Profile-building inside your firm
This message is especially for women lawyers who are on the partnership track — or who are at least starting to imagine that possibility for themselves.
Over the years, coaching talented women in law, I’ve seen a recurring belief: "If I just keep doing excellent work, the results will speak for themselves."
Let me be clear — being a brilliant lawyer is essential. But it’s not enough. Not even close.
If you want to become a partner, one of the most critical skills you need is the ability to build your profile within your firm — to be known, and known for the right things, by the right people.
1. Start Building Relationships — From Comfortable to Courageous
If networking sounds exhausting, intimidating, or just not your thing, start small.
Begin with colleagues who are on your level or just a little ahead. Ask them for coffee. Drop by their office for a quick chat. Build that muscle of proactive connection.
Then — and this is where the magic happens — reach out to the “big scary people.” The ones making the partnership decisions. Yes, it can feel intimidating, but you’re not asking them to mentor you for life. You’re asking for a 20-minute chat, perhaps about their own partnership journey, or for their advice on how to shape yours. Most of them will be flattered. And they will remember you.
2. Create or Lead Something (Even If It's Simple)
Leadership doesn’t have to be grand.
One of my clients realized that a valuable monthly breakfast meeting had disappeared after COVID. So, she reinstated it. She asked her partner if it could be reintroduced. He agreed. She coordinated with her assistant, sent the invites, and within 15 minutes had become the woman who made things happen.
You don’t need a budget. You need initiative. Whether it’s restarting a meeting, founding a women’s group, or simply getting people from different departments talking — you’re demonstrating leadership, and more importantly, being seen doing it.
3. Speak Up — Literally
Public speaking is a superpower.
If there’s an opportunity to present, speak, or be on a panel — grab it. Even if the topic is only distantly related to your expertise. This builds your visibility, boosts your confidence, and positions you as someone who leads from the front.
When I was still in asset management, I said yes to every opportunity. One day it was an internal meeting. A few months later, I was on a panel at the Intercontinental Hotel in Paris speaking to 400 people. That didn’t happen because I was the best speaker — it happened because I said, “I’ll do it.”
4. Be Memorable — Authentically You
There’s a reason marketers focus on what makes a brand stand out. You’re building a personal brand — inside your firm.
What do people remember about you? Are you the woman with the vibrant scarf? The marathon runner? The one with the ceramic watering-can handbag (yes, that’s a true story — and yes, it worked brilliantly)?
When decision-makers are sitting through 50 partnership interviews, they need to remember who’s who. Don’t blend in. Don’t dress like a carbon copy. Stand out — with confidence and authenticity.
And Here’s the Secret Payoff…
All of this — building relationships, speaking up, leading initiatives, being memorable — isn’t just about ticking boxes for partnership.
It’s about stepping into your power.
Even if you never make partner (though I truly hope you do), the confidence and clarity you gain when you start owning your path is transformative. You begin to feel bold, proactive, and fabulous. And that, in itself, is worth everything.
Until next time,
Cecilia