewhat short supply?
The No Club
There may be male lawyers reading this who’ll say “I’ve done loads of this type of thing over the years!” To which I say, good for you! I’ve just rarely seen this myself in my 20 year career.
The real problem of non-promotable work is that it’s, well, non-promotable. You’ll spend the same time doing the work as you could have spent doing chargeable work that counts towards your annual targets i.e. things the promotion committee actually care about.
When is the best time to have a baby in your legal career?
This is a bit of a loaded subject. However, it’s one that male lawyers don’t need to think about to the same degree and so it’s definitely one for the Female Lawyers’ Club to discuss.
I’ve set out my thoughts, plus those of seven female lawyer friends who have kindly contributed.
Will I ever know enough?
I was acutely conscious at the beginning of how little I knew. How was I supposed to advise people and appear competent given my lack of knowledge and experience? Like learning to drive, my journey into law took a while.
Lost in Wales
This is a really important concept. In measuring yourself not against the “gap” (your distance from where you ultimately want to be) but instead against the “gain” (your progress from your initial starting point) you will be reminded you of how far you’ve come. This simple mindset shift will help you to enjoy your success now, rather than constantly feeling as though you are not good enough.