Your best career path is one that’s a strong match to your strengths. Ask yourself these questions to guide you toward that match:
Do I prefer…
A. Working on smaller matters I can handle on my own from start to finish, or …
B. Working on a part of a larger case with colleagues on a team?
Or do I prefer…
A. Representing individuals in disputes of deals important in their lives, or…
B. Having corporate clients whose matters I care about but in which I won’t tend to become personally involved?
Or do I prefer…
A. Sparring with opponents, or…
B. Using a more cooperative style?
Do I gravitate toward…
A. Dealing with an individual’s claim, such as in civil litigation, or…
B. Helping build tangible assets, such as in commercial real estate?
Or do I gravitate toward…
A. Assisting youths, representing the elderly, or helping other segments of society, or…
B. Focusing professionally on segments of the business community?
Or do I gravitate toward…
A. Variety and unpredictability, or…
B. More repetitive tasks I can master?
Do I tend to excel in…
A. Communicating orally, or…
B. Communicating in writing
Or do I tend to excel in…
A. Advocating, or…
B. Informing?
Or do I tend to excel in…
A. Finding novel approaches to legal problems, or..
B. Locating long-established precedents?
If your A responses are more prevalent, your strengths may lie, for example, in matrimonial work involving child custody issues in a small or solo practice. If you favored the B choices, you may be better suited to a specialized transactional practice, such as tax, in a larger organization.
There are many ways to identify your strengths, such as through formal testing, reading business literature, or by seeking 360-degree feedback on your perceived strengths from those who know you. Legal career counselors can help you identify your strengths and advise you on compatible areas of practice.
For example, if you’ve already tired of the hearty back-and-forth of trial advocacy classes, you might be ready to explore a role in which controversy is not the daily diet, such as in estate planning. If you think you like a particular legal field but aren’t inclined toward business development, you may want to explore another sector that would consistently draw on your strengths, such as non-profit or governmental work. If you’re intrigued by an alternate role in a legal organization, such as recruiting or professional development or diversity and inclusion, there are worthwhile opportunities to explore.
No matter what you prioritize, being thoughtful and purposeful in making informed decisions about your career at every juncture is important.
Identifying your strengths is a process not to overlook but instead to welcome and embrace, remembering that your strengths can change with time and seniority. Strengths aren’t necessarily static; they evolve in the course of a dynamic career in the legal profession. There are so many things one can do with a law degree. My advice is to exercise your options with strength and by playing to yours.
