For many private client lawyers, appraisals are meant to bring clarity.
They’re a chance to step back, reflect on progress and understand what the next few months and years might look like.
And yet, a lot of solicitors leave those conversations with a different feeling: unclear, slightly underwhelmed, or quietly wondering what, if anything, will actually change.
It’s rarely because the appraisal went badly. In fact, most reviews are broadly positive. But that’s often where the issue lies.
When “you’re doing well” isn’t enough
Private client teams tend to be steady, supportive environments.
Feedback is often constructive, measured, and encouraging.
You might hear:
- “You’re doing well with your caseload”
- “Clients trust you”
- “You’re a safe pair of hands”
All of which are good signs, but none of them necessarily tell you:
- what your next step looks like
- what’s required to get there
- or how close (or far) you actually are
Without that clarity, it’s easy to stay busy, valued, and effectively in the same place.
The difference between experience and progression
In private client law, it’s easy to assume that more experience naturally leads to progression.
Over time, however, many lawyers find that’s not quite how it works.
Progression tends to come from a shift in how you’re working, not just how much you’re doing.
That might include:
- moving from process-driven work into more advisory-led matters
- gaining exposure to tax planning, trusts, or complex estates
- building relationships with clients, not just handling files
- being trusted to exercise judgement, not simply follow precedent
If those shifts aren’t happening, or aren’t being discussed, an appraisal can feel like confirmation that everything is “on track”, without actually moving you forward.
Why appraisals often miss the bigger picture
In many firms, appraisals are designed to review performance, not define trajectory.
They focus on:
- how you’ve performed
- whether targets have been met
- how you’re perceived within the team
What they don’t always explore in detail is:
- what progression looks like in practical terms
- how decisions around promotion are really made
- what differentiates those who move forward from those who plateau
That doesn’t mean the process is flawed, but it does mean it may not give you the full picture you need to plan your career.
Questions worth asking at your next appraisal
If you want more from your appraisal, it can help to shift the conversation slightly.
For example:
- What does progression actually look like for someone at my level here?
- What would I need to demonstrate to move into a more advisory role?
- Am I getting the right exposure to develop in that direction?
- Where am I currently strongest and where do I need to develop further?
These aren’t difficult questions, but they often lead to more specific, useful answers.
When the answers still feel vague
Even with the right questions, the answers don’t always bring clarity.
You might hear:
- “You’re progressing well, just keep going”
- “It depends on opportunities as they come up”
- “We’ll review things again next year”
None of this is inherently negative, but over time, a lack of detail can make it difficult to:
- understand your long-term trajectory
- assess your market position
- or feel confident about where your career is heading
This is often when private client lawyers begin to reflect more seriously, not because they’re unhappy, but because they want a clearer sense of direction.
Progression shouldn’t feel like guesswork
Most private client solicitors are happy to put the work in.
What they’re less comfortable with is not knowing what that work is leading towards.
Clarity around the type of experience you’re building, whether it aligns with your long-term goals and how it compares to others in the market, is what turns “doing well” into moving forward.
That perspective isn’t always easy to get from within your own firm and it may be worth getting an external perspective.
A good appraisal should do more than confirm you’re performing well.
It should help you understand what comes next, and how to get there.
If it doesn’t, it may be worth stepping back and asking whether the conversation needs to change, or whether you’d benefit from a broader view of your options.
If you’re unsure how your current role is positioning you for progression in the private client market, a confidential benchmarking conversation can help bring that into focus.
