Hiring Without Values Is a Risk You Can’t Afford
Let me ask you something. When was the last time you stopped to consider your values?
Not your firm’s glossy mission statement. Not what’s printed on a poster in the HR office.
Your values.
If you're a woman lawyer navigating your career - particularly if you're aiming to become a partner in a law firm - I urge you: pause and take a good, hard look at what you stand for. Because here's the truth: Values are not optional. They’re essential.
Why Values Are More Than Just Words on a Wall
In the 1990s, corporate books like Built to Last by Jim Collins brought values into the business spotlight. Suddenly, companies everywhere were rushing to “define their values.” HR departments wrote up inspiring statements, printed them on beautiful paper, framed them in reception areas... and promptly forgot about them.
That’s not how values work.
Values aren't branding. They’re not slogans. They’re daily decisions. They’re guides for behavior. And in law firms, where pressure runs high and the stakes are often personal, values determine whether we act with integrity - or look the other way.
My Experience as a Woman in Law
Having worked in firms across Australia, the UK, and France, I’ve met exceptional lawyers. Most have been brilliant, principled professionals. But I’ve also witnessed conduct that should never have been tolerated - from subtle ethical breaches like wrongly charging client accounts, to more serious misconduct I won’t detail here.
What shocked me more than the misconduct itself? The way some firms responded - or rather, failed to respond.
There was no reference to values. No discussion of what kind of culture the firm was cultivating. Instead, there was hesitation, second-guessing, and fear of losing a “valuable” partner - even when that partner was eroding the firm's integrity from within.
If a firm’s values aren’t guiding decisions - including who stays and who goes - then those values are meaningless.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you’re a woman lawyer looking ahead to partnership, you must start with clarity:
Do your values align with your firm’s? And equally important: Does your firm actually live its values?
When you're interviewing with a firm, ask about their values. Better yet - observe whether they practice those values. Are junior lawyers respected? Are working parents supported? Is integrity upheld, or is bad behavior excused if the numbers look good?
And if you're hiring? Start by getting clear on the values you want to see in your team. Then, ask questions that probe for those values - not just experience or qualifications. For example:
“Tell me about a time you stood up for something unpopular but important.”
“What does ‘client commitment’ look like to you, especially under pressure?”
“When have you chosen the harder, more ethical path - and why?”
My Business Values
Over the past months, I’ve been refining the values that drive my work as a coach and advisor to lawyers. Here’s where I’ve landed:
Integrity and Respect
Uncompromising respect for the law, for clients, and for colleagues.Client Commitment
We do what it takes to help clients reach their goals - with generosity and focus.Excellence Through Iteration
We improve by trying, refining, learning - again and again.Culture of Learning and Openness
We stay curious. We listen, read, ask, disagree, and grow - especially from those different from us.Balanced Work Ethic
We work with intensity and rest with intention.Trusted, Caring Professionals
Everyone we engage with - clients, suppliers, team - is treated with care and professionalism.
These aren’t just statements. They’re principles I return to again and again - when making decisions, when evaluating relationships, when navigating challenges.
For Women Lawyers on the Path to Partnership
If you’re a woman lawyer who wants to make partner in a law firm, here’s my invitation to you:
Don’t leave values at the door.
Don’t assume a firm’s values are lived just because they’re written.
Don’t compromise your own.
A values-driven lawyer is a powerful lawyer. And a values-driven partner? That’s the kind of leader the profession - and the world - desperately needs.
If you’re thinking seriously about partnership, I’ve created a free guide: “How to Make Partner in a Law Firm”. It outlines the hidden obstacles my clients have faced, and the strategies that helped them move forward.
👉 Grab your copy here: https://www.ceciliapoullain.com/free-guide
And until next time, remember: Your values are your compass. Use them.
Warmly,
Cecilia
Source: LinkedIn Live: https://www.linkedin.com/events/hiringwithoutvaluesisariskyouca7338852754729148417/theater/