Lawyers are trained to manage risk. But one of the biggest risks in a legal career is rarely labeled as such: doing nothing.
Change is hard. We all get comfortable where we are. Doing things the way we have always done them feels safe. For lawyers, change feels especially risky. We are trained to spot what can go wrong.
What we often overlook is that staying put has risks too.
- Maybe you won’t make partner because you didn’t invest enough time in internal or external relationships.
- Maybe your company downsizes and you suddenly have to start a job search from scratch.
- Maybe you keep doing work that drains your energy or stay in an environment that never really fits.
If the billable hour is crowding out marketing or relationship building, ask yourself a harder question: what happens if you don’t do that work now?
The billable hour will always be there. If you are in-house, no one actually expects you to be available 24/7.
If you are thinking about a lateral move, going in-house, or even leaving the law, start small.
Create simple, repeatable networking habits that quietly position you for what comes next. Habits that make it more likely clients, referral sources, and decision makers think of you when opportunities arise.
James Clear makes this point well in Atomic Habits. Big change comes from small, consistent systems, not dramatic goals.
Here’s one place to start:
- Put it on your calendar.
- Block 15 minutes on Monday to review your best contacts (potential referral sources, past clients.)
- Block 30 minutes on Wednesdays to send a few emails. Set up coffees, zoom get togethers, or share an article.
To make it stick, use temptation bundling. Pair the thing that feels hard with something you enjoy.
If you send the emails, you get 30 minutes of a trashy novel, your favorite show, online shopping, or yes, a gooey pastry.
Stop fixating on distant, high-stakes goals. Focus on small habits that feel manageable and low risk.
Small steps are easier to schedule, easier to start, and easier to sustain. And over time, they change everything.