In this article, we discuss how lawyers are self-selecting out of career opportunities in the current recruitment market. Discover how this can be both short sighted and career limiting and even have a much greater impact on your career than you might think.
Why Lawyers Need to Back Themselves
As legal recruiters, we see it far too often: talented lawyers who take themselves out of the running for roles before they’ve even applied. It happens across genders, though our consultants often hear it more from women who feel they need to tick every box on the selection criteria before pressing “submit.”
We speak to many lawyers throughout the day, which include those looking for in-house and private practice roles. During these discussions, we often discuss recently advertised roles to gauge their areas of interest and career aspirations. What we are hearing from talented lawyers is “Oh yes, I saw that one, I didn’t think I had the right experience, so I didn’t apply”. Or “Oh yes, I saw that one, I was sent it by a number of colleagues and friends, and I just didn’t think I met all of the criteria.”
If more than one person has sent you a role, or even if it came to you via the LinkedIn job search algorithm, the universe may just be saying ‘this role would be good for you!’ Why would you argue with that? At Alex Correa Executive we strongly recommend paying close attention to these nudges and consider your reasons for not taking action.
Whether it’s a lack of confidence, the life stage you find yourself in, or work being crazy-busy, the end result is the same. That is, missed opportunities that could have advanced their career trajectory rapidly.
The Perfectionist Trap
Harvard Business Review has written extensively about this: many professionals, particularly women, won’t apply unless they meet 100% of the criteria. Further reading here
But here’s the uncomfortable truth. If you meet every single requirement, the role may not stretch you. Growth comes from stepping into the unknown, taking on responsibilities you haven’t yet mastered, and being willing to learn on the job.
We have found over time that many of the reasons lawyers rule themselves out are based on assumptions that don’t reflect what hiring managers are actually looking for.
Hiring managers often have “nice to haves” in mind that are not included in position descriptions or job advertisements. These are often not necessarily conveyed to applicants and may relate to future work, projects or potential company direction. Without taking the time to learn more about a role, whether by speaking with the recruiting consultant or the hiring manager at interview you may not discover the ‘nice to haves’ that could be a strong match with your background and experience.
Our consultants have seen countless cases where a lawyer assumed they weren’t suitable, yet their niche experience in setting up a new line of business or navigating a complex regulatory environment was eventually what closed the offer.
Overcoming Self-Doubt
If this concept of perfectionism is resonating with you, consider whether it is actually a lack of confidence. It is possible to work on and develop your own confidence levels. We recommend considering your achievements and specifically what you have done well. Review your feedback from clients and senior stakeholders and let that propel you to the next level of self-belief.
Consider also how far you have come in your career journey – how far advanced are you from where you were, say, 3 years ago? What matters have you worked on that you are proud of?
If you find yourself identifying actual deficiencies of skills and experience, consider what it is that you can do to address them. Any gaps can be fixed over a longer term you just need to take action on these. Consider making yourself available for work that helps build that experience. You could also let your partner or general counsel know that you want to build your skills in a particular area. By making it known and putting your hand up for specific work you start closing any gaps. You might also set yourself a plan for external study or CPD to broaden your knowledge base. Consider secondments, running a project, or even presenting or delivering a paper. Remember knowledge is sharpened when we teach others.
At Alex Correa Executive, we see many lawyers at various stages of their careers, and many find themselves pigeon-holed in roles for too long. They may be waiting for destiny to tap them on the shoulder, or for the perfect time to take the next step. In my experience neither are as effective as taking your career in your own hands.
The Timing Excuses
- “I’ve got leave coming up.”
- “My notice period is too long.”
- “I’ll wait until after bonus season.”
- “My kids need me to be hands-on right now.”
- “My family needs me too much right now.”
- “My CV isn’t up to date.”
Our team hears these words often. The reality in life is that there’s never a perfect time for anything! Careers don’t run on a neat schedule. Sometimes life-changing opportunities come when you least expect them. If you keep waiting for the stars to align, you’ll find yourself standing still while your peers accelerate ahead.
Think of it like investing: those who start early reap the rewards of compound growth. The same principle applies to your career. Each role builds capability, networks, and confidence. Delay too long, and the missed return on investment can be substantial.
If your timing excuse relates to your stage of life, consider whether you can get additional support at home. Can your life partner or other family members offer support? Can you outsource responsibilities? Consider the changes that need to be made to make room for career growth. Perhaps you need to discuss these challenges with your supervising partner or general counsel, so that they can support you with additional flexibility or development opportunities.
If your CV is not ready, we can only suggest making the time to fix this. No one will ever write your CV better than you. We often suggest to lawyers that they review their CV at least once a year. They should also keep a running list of matters, cases and feedback that can be developed into achievements and responsibilities. (TIP) Consider keeping a list in the notes app on your phone that you add to regularly during a commute, or in place of mindless scrolling.
Our team of expert legal industry recruiters has developed templates to help. They are available here.
Competing with Colleagues or Friends
Another common reason lawyers hold back is not wanting to compete with a friend or colleague. But why take yourself out of the race? Healthy competition can strengthen relationships, and hiring decisions should be left to the employer not pre-empted by you and based on some vague concept of loyalty or friendship.
No two career paths are identical. Many lawyers compare their careers based on a common starting point. Someone you studied with may already be a partner or a general counsel. They may have had different opportunities, taken risks you didn’t, or simply been at a different life stage. Career comparison is rarely helpful. Run your own race.
The Busyness Barrier
Lawyers are known for putting clients, firms, and families before themselves. But continually putting your own career last comes at a cost. Our team have often spoken to senior lawyers who, years later, regret letting themselves be pigeonholed, because they didn’t put their hand up when the right role or project came along.
Think of it like ignoring a tip to invest in a property or stock. You hesitate, others jump in, and years later you see the exponential returns you missed. Career progression works the same way - the earlier you invest in new experiences and opportunities, the more they grow over time.
We recommend attempting to clear some headspace to combat extreme busyness. We often suggest mediation to help quieten your mind. A regular practice can not only be incredibly game changing but allows you to better assess what is important particularly in terms of your career and where you want to be longer term.
Fear of Rejection
No one enjoys rejection. But it isn’t failure, it’s feedback and an opportunity to learn. Every interview sharpens your skills. Every application broadens your exposure. Sometimes you don’t get a role because there was someone with more relevant experience. Other times, the door that closes leads to another opening down the track. At the very least, by progressing with a role, you will have broadened your network and gained a good and informed understanding of a different organisation, leader and the potential opportunities available.
Think of it as rehearsal: wouldn’t you rather practice interviewing and refining your pitch on a role that’s “interesting,” so you’re ready when your dream job appears?
Don’t Do the Hiring Manager’s Job
Too many lawyers pre-emptively screen themselves out: “They’d never hire me.” Or “I don’t have the right experience”. It is not your decision. Your responsibility is to present the strongest case for why YOU would add value to an organisation. Let the hiring manager decide. You may be surprised by what resonates and by the value that they see.
Practical Advice for Lawyers Holding Back
If you’re hesitating to apply for your next role, ask yourself honestly:
● Is it really a lack of skills, or just a lack of confidence?
● Are you telling yourself a story that’s very likely to not be true but rather is holding you back?
● If a lawyer you are mentoring was in your shoes, what advice would you give them?
Chances are, you’d tell them to back themselves. So why not apply that same advice to your own career.
At Alex Correa Executive, we have seen many lawyers who invested early, made good career decisions and even those that have taken parental leave live up to their potential. They have come back from sabbaticals or parental leave and done what they can to fill any knowledge or skills gap so that they don’t miss a step. They invest in career action and their salary potential just keeps growing.
Those who make excuses and sit in their comfort zones miss out not just on financial benefits, but also on quality of work. The more exposure you have to better quality of work, the more your capability and experience grows - and you are given even better work. It’s a snowball effect and as Mahatma Gandhi said “The future depends on what you do today”.
If there’s one message that we would leave every lawyer with, it’s this: stop self-selecting out. You don’t know what you don’t know, and opportunities of a lifetime don’t wait around (or come back a second time!).
Your career is a long-distance race, and you are the one holding the wheel. Don’t wait for someone else to promote you, headhunt you or drop the perfect job in your lap. Take action, put yourself forward, and give yourself the chance to grow.
Are you looking for your next ideal step in the legal market?
Reach out to find out how my team at Alex Correa Executive can help you build the career you aspire to. Get in touch here.
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