In the fast-paced world of law, we often find ourselves adhering to a well-trodden path: graduate from a top law school, land a position at a prestigious firm, climb the ladder, and maybe — just maybe — become a partner. But what if I told you that the traditional route is just one way to achieve success in our field? What if there are unconventional strategies that could propel your career in ways you hadn’t considered?
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Brittany Becker, an in-house product and marketing lawyer who shared her unique perspectives on how to approach a legal career differently. Brittany’s insights stem from her diverse experience as a first-generation college student, a public defender, and now a product lawyer in a dynamic industry. Her journey has been anything but linear, and her advice offers fresh, actionable strategies that can help anyone looking to innovate their path in law. Here are three of her most compelling insights.
1. Treat Your Career Like A Product Development Cycle
Most lawyers think of their careers linearly: you start as an associate, then move to senior associate, then partner, and so on. But what if we borrowed a concept from the world of technology and treated our careers like a product development cycle? Brittany suggests approaching your career as if you were launching a product.
Think about it: products are launched, tested, iterated upon, and relaunched in better versions. Why not apply this to your career? Start by launching “Version 1.0” of yourself. This could mean experimenting with a niche area of law, taking on a unique project, or developing a new skill set that isn’t traditionally associated with your current role.
Here’s the actionable part: every six months, review your “product.” What’s working? What isn’t? Collect feedback from mentors, peers, and even clients, just as you would gather customer feedback for a product. Then, make adjustments. This iterative approach allows you to continuously improve, adapt to market demands, and stay ahead of the curve.
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2. Network Horizontally, Not Just Vertically
We’ve all heard the advice to network with people above us: partners, senior counsel, judges, and the like. While that’s important, Brittany emphasizes the importance of networking horizontally with your peers and even those who are junior to you. Why? Because these are the people who will grow with you, move into key positions across the industry, and potentially become your greatest allies and collaborators.
The key is to see networking not as a transaction but as an opportunity to build genuine, mutually beneficial relationships. Brittany recommends taking time to understand what drives your peers, what challenges they face, and how you can help. By building these horizontal networks, you create a support system that can provide insights, referrals, and collaborations that you won’t find by only looking up.
Actionable insight: Set a goal to reach out to at least one peer and one junior colleague each month. Offer them support, share resources, or simply have a candid conversation about the challenges you’re both facing. Over time, these connections will become a rich tapestry of support that can provide unexpected career opportunities.
3. Practice Reverse Mentorship
We often think of mentorship as a one-way street: experienced professionals passing down wisdom to those coming up the ranks. But Brittany advocates for the value of reverse mentorship, where the learning dynamic is flipped. Reverse mentorship involves learning from those who are younger, less experienced, or from entirely different fields.
Younger colleagues or professionals from different industries bring fresh perspectives that can challenge your thinking and expose you to new ideas and technologies. In today’s rapidly evolving legal landscape, understanding trends like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data privacy isn’t optional — it’s essential.
Here’s how you can start: Brittany suggests identifying a junior colleague or someone from a different industry whose skills or knowledge you admire. Reach out and propose a mutual learning relationship. You might offer them insights into navigating complex legal frameworks, while they can introduce you to the latest tech tools or social media trends.
The actionable takeaway here is to have at least one reverse mentoring session per quarter. This could be a lunch, a coffee chat, or even a Zoom call. The goal is to stay curious and open to learning from anyone, regardless of their age or experience level.
Conclusion
The legal profession is changing rapidly, and with it, the definition of a successful career. By thinking like a product developer, building horizontal networks, and engaging in reverse mentorship, you can innovate your path and find unique ways to stand out and thrive.
Brittany Becker’s journey is a testament to the power of embracing nontraditional career strategies. By being adaptable, open to new experiences, and willing to redefine what a successful legal career looks like, you can chart a path that is both fulfilling and uniquely your own. So go ahead — launch Version 2.0 of your career today. Who knows what incredible opportunities lie ahead when you dare to think differently?
Olga V. Mack is a Fellow at CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, and a Generative AI Editor at law.MIT. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat, Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security, and Blockchain Value: Transforming Business Models, Society, and Communities. She is working on three books: Visual IQ for Lawyers (ABA 2024), The Rise of Product Lawyers: An Analytical Framework to Systematically Advise Your Clients Throughout the Product Lifecycle (Globe Law and Business 2024), and Legal Operations in the Age of AI and Data (Globe Law and Business 2024). You can follow Olga on LinkedIn and Twitter @olgavmack.