1. Develop a standard of excellence.

Be the first to show up. Prepare questions. Rigorously proof everything you write. Seek to blow people away by your diligence. Be the person that can be relied on to produce quality work.

2. Think for yourself.

Understand why you are doing what you are doing. Question your assumptions. Don’t do things just because that’s the way things have always been done. Boil things down to their fundamental truths.

3. Market yourself.

There are no prizes for downplaying your achievements. You need to be comfortable showcasing your successes. It’s not arrogance if you earned it.

4. Your biggest asset is often the journey you’ve been through.

That includes the good and the bad stuff, the achievements and the challenging life circumstances you’ve faced. No one can take your journey away from you.

5. Work hard on self-belief.

Self-belief is contagious. It draws people in. True confidence will come from believing you are truly of value.

6. You don’t need to be good at everything. 

Be exceptional at a few things. Lean into your strengths. If you are struggling with something, chances are it’s because you haven’t practised it enough.

7. Learn to write.

Good writing will get you noticed. It becomes a pleasure for the reader to hear what you have to say. Learn to communicate clearly. Develop your voice.

8. Don’t judge your future based on your current skillset.

Your thoughts right now don’t take into account incremental improvement and compound growth. Have faith that in 10 years’ time, you’ll be a more confident, skilled version of yourself.

9. Stay true to yourself.

The legal profession needs to adapt to you, not the other way around. Be authentic. Truthful. Stand up for yourself.