The Lawyer as Leader: How to Own your Career and Lead in Law Firms

1. Creating the environment for successful development
1.1 Inside the lawyer’s mind
1.2 Autonomy

2. Where are commercial law firms heading?
2.1 The bigger picture
2.2 Money and lateral hires
2.3 Globalisation and mergers
2.4 And then what?

3. Lawyers as leaders – leading others
3.1 Lawyers as leaders
3.2 Effective legal teams
3.3 Communication, feedback and critical conversations
3.4 Building your connections
3.5 Business awareness
3.6 Managing deals for value: legal project management
3.7 Working effectively across borders

4. Self-leadership – getting the career you want
4.1 Career possibilities – Inside, outside, rock star
4.2 Why do a plan: what will it bring you?
4.3 What should a good plan look like?
4.4 Where am I now?
4.5 Where next?
4.6 Making it happen: Commitments and follow-up
4.7 What does it take to make partner?

5. Coaching yourself and others through change
5.1 Visiting the oracle
5.2 Self-assessment
5.3 Anchors and drivers
5.4 Values and simple guiding principles
5.5 Motivation
5.6 Readiness for change
5.7 Emotional intelligence
5.8 Walking in another’s shoes
5.9 Mapping the environment
5.10 Knowing goals and managing expectations
5.11 Weighing up change
5.12 Confidence

6. Types of change in a lawyers’ career
6.1 Types of change and their challenges
6.2 The stages in a lawyer’s career

7. Wellbeing
7.1 Energy budgets
7.2 Mindfulness and microbreaks
7.3 Sleep, diet and exercise
7.4 Fear and loathing in law firms – a plea for psychological safety

Appendix 1 – Emotional intelligence

Appendix 2 – Self-appraisal

Appendix 3 – Partner/senior associate career planning template

Appendix 4 – Project management