Ante up your professional skills by volunteering for tough jobs at work
At the start of my career, I found myself doubting whether I had what it takes to be a litigator. I was in awe of and intimidated by my colleagues and the law firm partners, who all seemed leagues ahead of me.
Quashing that feeling of imposter syndrome has not been easy. But while I was clerking, I realized my self doubts were preventing me from achieving my potential. I was so worried about embarrassing myself that I did not want to raise my hand for opportunities that would help me become the lawyer I wanted to be. When I expressed those fears to the judge I was clerking for, she asked, “If others can do it, why not you?”
Well, why not me? There was no reason why I was taking myself out of the running, without giving it my best shot. At first, putting that advice into practice felt uncomfortable. But over time, it’s become easier and has made me a better advocate for myself, and for the clients I represent.
I’ve been lucky to find strong allies and advocates over the course of my career, but I’ve learned that I also need to speak up for myself. By doing so, I’ve built my confidence and learned how to ask for and earn opportunities, like principal drafting responsibility, taking depositions and witness interviews, and running case teams. Those experiences felt almost impossible a few years ago and I would’ve never thought to ask for them. But I am glad I did, because these opportunities have made me a stronger litigator.
In my experience, the best way to develop skills is to simply do the thing. For example, I’ve learned more from taking my first deposition than from the dozen depositions I’ve second-chaired. My prior experiences were instructive, but they did not teach me how to control a witness or gain admissions on my own.
When I speak to junior associates or law students, I encourage them to volunteer for opportunities that might feel intimidating. There is far more to gain from stepping up, even if you don’t succeed, than there is from shrinking away.
