You know you’re ready to seize a new legal opportunity. The law firm where you currently work no longer suits you, and you must consider a lateral move.

Congratulations! We’re happy that you’ve made this decision, but the hardest part remains: developing a strategy. To succeed in your new role and flourish, you must gather key elements to officially begin your “job search”.

1. Ensure You Know What You Want

Ask yourself the right questions:

• Do you want to stay in the same practice area and type of firm?
• What type of legal workplace environment are you seeking?
• Do you want to join a large firm, a small practice with few lawyers, a mid-sized firm, or even an in-house legal department?

This step is absolutely crucial. Once you’ve defined your practice area and firm type, your professional trajectory will become clear.

2. Sell Yourself

Focus on your added value: What can you offer a company? To successfully make a lateral move, adopt the perspective of a law firm. Why would they want to hire you?

Build your “sales pitch”: How are you different from other lawyers? Formulate this difference in a concise but impactful sentence, to be integrated into your cover letter or during your interview.

3. Take Initiative Before Contacting a Firm

Once you’ve identified your goals and strengths, take action!

• Update your LinkedIn profile
• Reach out to your network
• Remember that job acquisition (especially at the partner level) is primarily based on professional relationships

The more extensive your network, the higher your chances of landing the position you’re seeking.

4. Develop Your Network

Although this word is often intimidating for lawyers, networking remains the primary channel for discovering professional opportunities.

Practical tips:

• Meet other lawyers
• Share your career objectives
• Explain what you can bring to a firm

Opportunities will come naturally!

5. Document Your Achievements

A standard CV is not enough in the legal world. Instead, create a document that highlights your accomplishments:

• Business portfolio
• Published articles
• Representative mandates

These elements will allow firms to accurately assess your potential.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve gathered all these elements, you’re ready to conquer your new position. We’re here to support you in this process! Don’t hesitate to contact us to explore opportunities and facilitate your search.