Pursuing a legal career is a tempting option to many, as the field offers plenty of career and job opportunities. More so, some legal professionals are very well compensated, especially lawyers and judges. But at the same time, the legal career comes with significant challenges, including high educational costs and fierce competition. Here are some tips on how to increase your likelihood of succeeding in a legal career.
1. Invest wisely in your education
It’s no secret that higher education in the U.S. is very expensive. Unfortunately, not everyone can pursue their dream career, especially if they can’t access a scholarship. If you do have the possibility of investing in your education, do extensive research before choosing an educational institution.
Investing in education doesn’t only mean investing money but also time. If you’re lucky enough to study for your dream career, do your best to take advantage of your opportunity by structuring your studying habits, as doing so may increase your chances of becoming a high performer within the field.
2. Never stop learning
If you’ve managed to start a legal career, you may be tempted to give up on studying. While it’s true that you no longer need to spend several hours per week studying, like you did in college, engaging in legal study from time to time is a good idea. The legal landscape changes all the time, as new laws and amendments emerge regularly.
Staying updated with changes in your field of expertise should allow you to offer high-quality services to your clients no matter how much time has passed since you’ve finished your formal education. You can do so by participating in courses, reading legal content, or attending seminars and workshops relevant to your field.
3. Manage workload effectively
Legal careers are often demanding and many professionals experience burnout. For instance, one research study showed that almost two-thirds of legal professionals have experienced burnout as a result of their work. Overwhelming yourself can not only affect the quality of your life but also your ability to provide quality services to clients.
To manage your workload effectively, you should have a well-structured schedule that takes into consideration the maximum number of cases you can handle daily as well as the time you need for yourself. By maintaining a balance between your personal needs and career ambitions, you’re less likely to experience burnout and more likely to have happy clients.
4. Set clear boundaries between your personal and professional life
It’s often the case that personal feelings interfere with professional judgment. In legal settings, such interference can be especially stressful, as you often work with clients who rely on you for issues that can have significant consequences on their lives. You won’t always be able to help all your clients, for which it’s important to avoid becoming overly emotionally involved in a case.
You don’t want to allow work-related problems to affect your personal life, as you will risk harming your mental health and, sometimes, your personal and professional relationships. If at any point you feel that your emotional involvement is affecting your ability to provide quality services, it’s best to refer the case to someone else.
5. Establish relevant networks
Knowing the right people can help you improve the quality of services you provide and help you find new opportunities. For instance, you can connect with legal professionals who might help you find collaborations and job prospects. Establishing a professional network early on is recommended, as starting a legal career can be challenging due to resource requirements and fierce competition.
There are many ways to join a network of legal professionals, such as by working or collaborating with law firms or using online resources such as LinkedIn. A search website can also come in handy, especially when you already know who you want to contact.
6. Communicate clearly
The legal field is filled with terminologies that lay individuals find difficult to understand. Regardless of what your legal career is, you want to make sure that you can communicate with your clients in a manner that they can understand. Having the ability to communicate technical terms in a manner that is understandable to your clients may reduce the risk of having clients who have unreasonable expectations from you.
7. Consider mentorship
Having a good mentor can help you achieve a successful legal career. For example, a legal professional expert can guide you during your formal education or at the start of your career. Establishing a relationship with a mentor can help you gain a “real-world” perspective on the legal system, such as tips on handling specific cases and navigating common challenges. Finally, mentors can also help you find a legal network or expand your existing one.
8. Think twice before taking cases in which you don’t believe
In case you’re pursuing a career as a lawyer, you may occasionally have difficulties determining whether you want to take a case or not. You may want to avoid taking cases that you don’t believe in, as some such cases might make you feel guilty and interfere with your motivation to succeed. If you feel uncomfortable with the demands of a particular client, it’s probably best to refer them to a different person or simply refuse the case.
Bottom line: Plan more, improve less
Having a successful legal career isn’t very easy, as you need to invest time and money in your education and career building in a competitive field. That being said, planning may increase your chances of success, as it will lower the risks of having to deal with unexpected situations.
To plan properly, you need to understand the demands of your career. Once you identify the career path you want to follow, start building networks and search for job or business opportunities. Unexpected events can occur, so also make sure you always have more than one plan to reach a particular goal. Finally, if reaching a goal is unlikely, be flexible and find new ones as opposed to completely giving up on your career goals.
