One common critique of the law school curriculum is that it generally does not focus on career and business development. At the same time, developing a career and landing clients in a competitive marketplace can be challenging without a specialty that differentiates an attorney from similarly situated colleagues.

That tension leads many attorneys to try to find ways to develop a niche practice. The challenge is to become skilled in an area and to develop work in that practice, even while one’s knowledge of the field is developing. However, with an eye toward the future, lawyers can develop an expertise that helps them succeed over their entire careers.

Identify a Specialty

Most junior associates in law firms work on a variety of transactional, regulatory or litigation matters. As associates progress and advance through the firm, they may begin to consider whether there is a practice area in which they would like to focus. Developing a niche could be a type of law (like employment or criminal defense), a particular industry (like energy or insurance), or even a particular statute or legal concern (like privacy or the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act).

As associates develop, they should consider whether a selected practice area is one that the practitioner enjoys but also is one that has the potential for achievable growth. Sometimes there are geographical factors that can impact a niche practice. For example, intellectual property lawyers who primarily appear before the Patent Trial & Appeals Board may find that they are best served by choosing to practice in the Washington, D.C., area.

Increase Visibility

The practice of law is a competitive field. It typically takes a concerted effort to increase one’s visibility and profile. Some lawyers attempt to increase their visibility by writing articles on a nuanced or relevant topic, either to lure potential clients who are conducting online searches on the topic or to add credentials to an attorney’s profile. Teaching continuing legal education courses on a particular topic is another way that lawyers sometimes present their knowledge on a topic to a wider audience.

Attorneys looking to identify or refine their area of expertise may also consider joining a specialty organization or bar committee. There are groups that focus on nearly every specialty within the law. Finding a group, becoming an active member or attending events can help an attorney grow a network, learn more about the area of law and become a leader in the community. Networking with law school classmates or former colleagues also can help an attorney spread the word about their niche practice to identify opportunities.

A Career Is a Journey

Business development is viewed by some lawyers as a chore. Identifying a niche practice and dedicating the time necessary to growing that career can be challenging, especially because it often requires lawyers to dedicate time on top of their regular billable work. But as we all know, some dedication of time may be necessary to grow into a new area or to develop a new skill.

Moreover, sometimes career development calls for lawyers to take detours in their careers in private practice. For example, lawyers who want to specialize in white-collar defense may decide to leave private practice to get experience working for the government before returning to private practice. Associates could decide to go in-house or accept a secondment in order to develop relationships with clients or build up experience that can be used in a private practice setting. Some of the most successful lawyers are those that embrace the journey and continually assess (and reassess) the path that is best-suited for their career goals.

The Importance of Mentorship

The usefulness of mentorship to career development cannot be overstated. Many lawyers attribute their successes to the help, advice or support of mentors. Mentors can provide guidance to lawyers on the best steps forward; some mentors will even introduce their mentees to clients or other decisionmakers who can help support and advance the mentee.

There is no single way to find and develop a meaningful relationship with a mentor. Sometimes, it may take significant effort to land with the right mentor. Some lawyers even benefit from multiple mentors, who advise on different aspects of the lawyer’s career. It is also important to nurture and develop one’s relationship with a mentor.

A mentor is not a problem-solver who should be expected to do all of the work to place the mentee in a better spot. The mentee also needs to be committed to learning from the mentor and putting in the effort to grow the relationship and implement the advice provided.

Some law firms appoint or encourage mentor relationships within the firm. But, mentors can be found in other ways as well, including by developing relationships organically at work, through affinity groups, bar associations, or alumni groups.

Be Careful When Describing Your New Specialty

Some state bar rules prohibit a lawyer from stating or implying that they are an “expert” or “specialist” in a particular area of law unless they have been certified as such by the appropriate body in accordance with their state bar rules.

This can be particularly difficult for attorneys in the early days of establishing a niche, where an expertise may be even less clear. Thus, attorneys should consult the applicable bar rules for their jurisdiction to determine what they can or cannot say about their growing expertise in an area.

By treating career development—and the development of a specialty—as a part of one’s regular tasks, junior lawyers can help take the steps that will lead to successes down the road.