Regardless of your performance, it’s always possible to learn from your mistakes.
The post Failing Well: Tips For A Successful Career In Law appeared first on Above the Law.
In order to be successful in law, you must learn how to fail better. Many lawyers become so focused on winning every case that they lose sight of the bigger picture. Real success requires you to take risks and learn from your failures. So don’t be afraid to make mistakes; they’re the only way you can learn and grow.
Here are a few tips that can help you learn from missteps and limitations, becoming a better lawyer in the process:
Don’t Be Afraid To Take Risks
The best way to learn is by taking risks. If you’re always playing it safe, you’ll never truly grow. So, make a point of taking chances and watch your skills improve. If you’re given the opportunity to take on a new and challenging case, go for it! Taking on next-level experiences is how you learn and grow as a lawyer.
Learn From Your Failures
It’s important to remember that not every case is going to be a victory. You’re going to lose some cases, and that’s okay. What’s important is that you learn from your failures.
Try to take the time to debrief after every case — win or lose. What could you have done differently? What went well? What didn’t go well? By taking the time to reflect on your failures, you can learn from them, adjust your approach next time and become a better lawyer.
Be Patient
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a successful career in law. That takes time, patience, and perseverance — all things that don’t come quickly. Don’t expect to become a top lawyer overnight.
Take the time to build relationships with clients and colleagues, and don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Good things come to those who wait.
Have Realistic Expectations
Part of being patient is having realistic expectations. As mentioned, cases don’t always end up in your favor. Someone has to lose every case and, sometimes, that someone is you. Regardless of your performance, it’s always possible to learn from your mistakes.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just do the best you can and remember that negative outcomes can still lead to positive lessons learned.
Stay Focused On The Bigger Picture
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind of being a lawyer, working hard on short-term goals and losing sight of the long term. But it’s important to remember the big picture. Why did you become a lawyer? What do you ultimately want to accomplish in your career?
If you start to lose sight of the bigger picture, take a step back and remember what drove you to become a lawyer in the first place. This will help you stay focused and motivated, even when things are tough.
Conclusion
It is important for lawyers to learn from their failures if they want to cultivate successful careers in law. By understanding the reasons why they failed, they can avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
Additionally, it is important for lawyers to set realistic goals and be willing to adapt strategies that are not working. Lastly, lawyers should always remember that the practice of law is constantly evolving, so they need to be prepared to change with it.
For more information on how to fail better as a lawyer, be sure to watch the “Fail Better – The importance of a growth mindset” Notes to My (Legal) Self episode where Victoria Libin discusses the important role of failure in learning and growing.
Olga V. Mack is the CEO of Parley Pro, a next-generation contract management company that has pioneered online negotiation technology. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to participate on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat and Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security. You can follow Olga on Twitter @olgavmack.
