2 Super Easy New Year’s Resolutions for Lawyers 

Happy New Year! 2022 was challenging, so let’s make extra-attainable New Year’s resolutions for 2023. I reviewed 20 crowd-sourced and hand-picked by the New York Times. These two apply to your career and are excellent:

• “Never take criticism from someone you wouldn’t go to for advice.”
• “Learn to say, ‘I need time to think about this.’ You’ll save yourself a world of trouble.”

The first one I especially appreciate. I work with candidates on their presentation, whether on paper (resume), online (LinkedIn), or in-person (interviews). By the time I talk to them, they often have received dodgy advice from miscellaneous people in their life. While these folks may have meant well, they don’t know the ins and outs of the in-house job market. Take criticism to heart from those you go to for advice. (See here for in-house career advice covering 25 topics.)

The second one attorneys should also take to heart. Lawyers get inundated with low-value and non-strategic projects, whether because they are the most junior person in the group or because they are relied on by so many different teams. Figure out where you want your career to go. Next time you are asked to do something that may not line up with your career goals, don’t say yes right away. Take the time to figure out if it makes sense. (See here for how to say no to non-promotable tasks.)