Critical for Lawyer Success – Continual Growth

By Heather Bock, Lori Berman, and Juliet Aiken –

According to our research, lawyers who make partner within ten years of practice, as compared to lawyers who after 11 years have not make it to partner, are masters of their fate, calibrators, and highly networked. And, promotion to partner aside, lawyers who are healthy–in that they avoid minor ailments–and lawyers who are flourishing—in that they feel satisfied with their job, career, and learning opportunities are also masters of their fate. Additionally, flourishing lawyers, like partners, are highly networked. But the buck doesn’t stop there; healthy and flourishing lawyers have a few other characteristics in common. Today, as we continue share the results of our large-scale research study on lawyers in AmLaw 100 firms, we’ll delve into another characteristic critical for success: a desire for continual growth.

Seeking continual growth has two components. First, continual growth requires a learning orientation. Healthy, flourishing attorneys seek out as many learning opportunities as possible. While some attorneys only learn when learning is required for the successful completion of an assignment, the healthy flourishing attorneys in our study sought learning for the sake of learning itself, regardless of its immediate payoffs at work. Of course, while not all learning pays off immediately (or even eventually), it is likely that the skills and knowledge these attorneys develop—as well as their curious mindset—come in handy throughout their careers.

Second, lawyers who seek continual growth enjoy difficult tasks. Lawyers who are healthy and flourish simply don’t shy away from a challenge. Rather than sticking to assignments they know they can accomplish, these lawyers push themselves to new heights. We know lawyers in general tend to be risk-averse, but there are times when pushing your boundaries and taking some risks can be rewarding. Not only might you accomplish something impressive, but you will also bask in the knowledge that yes, you can do what you put your mind to.

Your growth starts today, especially if you . . .

1. Shoot for the stars
   1. Change your frame. Rather than viewing a difficult task as insurmountable, work to reframe it. Can you frame it as a puzzle rather than a problem? Can you draw on skills you use to accomplish your day-to-day work? Turn your daunting tasks from mountains to mole hills, and in doing so, discover you have the strength to get over them.
   2. Break it down. That challenge may seem overwhelming at first. But, every challenge is a process, and every process can be broken down into steps. Find your steps, and you’ll find that the staircase is shorter than you thought.
   3. Find your “sweet spot.” Set high goals that challenge and energize you, but make sure they’re attainable. Shooting for something you cannot possibly reach will be discouraging rather than rewarding.
2. Get curious
   1. Look at the forest, not just the trees. When you get into the weeds on a particular matter, it’s easy to lose track of the bigger picture and get myopic in your development. Look out and look ahead, and you’ll start seeing more opportunities for growth and learning.
   2. Set aside some time. Yes, we know you are busy. Set aside whatever time you can spare, whether that is 5 minutes or 15, and do some reading or research on a topic you don’t know much about . . . yet. Even a little time invested can be a lot in the long run.

Okay, so you’re good to go on health and flourishing – so far. Of course, continual growth isn’t the only characteristic that distinguishes healthy, flourishing lawyers. Next, we’ll go into other characteristics of healthy, flourishing attorneys in our research, and you’ll get one step closer to holistic success.

Blog Authors

Heather Bock is the Chief Professional Development Officer at Hogan Lovells US LLP and the Executive Director and a Visiting Professor at Georgetown Law Center for the Study of the Legal Profession.

Lori Berman is the Director of Professional Development at Hogan Lovells US LLP and an Adjunct Professor and Research Affiliate at the Georgetown Law Center for the Study of the Legal Profession.

Juliet Aiken is the Deputy Director and Research Director at the Center for the Study of the Legal Profession at Georgetown Law and the founder of Statistics in Practice LLC.