A law career path looks different now than a decade ago
The way we work has changed dramatically over the past several years, and that means the law career path has changed with it. Independent lawyers and small law firms have an opportunity to get ahead of these changes and define a path for themselves.
Digital dexterity and the one-firm approach
A recent Forbes analysis suggested that the best performing modern law firms allow clients to choose a “one-firm approach.” That means the firm has a depth of skill and services that meet clients’ ever-changing needs.
These firms also employ both attorneys and support staff that exhibit a high degree of what analyst firm Gartner calls “digital dexterity.” That refers to a flexibility and willingness to embrace tech tools that simply law processes for clients.
The article notes:
“The one-firm and digital dexterity findings make clear that digital transformation is more than technology; human adaptation, creativity and considered, data-backed experimentation are also essential elements. Old ways of working are quickly being replaced by new ones that demand social intelligence (EQ) as much as cognitive agility.“
Independent lawyers might wince at the one-firm idea because they simply don’t have additional staff to match the depth and breadth of a big law firm. However, solo lawyers have more ability to flex and partner with other firms and providers to meet client needs. The “one firm” concept can expand to encompass one go-to lawyer who has shown a unique ability to activate resources for clients as needed.
Human adaptation
The Forbes piece goes on to discuss the ways EQ and human adaptation matter just as much as applying technology:
“Career diversification involves leveraging skills from one job, acquiring new ones, then synthesizing and applying them across different roles throughout one’s career. It is a byproduct of digital transformation, a seismic shift in how we live, work, and exchange goods and services. Technology enables digital transformation; human adaptation determines its outcome.”
In our experience, independent lawyers have always shown human adaptation. Entrepreneurial by nature, lawyers who choose to hang their own shingle already have strong ideas about what it means to deliver value to clients, and they often deliver services in completely innovative ways.
A Thomson Reuters article expands on this idea by looking at Adaptors vs. Innovators in a system, writing:
“Adaptors are highly organized and structured, preferring to solve problems by figuring out how to win within the system that’s already in place. Innovators, on the other hand, are more fluid and boundary-free, often solving problems by changing (or bucking) the structure, system, or conventional wisdom.”
An important distinction, and many independent lawyers fall into the innovation category. They started their own firms as a way to implement completely new approaches to legal services delivery. Along the way, they have created their own career path.
Redefining success
We created an e-book for lawyers on what it means to redefine success, and it continues to hold true. Following a traditional law career path in a big law firm doesn’t make sense for everyone, and many lawyers find much greater satisfaction in blazing an independent trail.
This seasoned attorney counsels new lawyers to consider their own definition of success:
“It took me more than a few years after law school to get to [six figures at a big law firm]. But did more money equal more happiness? Not really. My greatest professional joys are in building things and reinventing systems—I would rather build a system that can help a thousand people than spend years on a single person’s litigation case. Outside of work, my life is way more about my family than it is about finances.”
As you consider your law career, whether you are a new graduate or have years of experience behind you, remember that you have choices. In the age of remote work and digital delivery, you have even more options available than ever before.
With a growth mindset and an eye toward innovation, you can create a career path that meets your personal needs without having to fit into a traditional track.
Ready to innovate as an independent lawyer? Our shared office communities in Denver and Las Vegas allow you to grow your small law firm as you create community and collaboration opportunities with fellow entrepreneurial lawyers. Reach out to learn more.
