You feel invisible despite all the hard work you’ve put in. You were a diligent student, an eager associate, and now you’ve made partner, but you feel like a pawn in someone else’s game. You’re sick and tired of it.
There is a trajectory that women lawyers can follow when we want to move from hiding to making waves. Let’s explore the journey of Josie, a fictional junior partner at a bustling Houston law firm. Josie is in midlife and is feeling the pressure to grow her book of business. Josie is typical of the women who choose to work with me.
Josie is a perfectionist, and her meticulousness can cost her stand-up opportunities. This is costing her more tactically in pay, recognition, and chances to attract new clients. Determined to change the direction her career has started to follow, she commits to making changes.
Josie’s journey begins with self-reflection. Before a presentation to her partners, she experiences the familiar pit in her stomach, sweaty palms, and a racing heartbeat. This time, however, instead of retreating, Josie reaches for her journal. She lists her strengths — creating sharp presentations, developing compelling narratives, and having keen attention to detail. Taking this step helps her focus on what she can offer rather than on what she is afraid of.
To reinforce her confidence, Josie also recalls past successes. She reminds herself of her most effective presentations, both internal and client-facing. Remembering this past win reassures her that she has applied herself just as diligently this time around. This simple act of self-awareness puts her in a healthier mindset. Josie walks into the presentation with her shoulders back and her head held high, and she speaks with confidence. Her partners notice.
After the meeting, Josie reflects on other opportunities she might pursue, including speaking and writing. Determined, Josie sets a goal to speak at an industry conference in six months and to write an article for a respected publication avidly read by firm clients. Recognizing that she needs support, she reaches out to Tanya, a partner at a similar-sized firm whom she met at a leadership seminar. They meet for lunch.
During their conversation, Josie tentatively shares her secret commitment to speak at the conference. Tanya offers to help Josie practice, and they sketch out a timeline with milestones for Josie to hit. Josie’s plans have just transformed from wishes into actionable goals: she feels powerful for the first time in ages.
With her goals in mind, Josie decides to uplevel her presentation skills. She studies public speaking tutorials and attends a workshop specifically for lawyers. At first, her hands tremble and her voice shakes, but with practice, she learns to send her breath into those shaky parts, gradually building up her confidence.
Over time, Josie learns not only how to express herself with power but also how to connect genuinely with her audience. She starts to reflect on the message she conveys about herself as both a lawyer and a leader, considering how her wardrobe, posture, and speech patterns reflect on her personal brand.
Feeling more polished, Josie decides to start practicing her newfound skills in low-pressure environments: she shares insights about recent case law on her firm’s internal platform. Positive feedback from her partners boosts her confidence, and she goes on to share her thoughts on social media as well.
As Josie engages with her peers online, her posts begin to spark discussions among fellow attorneys. The comment section below her posts starts to become a hub for conversations and micronetworking. Soon, Tanya introduces Josie to a neighbor connected to her subject matter expertise, opening a new door for Josie’s business development efforts.
Motivated to expand her reach further, Josie begins writing articles and suggesting topics for the firm newsletter. On social media, she shares her own original content and curates relevant articles. By elevating the conversation online, she is positioning herself as a knowledgeable resource.
As her visibility grows, Josie starts to receive invitations to write for publications and to speak on podcasts. This newfound recognition reinforces her status as an expert in her field.
With her confidence building, Josie takes a leap and signs up for a major legal conference. She practices deep breathing and mental rehearsing (process visualization) to calm her anxiety. Josie reviews the list of attendees and cross-references it with those she has interacted with on social media to set up meetings before she even arrives at the conference.
At the conference, Josie spots an industry titan, sitting alone at breakfast. She takes a deep breath and approaches the titan; they discover shared professional interests but also a mutual dislike for the conference keynote. Over laughter, they exchange business cards, and Josie asks if the titan would be open to continuing their conversation after the conference ends. The titan, seeing Josie’s potential, agrees: Josie has found herself a mentor.
After months of preparation, the day of Josie’s big speech finally arrives. She reminds herself of her extensive preparations. As she speaks, the audience feedback is overwhelmingly positive, which leaves her feeling validated about all her hard work. This is a pivotal moment in Josie’s journey; she begins to see herself as a thought leader.
Following her successful speech, Josie commits to regularly contributing to industry publications and participating in panel discussions. Each opportunity cements her status as a respected voice in her field, and with her assistant, she builds systems to ensure that she stays visible. With her growing visibility comes increased opportunities, creating a positive feedback loop of influence and recognition.
As the year progresses, Josie continues to engage with Tanya, her new mentor, and her colleagues. She discovers a genuine passion for writing and embraces critique as a crucial component of her growth. Regular reflection on her progress helps her remain focused on her goals and continuously improve as well.
Josie becomes comfortable with the idea of a 360-degree review, something she would never have agreed to in the past. She celebrates her incremental wins and joins a peer group of ambitious women lawyers, further propelling her career onward and upward.
Josie becomes passionate about helping others. She takes the lead on her firm’s women’s initiative, creating a supportive community among her colleagues. This effort not only enhances workplace culture but also strengthens her network.
Josie’s transformation illustrates the journey available to all women lawyers. By committing to growing our visibility, we position ourselves to become true rainmakers. Each time we enhance our visibility, we get closer to realizing our potential. We start to witness our own capability to transform into tomorrow’s confident leader.
Like Josie, you can find your voice and make your mark. Is it time for you to go from hiding to making waves?
