Here are a few lessons learned and takeaways from the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program "Hard Work is Not Enough: Take Control of Your Career" chaired by the OBA Young Lawyers' Division this past February 6, 2019.
Deborah Glatter, training and management consultant (former Director of Career Development at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP), spoke about strategically managing your own career. She pointed out that no one else will care for your career as you do. If you are not proactive, you may come to a dead end in your career. You cannot hit a target that you do not see. For example, if you want to become a partner, you need to know the criteria for entry into the partnership. Ask yourself “are you a replaceable cog in the wheel?”
One way to avoid being a replaceable cog in the wheel is to claim a subject-matter expertise. You can level the playing field by choosing to learn about a new area of law, for example, cryptocurrency. When cryptocurrency became popular, there was no established expert. You can own the space at the firm in a new area by filling the void. You can demonstrate your expertise by writing about it to the public or by doing internal marketing within the firm.
Glatter also recommended finding a champion (someone in power who thinks that the firm is better off to have you there). She also recommended lawyers to care about the firm beyond the employee mentality. For example, you can identify a problem in the firm and improve it.
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