As a young lawyer today, you need to give your law firm and clients the value they expect from you. Although making an impact as a new attorney requires far more than just working hard. Let’s discuss what you can do to establish your authority as a young lawyer.
Authority relates to leadership qualities, but you don’t need to hold a senior position in a firm to establish these skills. Instead, authority can help you build a flourishing career and is a great way to create your powerful personal brand.
Act Like A Leader
The first step to establishing authority is cultivating your leadership potential by taking on some responsibilities. As a new lawyer, you might feel a little uncomfortable at first, but you can learn to do this without feeling uncomfortable.
Initially, you won’t get direct leadership tasks, but start small so that you can start learning about the skills required by a good leader. Therefore, volunteer for any activities requiring a leadership role. Examples include organizing a team-building event, in a local committee, or for a social event. Your participation will do more than hone your skills; it will also boost your confidence and authority.
If you have valuable expertise to share, offer to mentor others so that they can also learn them. Mentoring is an opportunity to add value to your team. It can also help you learn how to communicate with others according to their personalities.
Power of Networking and Caring
As a young lawyer, you have no shortage of ambition and know that you need to find and establish a niche. However, you also know that you need to keep a positive perception as you master keeping up to date with documents and timekeeping.
However, as you keep busy, don’t forget the importance of networking within the legal community and caring for your clients. Networking gives you the connections to help grow your authority within the legal world, whereas your clients are those that will tell everyone they know about you.
Learn How to Deal With Conflict
People often lack the tools required to deal with conflict, leading to situations where they avoid it altogether. Unfortunately, even some lawyers don’t know how to tackle unpleasant encounters confidently. But, as a young lawyer, learning to deal with conflict can help you establish your authority.
Instead of looking for the right or wrong between conflicting parties, learn how to seek a compromise that will help both parties. Constructive problem-solving can help you with your clients and in situations that may arise at work. Dealing with conflict means learning how to set aside personal attacks and find a better solution.
Enhance Your Collaboration Skills
Legal processes often require some form of teamwork, so prepare your collaboration skills and ensure that everyone knows that you can work together in teams.
Learn how to get your core message across to the rest of your colleagues through clear and concise communications. Don’t forget that as a good lawyer and someone who wants to collaborate with others, you must practice active listening – meaning that you listen and clarify by asking questions.
Finally, collaborations are about sharing, so do share your vulnerabilities to help break barriers and make you more accessible.
Cultivate Creative Thinking
Learn to think creatively and encourage those around you to seek pioneering solutions when faced with problems. Some of the best ways to spark your creativity are applying design thinking techniques, taking a walk, or retreating to a new environment. In addition, the more creativity you bring to your law firm, the more you enhance your authority with your colleagues and senior lawyers.
Focus Ahead
Legal work often comes with setbacks, but allowing yourself to focus on these won’t help any situation. Instead, learn about building resilience so that you can learn to cope with changes. Additionally, learn how to learn from your failures and turn them into opportunities.
You can do this by reframing negative thoughts to positive affirmations every day. You should also identify both your strengths and weaknesses through inner reflection. These exercises can help you focus on the tasks ahead in your work and gain the respect of your colleagues.
Final Take
Establishing authority as a young lawyer requires skills, confidence, and drive. Coaching and purpose-driven goals can help you reach the proper levels of leadership and expertise that your colleagues and leaders will notice. When you can prove that besides your legal skills, you can also take charge, delegate, collaborate, and offer constructive solutions, it won’t be long before you reap the rewards of a boost in your legal career.
