Advice to My Younger Self | Legal500.Com
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CLIFFORD CHANCE | ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF | LEGAL500.COM Women Lawyers Women Reflections of Successful Reflections of Successful ADVICE TO MY MY TO ADVICE YOUNGER SELF YOUNGER From the publishers of From ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF Reflections of Successful Women Lawyers INTRODUCTION hat would we tell our younger journeys do not always conform to the typical selves if we had the chance? It’s “route to success,” revealing the idea of the W a notion that has provided ample well-trodden, traditional path to partnership to fodder for books and films. be, increasingly, outdated. In Advice To My Younger Self: Reflections of While this report is not designed to be a thesis Successful Women Lawyers, compiled by the GC on the role of women in the legal profession, magazine team at The Legal 500, we worked the women we spoke to are those who have with Clifford Chance to profile the professional managed to effectively navigate their way to journeys of some of its female partners and positions of importance at Clifford Chance, with associates around the world. The purpose of some eventually leaving the firm to become this project is to show younger women entering leaders of in-house teams. the legal profession the diversity of pathways to success as a woman in law, and also to share A thread that runs through a number of the practical learnings and tips – in other words, conversations is the importance of not censoring what these high-achieving women would now yourself out of your own career by assuming tell their younger selves. that things cannot be done, or that changes and flexibility cannot be built into the lawyer’s Interestingly, what we have observed in role. Indeed, perhaps one of the most important collecting these testimonies is the sheer variety pieces of advice to a younger self would be to of roads to law that our interviewees took, and constantly recognize the potential you have – the fact that many of them did not originally and not limit that needlessly. intend to become lawyers at all. Sometimes, we learned, it is the happy accidents in life that can Crucially, the stories told here offer different be the most fruitful. illustrations of what both the journey and the destination of a lawyer’s professional life can be. Another key theme that emerged was the Or, as Maya Angelou put it: I created myself. I necessity of nurturing skills, other than have taught myself so much. n simply legal, in becoming a successful lawyer. INTRODUCTION Oftentimes, our interviewees have developed these skills in unique ways that reflect their own CATHERINE McGREGOR CATHERINE McGREGOR personalities, values and circumstances. These Publishing Director, The Legal 500 (In-House) 4 | GC | WWW.GCMAGAZINE.COM LEGAL500.COM | 3 LAURA KING Laura King is a partner and Clifford Chance’s Global Head of People and Talent. She shares her thoughts on the importance of gender diversity in law firms and legal departments today, and how to achieve it. here is a wider range of opportunities for be a priority, especially training programs that women in business than ever before. To address unconscious bias and other gender and Tmaintain and increase the momentum diversity issues. Law firms and legal departments that’s been built over several decades, must work to support managers and colleagues it’s incumbent on senior leaders across all in creating a truly inclusive and meritocratic industries to continue pushing for sustainable environment. improvements. The reason we joined with The Legal 500 and GC In the legal sector, we are making progress magazine in publishing this book is a profound towards gender equality, but few firms would belief that more role models, like the women say they have done enough. A critical component profiled on the following pages, are needed to to closing the gender gap is transparency – help advance the cause. We hope everyone who including annual public reporting that details reads this book will benefit from the experiences the progress being made. At Clifford Chance, of others who have been there before them our goal is to have women make up at least – particularly when faced with career-forming 30 percent of our partnership. As of today, decisions. We also hope the ideas and examples that proportion is 18 percent globally, though shared will provide a “road map” that lays out with significant variations in regions, with our different ways for younger lawyers to reach their London office at 22 percent and Asia Pacific at chosen destinations. 28 percent. We’re on a path forward but there is still a lot more for us to do. My advice for law school students and junior lawyers is to seek out outstanding role models Sustainable progress will only be achieved by and make them your mentors. Develop a strong taking a holistic approach to gender equality. support network that will help you succeed. And Generational change will help us shift the feel empowered to make your own way in the balance, but we cannot wait on that. world. n FOREWORD Clear policies should be the starting point. They must be actively and openly endorsed LAURA KING by senior leadership. Education should also LEGAL500.COM | 5 VICTORIA BORTKEVICHA OPENING DOORS VICTORIA BORTKEVICHA Moscow office Managing Partner Victoria Bortkevicha tells us how history and an open-minded approach to opportunity took her on a different path to success. CHANGING DIRECTION by nature a very open person, I enjoy meeting new people and establishing relationships, so Originally, I thought I would study Law and networking wasn’t difficult. then move into business; I didn’t want to be a “proper” lawyer. But history interfered. My advice to young lawyers is not to view business development as a chore; doing so will During my first year at university, Perestroika prevent you from getting comfortable with it happened and ultimately led to the collapse and enjoying the process. of the Soviet Union, which changed the whole then decide which approaches might work well As Milton Berle once said, “If opportunity business environment. At that time, the British Another key to success is active listening and for you. doesn’t knock, build a door.” For example, in a Council offered a program for Russian financiers: being present in situations with clients. Coming global firm, secondments provide opportunities I passed the tests and went to London to do to grips with what your clients actually need Partners are habitually busy people, and may to practice temporarily in other jurisdictions. an internship at Clifford Chance. This was the and understanding their business goals and not have time to praise every bit of good work; Take as many of these assignments as you can turning point in my life and career. motivations is vital. however, they are required to address all bad while you are young. work. Be your own publicist: when you’ve done What I found exciting back then still excites me good quality work, go and ask a partner for Also, don’t be afraid of the work-life balance today: in the field of law, there is something new CREATING YOUR OWN feedback. This will keep your spirits up and help issue. As the mother of four children, I found every day. Your brain is constantly on the go, OPPORTUNITIES create a positive impression that just might stick a way to have a normal family life too. Time solving problems, creating unique solutions and in that partner’s mind. management is fundamental − work smarter, not thinking about what will best serve your clients. Junior lawyers have a tendency to wait longer. for instructions, but that approach will not help you reach your potential. It is GETTING THERE BY A Finally, be open to where life takes you. Looking BRINGING IN BUSINESS each lawyer’s job to create opportunities. DIFFERENT ROUTE back, it’s ironic that I wanted to be a business For junior lawyers who fear overstepping woman, not a lawyer … and now, as Managing Moscow was a small office when I joined, so their boundaries while dealing with a client, My advice to my younger self would be: do not Partner of the Moscow office, I practice the associates were required to bring in work. I am I recommend observing your colleagues – be afraid of change and embrace opportunities. business of law. n 6 | LEGAL500.COM LEGAL500.COM | 7 SONYA BRANCH Although I came to Whitehall in a relatively senior position, developing a peer network was NURTURE YOUR RESILIENCE still essential. It helped me progress my career – to hear about upcoming opportunities and to get involved in the latest cutting-edge project. SONYA BRANCH At all stages of your career, so much depends on your networks; whether via sponsors, mentors or coaches, or via a peer network of colleagues. However, you reap what you sow – it is important to invest at least as much as you take from your network. So, you should always General Counsel for the Bank of England, alumna Sonya Branch prepare for a session with a sponsor or mentor dissects the importance of team-based leadership, peer networks to maximize your time together. You should always return supportive favors when peers and a sense of perspective when tackling challenges. have helped you on your way. As for the perfect work-life balance, I don’t Equally, you have to find ways to derive support believe you ever reach that nirvana state where for yourself. Personally, this strength comes you don’t have at least one tricky issue at work from my own sense of perspective, which is or at home.