In the legal profession, advancing your career is as much about your ability to advocate for yourself as it is about your technical skillset and achievements. As explained by Jennifer Smith in our Accelerating Your Legal Career series, asserting your readiness for a promotion goes beyond hitting targets and delivering a fantastic client service and involves strategic preparation and clear communication.
Here, we explore how you can position yourselves to give you the best possible chance of getting your next promotion.
The preliminary conversation
Prior to making your move, have an informal discussion with your manager or mentor within the firm to express your interest and gain an understanding of the promotion process. This conversation could provide invaluable information on what your firm values most in its leaders and the specific expectations for lawyers seeking promotion. This knowledge will enable you to tailor your application so that it embodies these things.
List and celebrate achievements
Whether or not you’re applying for a promotion, it’s a great idea to have a dynamic document that records all positive feedback, notable case wins, and any instance where your legal expertise or professional relationships have significantly benefited the firm. This will be pivotal in building your case for promotion.
Track and quantify your achievements wherever possible, whether in terms of billings or business development impact (for example, the value of the client relationships you’ve helped to garner), to strengthen your promotion request with strong evidence of your accomplishments.
Articulate your value
Whatever stage you are in your legal career, you should be able to tangibly show the value you bring to your firm. It’s not enough to work diligently and hit your targets; you must be able to illustrate how your work impacts the firm’s bottom line. Are your billable hours consistently high? Have you contributed to the firm’s reputation through content or speaking engagements? Being able to give these kinds of examples will demonstrate your worth to the firm’s leadership when you’re seeking a promotion.
Make the business case for your promotion
Remember that a promotion is essentially a business decision. Therefore, your approach to requesting one should include a clearly outlined business case. This involves describes how your elevation within the firm will not just reward your hard work but will actively contribute to the firm’s goals and future success. How will promoting you benefit the business?
Be your own advocate
It’s essential to remember when it comes to progressing your career you are your most steadfast proponent. No one else understands depth of your dedication or breadth of your accomplishments as well as you do. To be recognised for these achievements and considered seriously for promotion, you must be vocal and clear about your contributions.
If you work for a larger firm, the senior colleagues considering your application may well not be familiar with you. Applying for a promotion is a fantastic PR opportunity to gain visibility amongst key decision makers, so make sure that you can articulately sell yourself and your achievements.
In the legal sector, effective advocacy is all about presenting your case persuasively. Whether you’re representing a client or yourself, it’s vital to make your argument clear and compelling. Demonstrating your commitment to the growth of the firm and your personal development is an excellent way to build a strong case for your promotion.
If you’re looking for further advice or coaching ahead of making your promotion application, our specialist legal careers consultants are here to help. Give us a call on 03300 245 606 or reach out to a member of our team directly for a confidential conversation.
You’ve worked hard to get where you are, so don’t be afraid to go for that promotion! You’ve got this!
