In our Careers Clinic, we tackle career development questions from members of our specialist communities.
This month, Senior Consultant and family law careers specialist Lucy Wickham answers a question we hear more and more from legal professionals:
“I’m settled in my role and generally happy day to day, but I have a nagging feeling that I could end up getting stuck if I’m not careful. I don’t want to rush into a move for the sake of it, but I also don’t want to look back in a few years and realise I’ve stood still.
How can I make sure my career keeps moving in the right direction without rocking the boat?”
Absolutely – and this is a far more common (and sensible) question than many lawyers realise.
Being settled in your role doesn’t mean switching off from your career. In fact, the lawyers who build the most secure, satisfying careers are often the ones who stay proactive before they feel unhappy or under pressure to change.
The good news is that avoiding stagnation doesn’t require a dramatic move or a sudden change of direction. It’s about staying intentional, informed, and visible — even when things feel comfortable.
Here are some practical ways to do exactly that.
1. Get clear on what “stuck” actually means for you
The first step is understanding what you’re worried about losing, not just what you might be missing.
For some lawyers, “stuck” means:
· Doing the same type of work year after year with no increase in complexity
· Feeling overlooked when opportunities arise
· Seeing peers progress while your role stays the same
· Losing confidence in how marketable your experience is becoming
None of these show up overnight. They creep in gradually – which is why checking in with yourself early is so important.
A useful question to ask is:
Am I learning, trusted with more, or being stretched in some way compared to 12 months ago?
If the answer is consistently “no”, that’s a signal worth paying attention to.
2. Stay relevant, not just reliable
Being dependable is hugely valued in law firms – but reliability alone doesn’t always lead to progression or long-term security.
Lawyers who avoid stagnation tend to:
· Build depth in a particular area (not just broad competence)
· Take ownership of matters rather than simply progressing files
· Become the “go-to” person for a type of work, client, or issue
· Show judgment, not just technical ability
If your role currently allows you to deliver work well but not to develop in these ways, it’s worth exploring how you might widen or deepen your exposure without changing jobs.
That might mean:
· Asking to be involved in more complex cases
· Supporting or supervising a junior colleague
· Taking responsibility for client relationships rather than just tasks
3. Don’t confuse comfort with security
One of the biggest myths in legal careers is that staying put automatically equals stability.
In reality, career security comes from:
· Transferable skills
· Up-to-date experience
· A clear sense of your market value
Lawyers who feel most confident in their careers are often those who could move if they needed to, even if they have no intention of doing so.
Keeping an eye on how your experience compares to others in your market, practice area, or region isn’t disloyal. It’s sensible.
4. Keep your internal visibility warm
You don’t need to self-promote aggressively to stay visible.
Simple things make a difference:
· Speaking up in team discussions
· Sharing ideas or observations when appropriate
· Letting the right people know when you’ve handled something particularly challenging
Visibility isn’t about ego, it’s about making sure your contribution is understood, especially in larger or growing teams.
5. Use external insight without job-hunting
One of the healthiest things settled lawyers can do is sense-check their position occasionally with someone outside their firm.
That might involve:
· Understanding how your role would be viewed elsewhere
· Checking whether your experience is developing in line with the wider market
· Talking through longer-term options without any pressure to act
· Used this way, external conversations aren’t about leaving – they’re about clarity.
Feeling settled is a good place to be, but it’s not a reason to disengage from your career.
The lawyers who look back most positively on their careers aren’t those who moved frequently or stayed rigidly loyal. They’re the ones who stayed curious, informed, and intentional, even when things were going well.
If you’d like to talk through how your role is developing, what “progress” could realistically look like for you, or how others in your market are navigating similar questions, our specialist consultants are always happy to have a confidential, no-pressure conversation.
Sometimes, avoiding stagnation is simply about asking the right questions early.
