Are you a lawyer looking to advance your career and master key professional skills beyond the legal textbooks? Are you seeking to develop your practice and rise through the ranks at your firm?
Good on you.
It’s always worth having an ear to the ground for ways to upskill if you want to keep your career moving. And you needn’t wait until you’re ready to become a partner or open your own practice to learn and grow.
Think of law school as the foundation of your legal career. The experiences you accumulate in your first professional roles are the building blocks atop that foundation.
But what about those more abstract areas of expertise, the ones you can’t learn from a legal textbook? Skills and knowledge like leadership, finance, marketing, operations and legal tech.
It’s these things that will truly elevate your practice, making you a more well-rounded professional – and ultimately, a better lawyer.
Below, we outline some of the key ways you can fast-track your professional growth, and transition from a good lawyer to a great one.
1. Keep abreast of legal trends and technologies to stay ahead of the curve
Law is a dynamic field. Legal standards and regulations change all the time.
So it’s incredibly important to stay on top of the latest legal practices to ensure you’re advising your clients accurately.
It’s also a smart idea to keep an eye on any developments in legal tech. According to a recent study, tech skills are increasingly in demand among legal professionals. In fact, 62% of lawyers surveyed said their hiring decisions are influenced more by candidates' technical abilities than their soft skills.
There are dozens of systems designed to improve case management, boost client service and streamline administrative processes in the legal field. The more you know about these tools and technologies, the better. When you’re clued up on the latest innovations, you can work with your team to quickly implement them in your workplace. And your firm will be better for it.
The Centre for Legal Innovation is an excellent source of industry news. Peruse research and watch insightful webinars to stay informed on the technologies transforming the legal industry.
2. Get a competitive edge by building your business skills
The reality is a law firm is a business. And like all businesses, it needs a strong brand, proactive promotion and a growing client base to be successful.
That’s where marketing comes in.
Learning how to leverage digital marketing tools, target the right clients and build a compelling brand can make you a real asset to any legal team – and set you apart in a competitive field.
3. Help secure your firm’s future with smart financial management
Granted, it may not be the most glamorous topic.
But financial management is the cornerstone of any law firm (or in-house legal team). Getting a handle on it now will set you up for success throughout your career.
It will also help you make smart business decisions in your current role. If you always have your firm’s financial health back of mind, you can ensure every move you make is geared towards stability and growth.
Take some time to get to grips with budgeting, financial planning and trust accounting, and you’ll thank yourself later.
4. Master the art of client management for long-term success
Whatever the stage of your legal career, client management will be a major part of your role. And even if you can schmooze with the best of them, there’s always room to sharpen those skills.
Some formal training on how to attract new clients (and retain existing ones) will give you a significant edge in the job market. And learning the best ways to manage expectations and resolve conflicts is guaranteed to make your working life easier.
Invest in your relationship management skills to ensure you’re not just meeting clients’ expectations – you’re exceeding them.
5. Understand why partners make key decisions – so you can support them more effectively
A law firm is a complex machine with many moving parts.
Even if you’re not planning to start your own practice any time soon, understanding how one operates can be invaluable. It will provide you with strategic insight your peers may lack and will make you a better team player.
With a strong grasp of a firm’s structure and daily operations, you’ll better understand why partners make their decisions, allowing for more seamless collaboration in pursuit of shared goals. You’ll be more equipped to anticipate risks and better placed to manage your time efficiently, focusing on tasks that drive the firm’s success.
By demonstrating your ability to think strategically, you’ll position yourself as an indispensable member of the team – one who actively contributes to the firm’s long-term objectives.
It’s this strategic approach that will help you shine when promotions are on the table.
Plus, building this knowledge now is a great investment in your future. If you ever do decide to set up your own practice, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running.
6. Equip yourself with the skills and confidence to step into leadership
Whether you work in-house or at a firm, you’ll take on more and more responsibility as you progress. Often, this means leading teams and supervising junior lawyers.
Brushing up on your leadership skills now, from delegation to decision-making, will enable you to seize leadership opportunities as they arise.
Plenty of courses (we may be able to help you there) teach you practical techniques to help you motivate your team and lead like a pro.
7. Open more doors with an unrestricted practising certificate
An unrestricted practising certificate opens a lot of professional doors.
Even if starting your own firm isn’t on your radar, having that certificate will make the process smoother if or when that time comes.
It will also pave the way for your progression to partner when the opportunity presents itself. Remove the restriction now and you’ll save yourself time and hassle further down the track.
Act today to accelerate your career tomorrow – and beyond
When it comes to professional development, there’s no time like the present.
If you’re interested in developing career-advancing skills like the ones outlined here, we can help.
Despite its name, the Legal Practice Management Course (LPMC) isn’t just for lawyers ready to become partners or open their own practice. It’s packed with useful insights and transferable skills that will give you a boost – whatever stage your legal career.
In fact, our recent survey of LPMC graduates found that career advancement was the second top reason for enrolling in the LPMC.
Led by legal business professionals with boots-on-the-ground experience, the course covers 9 key areas:
- Business development and marketing
- Ethics and professional standards
- Financial management
- Leadership and management
- Business strategy and succession planning
- Risk management
- Practice management systems and technology
- Trust accounting
- Innovation
The LPMC will give you a thorough understanding of how firms operate at a business level, as well as practical training in everything from legal tech and taxation strategies to ethics and stress management. You’ll come away up to date on legal trends and practices – and you’ll have a prestigious qualification from an industry-recognised provider that’s helped 5000+ graduates to date.
What’s more, you’ll meet seasoned legal business professionals and fellow lawyers, building connections that could last the rest of your career .
Don’t just take our word for it – hear from our alumni what they gained from the LPMC, or browse our course guide.