In this piece for the Daily Jus blog, I explore the fine line that mid-level associates need to walk: contribute meaningfully without overstepping, and offer some points of reflection to help mid-level associates to build presence and influence with authenticity.

Hurrah, summer holidays are around the corner! But will you actually be able to get some rest and properly recharge your batteries? Cécile and Jon talk through some of the challenges their clients face when it comes to disconnecting and getting some down time — including how the habit for being overly responsive can develop, and ways to start being more purposeful about when you decide to stay connected.

Like it or not, LinkedIn remains an important tool for visibility — and can be an effective one with the right approach. Cécile and Jon explore how you can develop a more targeted approach to LinkedIn, so that you can use it more efficiently while making yourself seen and heard in a way that feels easier and more natural for you. 

Networking: whether you love it or hate it, it is a necessary part of developing your practice — but one that can feel like a frustrating distraction from your core work as a lawyer. But Cécile and Jon are here to help, by exploring how to take a more targeted approach to networking, allowing you to free up valuable time for other aspects of your practice — and making the whole process a bit less daunting.

Think rankings are the be all and end all, the holy grail, the central element of any successful lawyer’s business development strategy? Think again! Cécile and Jon discuss why an over-emphasis on rankings success can be counterproductive, both from a BD perspective and from broader development goals for your practice, as well as what you might consider to ensure that you have a balanced approach to developing your practice. 

How do you stand out from your peers in a competitive market? Showing potential clients why you are their ideal advocate is essential for the health of your practice. In this episode, Cécile and Jon explain the mistaken assumption most lawyers make about what makes them stand out from the crowd, and how to develop a more sophisticated approach to communicating their unique value-added to prospective clients. 

Many lawyers struggle with setting boundaries at work, and saying “no” to clients can be particularly challenging. But how might saying “no” to clients actually be a way of providing them better service? And in what circumstances is it important for your professional life (not just your personal life) to decline a request from a client? Listen to this episode to find out why resisting the urge to always say “yes” is an important way to grow a thriving, sustainable practice — and to learn some strategies to help you say “no” more often.

Do you have a clear sense of how your clients experience your services from A to Z? Have you anticipated their expectations and needs at every step of their journey? Cécile introduces the idea of client experience mapping, explaining why this often-overlooked exercise is crucial for building strong, positive relationships with clients, and Jon explores how to leverage it to maximise professional development of both individuals and teams.

Think you really know your clients? Think again. Knowing your clients inside and out is key for earning and maintaining their trust. Cécile and Jon walk you through the key things you need to know about your clients — and how to find this out — in order to get to know your clients in the ways that can help you to build ironclad relationships with your best clients.

Do you take whatever work comes your way, or do you have a purposeful approach to the clients you work with and the cases you take on? Jon and Cécile talk about the importance of developing and sticking to a strategy for building your portfolio of work, the different elements to consider as part of your strategy — and why it’s never too early to start thinking about strategies for tailoring your work to your professional development goals.

Few words cause as much anxiety and consternation for lawyers as “Business Plan”. But fear not! Jon and Cécile are here to take the mystery out of what a business plan is, how to start building one and — most importantly — how to use it in order to help you to get the most out of your limited time and ensure that you stay in control of your career — instead of your career controlling you.

The Arbitration Station invites Jon Passaro — who left big law to become an executive coach — about business plans: why every lawyer needs one, and how to leverage them for professional success.