The skills junior lawyers need to future-proof their careers

Ask about the ‘future of law’, and lawtech is almost guaranteed to be the first topic up for discussion. Some would say rightly so – more than half of respondents (60.9%) to a Law Society survey in collaboration with the University of Manchester and University College London (2023) said that they intended to use lawtech more frequently in the next five years.

But new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are only part of the picture when it comes to the expertise legal recruiters will value in the coming years.

1. Understanding responsible business practices

You might think setting responsible business goals is a task solely for senior leaders – but the team at national law firm Weightmans believes that the next generation of lawyers should be involved in shaping sustainability initiatives from day one.

“Our vision is to become one of the most socially responsible and environmentally conscious national law firms of the UK. Our trainees and apprentices are our future leaders who will make that happen", says Denise Wright, the firm’s early careers manager.

“Our new recruits go into project groups and present their responsible business ideas back to the board. Some of these ideas have been adopted by the business", explains Denise. “Starting early means they’re so familiar with sustainability, it naturally becomes part of their decision making and is instilled in them, which benefits our people, clients and planet.”

Aspiring lawyers at DLA Piper are provided with a baseline sustainability training, including through a carbon literacy program, to understand their part in reducing – and helping clients to reduce – emissions, while some trainees also work with the responsible business team on sustainability and pro bono matters.

“The learning comes from working on real life client matters touching upon sustainability issues", says Roohi Nayak, early careers development manager at the firm. “We want our lawyers to use their skills to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges and encourage them to give something back via our thriving pro bono practice”.

2. Making ethical decisions

In the future, there will continue to be a focus on upholding the profession’s ethical standards. “Good ethics and strong human skills are completely interwoven”, says Dan Kayne, founder of O Shaped.

“If you’re a junior lawyer starting out in the profession, one of the key things is to build your own support network so that you’ve got people you can rely on – be it peer groups, mentors, or finding senior leaders in the business that you trust, and who trust you. Honing your people and business skills will help strengthen these stakeholder relationships”, he adds.

Dan Kayne says it’s important to build support networks with people you trust, and who trust you.

3. Humans first, robots second

“If you smile at someone – a client, for example – they smile back. People often just don’t realise that”, says Melinda Giles, managing partner and head of private client at Essex-based firm Giles Wilson.

“It makes a difference how people feel when they walk into the room”. She believes it’s essential for lawyers to develop skills that support relationship building with clients and colleagues, beyond the application legal expertise. It may sound like a fairly basic requirement – but is all too often neglected, explains Melinda.

“I’m a private client solicitor in a regional high street firm. Working out how your client wants to be spoken to will continue to be extremely important, especially as evolving technologies become more prevalent”, she says.

“If a client walks in who is a formal sort, they're not going to respond well to ‘You alright?’. But if an entrepreneur client rocks up and wants to grab a coffee to discuss a matter, you should be able to adapt to that too”.

And developing and safeguarding these skills takes on a new level of importance as firms integrate AI into daily activities and client expectations shift. “The technical knowledge will become more commodified, so its application to other humans and situations will become the most valuable thing – with an empathetic and creative way of thinking”, says Ben White, founder of in-house community Crafty Counsel.

It’s a view that clearly resonates with many of those who are starting their careers in the sector. “Lawyers who can combine technical expertise with emotional intelligence will be better equipped to navigate complex, nuanced situations”, says Charlie Moore, senior paralegal and aspiring lawyer at Kingsley Napley LLP and training committee member at the City of London Law Society (CLLS).

“Especially in areas such as client relations, conflict resolution, and ethical decision-making”.

Melinda Giles and Ben White stress the importance of ‘people skills’ in law.

4. Becoming a future leader

Effective leaders don’t just appear from nowhere. In fact, leadership skills should be recognised and developed from the start of your career.

This is something that Denise at Weightmans feels passionate about: “Even though we’re not always explicitly saying ‘here’s how to be a great leader’, a lot of our training is based around it. We’re instilling all the behaviours you need in good leaders. That comes from the emotional intelligence model – having self awareness, knowing your strengths, having empathy, and possessing self control and self-management”, she explains.

Adaptability and initiative are also key when it comes to upskilling. Those entering the profession often come from an environment where they are taught things and graded. That’s not the way of the working world, says Roohi. “Students don’t always arrive with the ability to self-evaluate strengths and weaknesses. We help them build a growth mindset whereby they learn how to double down on strengths, and to identify and fix the gaps.”

Keeping up-to-date on alternative law firm business models – and the skills required to succeed in them – will help shape future career paths. The traditional route to partnership may not be the only route to leadership.

Firms operating as employee-owned trusts (EOT) are on the rise, with a 2024 estimate suggesting there are between 20 and 30 UK firms operating in this structure. As this article written for the Law Society explains, firms may choose it for a number of reasons, such as succession planning, or not wanting to sell the business to another firm.

For Giles Wilson, it means their employees have more progression options earlier on in their careers. Melinda adds: “One of our trustees is 27 years old. Removing the financial hurdle to making partner means if you’re keen, hardworking and have something to offer, that’s what counts.”.

5. Developing unique perspectives

While there is some uncertainty about how much technology will change the profession, Samantha Hope, emerging talent manager at Shoosmiths, says AI should not create a skills gap for junior solicitors. They will still need to learn every step that goes into delivering legal advice.

Critical thinking will be crucial as AI tools develop, says Samantha Hope.

And, in this environment, it’s those with creative approaches and innovative outlooks who will really thrive. “While we don’t currently use AI to deliver legal advice, this is likely to evolve.

“As AI becomes more accurate and reliable, it may increasingly support lawyers in their work, but it won’t replace the need for critical thinking, sound judgment, and the unique perspectives that individuals bring.”