AttorneyMentoring.com Midlevel Attorneys How to Evaluate Your Career Options

So You are Half Way There - Now What?

Career pressures increase significantly as an attorney
advances in his or her career. There is often a greater
struggle to maintain productivity because of added
supervisory and marketing roles and responsibilities. In
addition, life/work balance issues tend to surface right at this
critical career juncture. Moreover, industry turmoil is creating
fewer career advancement opportunities and fueling even
greater turn-over at the midlevel career stage than ever
before.

As a mid-level attorney, it is a good idea to take stock of
where you are and where you really want to be in a few more
years. A career doesn't just happen - it is deliberately
planned. You have a choice to participate in directing your
own path or becoming a victim of choices made by others for
you. Too often attorneys at this stage of their career simply
continue onward toward an undefined and sometimes
unrealistic goal. The "follow-the-pack" mentality rarely leads
to personal success. This mid-level period of your career,
however, is the best time to redirect yourself professionally
to a path better suited to your talents, interests and long-
term life-style preferences. You have been practicing law for
a few years now and there are several questions to ask
yourself to better align your professional goals with your
personal goals:

Do you like practising law?
What, if any, aspects of the practice of law do you
enjoy?
Do you like where you work?
Are there opportunities for advancement where you
are currently employed?
What are the economic prospects for the legal field or
industry you currently practice in?
Do you believe you have the right balance between
your work life and your personal life?
What would make you happy?

These questions may sound basic but honest answers can
be used to formulate a career development plan. Although
you have bills to pay and mortgages or families to take care
of, you can plan a career that delivers both the paycheck as
well as the personal rewards associated with fulfilling work
and a balanced life. So, are you ready to truthfully answer
these questions and evaluate your work life? Do not be
discouraged by the fear that the answers will reveal that you
are dissatisfied. Sooner or later, these issues surface in
everyone's career.

You need not suffer through an unhappy career just because
your parents did or your colleagues are doing it. There are
many more options for lawyers today than ever before and
one of them could very well suit you better than your current
employment.

If you are one of the lucky lawyers that enjoys their work, you
should nonetheless ask yourself the these same questions
periodically to keep yourself on track and ensure that you
continue to enjoy your work for years to come. Although
several studies in the last few years have shown that lawyers
are by and large satisfied with their career choices, for those
who are dissatisfied, click here to read more.

Tips on Selecting a Mentor and Being a
Mentee/Protege

Identify role models that exhibit personal and
professional characteristics that you admire.
When you do find your target Mentor, you may
want to initially make contact without
specifically demanding they become your
Mentor. Let them get to know you and your
goals. Most successful people who describe
their Mentors do not describe formalized
corporate mentoring programs but rather kind
individuals they encountered throughout their
career who offered up guidance at critical
junctures.
Be open to mentoring advice from all sources,
including your Secretary and Staff.
Be considerate of a potential Mentor’s time and
availability.
Be gracious and thankful.
Evaluate the Mentor’s advice as it applies to
your goals and ideals.
Have reasonable expectations of the
relationship/advice. You still have to do the
work yourself.
Even the worst Mentor has something to teach
you.
Be the Mentor to others that you would like to
have for yourself. Articulating your pearls of
wisdom for others reinforces those messages
for yourself.