By: Santhi Latha
Let us start by talking about whether a law degree means that your only career option is to be in legal practice. The fact is that approximately 40% of law graduates do not end up in legal practice but find their law degrees are useful opportunities for them to segue into a variety of other industries including the corporate sector, banking & finance and fintech (financial technology), journalism, legaltech (legal technology), start-ups and more.
What this means for you is that your journey is about the choices that you will make when you graduate with a law degree.
Should you do the professional qualifications like the Certificate in Legal Practice or the Bar Professional Training Course? Are there alternative qualifications that you can pursue for example, if you want to join the corporate sector – like the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) qualification; or fintech qualifications to join the financial industry; or arbitration and mediation qualifications that allow you to focus on dispute resolution?
Many individuals with law degrees do not go into legal practice but use their law degrees as an opportunity to pivot to areas of personal interest – from ATC’s history we can see individuals who have joined the corporate sector, we have journalists and authors, we have educators and more interestingly, we have people who have journeyed into legaltech, created their own startups and businesses, fintech, consulting, the arts and beyond.
Lesson: There is no limit to what your choices are.
A Growth Mindset
There is much discussion about the fact that just having legal qualifications are not enough anymore. Law firms expect law graduates to have a variety of skills and competencies that extend beyond their legal qualifications, and oftentimes, they expect these skills and competencies to be ready for use at the point of employment. Is this unfair? Sure, it might be if you do not have such skills and competencies.
Lesson: The national, regional and global marketplace has become more competitive, and every edge counts.
Does that mean you have to spend another fortune acquiring formal non-legal qualifications? Well, no. The starting point on this alternative and often parallel journey is about having what is known as a `growth mindset’.
Dr Carol Dweck, a psychologist at Stanford University and the author of `Mindset: The New Psychology of Success’ emphasises that there is a difference between having a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. In its simplest form, a growth mindset rests on the belief that one’s talents, intelligence and abilities can be developed with effort; whereas a person with a fixed mindset takes the view that their talents, intelligence and abilities are fixed, and that effort is therefore a sign of inadequacy.
If you have a growth mindset, it just means that you have the opportunity to choose to be a lifelong learner – which is a fundamental aspect of ensuring opportunities for evolution as a professional.
There are six core aspects to consider when thinking about a growth mindset.
So, while a law degree may be your launchpad, it is not the end of your journey. Your continued evolution as a legal and business professional are crucial so you can make yourself more competitive, more competent and an overall better human being.
HOW do you cultivate a growth mindset?
It is possible to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, but it will take practice. To start this process, evaluate what type of mindset you currently have.
How do you do this?
1. Examine the qualities you have that you are proud of - are these ‘natural’ talents that you rely on to get you through whatever comes your way?
If you find that you rely primarily on your natural talents, try something new and different and explore stepping out of your comfort zone. Start small but start.
2. How do you respond to setbacks and feedback - do these set you back and make you feel afraid or anxious?
If this is how you feel when you face negative feedback (or a lack of positive gratification), learn to write down the specifics of the feedback so you can learn from the setback or constructive feedback you received. Be as specific as possible. Weigh the negatives against the positive things you have learnt about yourself on how to be better. Treat the setback or negative feedback as a lesson learnt.
The next article will focus on how you can develop specific skills and competencies to enhance your opportunities.
About the author
Santhi Latha is from the first batch of ATC graduates and spent more than 2 decades teaching lawyers about the law, and more. She is currently the Dean of the Rajah & Tann Asia Academy and President of the Association of Women Lawyers. She also sits on the Malaysian Bar Council’s Innovation and Future of Law Committee, and the Common Bar Course Committee. Santhi is also a member of the Kuala Lumpur Bar’s Gender, Equality and Diversity Committee.
Email: slnb66@gmail.com
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