As a personal injury lawyer, reaching the point where leadership becomes the next natural step in your career is a huge achievement. Whether you’re being considered for a team leader position, moving into a more strategic role, or thinking about building a new department or niche, the move from fee-earner to leader is a big one, and it’s not just about caseload and KPIs anymore.
Before you take the leap, it’s worth pressing pause and asking yourself the right questions to make sure this is the right move, at the right time, for the right reasons.
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Why do I want to lead?
This sounds simple, but the answer can be incredibly revealing. Is it because you’re motivated by the chance to have more influence? To shape the future of your team? To improve how things are done? Or are you feeling pressured by a firm that equates seniority with leadership?
There’s no wrong answer, but clarity here will help you approach your next step with confidence and purpose, and avoid stepping into something that doesn’t align with your values and goals.
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Am I prepared to measure success differently?
In most personal injury roles, success is clear-cut: settled claims, costs recovered, targets hit.
Leadership looks different.
Yes, you’ll still need to keep an eye on performance, but you’ll also be measured on how well your team is doing: Are they engaged? Progressing? Supported? Delivering results?
Leading a team means shifting from your outcomes to their development. That’s a mindset change that not everyone enjoys, but the best leaders thrive on it.
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Can I let go of some of the day-to-day?
Many personal injury lawyers pride themselves on being hands-on, detail-driven and deeply involved in their cases. But stepping into leadership often means delegating more, trusting others, and looking at the bigger picture.
You’ll still need to stay commercially aware and legally sharp, but your focus will expand to include people management, strategy, and firm-wide priorities.
Ask yourself: Are you ready to step back from being the go-to on every case and start building up others to become that person instead?
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How do I handle difficult conversations?
Leadership in personal injury law isn’t all motivational pep talks and big-picture planning. Sometimes, it’s dealing with underperformance, managing stress in a high-pressure environment, or navigating internal conflict, particularly in target-driven teams.
If you shy away from difficult conversations, now’s the time to think about how you’ll approach them constructively and confidently. Great leaders don’t avoid issues, they handle them with empathy, honesty and fairness.
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Do I know what kind of leader I want to be?
You don’t need to have it all figured out, but reflecting on the type of leader you want to be (and the kind you don’t) can be hugely helpful.
Think back to the best (and worst) leaders you’ve worked with. What did they do well? What would you do differently? Use those reflections to shape your own leadership style.
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Is this the right time for me?
Stepping into leadership is a big commitment. If you’re juggling a heavy caseload, personal responsibilities, or you’re already on the edge of burnout, this might not be the moment to take more on.
That doesn’t mean you’re not leadership material, but timing is key. It’s okay to say, “not yet” and revisit the opportunity when the time is right for you and your development.
Thinking about your next step in personal injury?
At Realm, we work with lawyers across the personal injury and clinical negligence space, from those ready for team leadership to those looking for progression without people management. If you’re exploring your options or want an honest conversation about what leadership could look like for you, get in touch with our specialist team for a confidential chat.
