Our latest collaboration with Clifford Chance, Their Voices: Insights from Today’s Rising Lawyers, chronicles the journeys and stories of a selection of the next generation of lawyers, written and compiled by the team at GC magazine.

The collection of stories reveals that the stereotypical, well-trodden pathway to law is far from the sole entry point to the profession. In the past, anything but a complete commitment to the law – and nothing but the law – may have been considered a detriment, whereas now diversity of experience, both personal and professional, is characterizing the next generation of entrants. Those featured in the pages that follow embody this change, hailing from a range of backgrounds with law a second career for many – some in tangentially related industries, others hailing from a past which couldn’t be further from the law – but all bringing with them an insight as unique as it is valuable.

The interviews that underpin this publication also reveal a profession in the midst of change, as the realities of working at a law firm in the 21st century ring true for all the right reasons. The impact of technology is creating opportunities for new ways of working, increased flexibility and the chance to fundamentally reimagine how lawyers should – and do – operate. With this newest cohort of entrants hailing from a generation of digital natives, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many of those featured are showing leadership and helping drive this change, but the willingness of senior partners and management to respond by empowering some of their newest members in such a positive fashion illustrates the changing dynamics apparent in a modern law firm.

Helping to facilitate that change at Clifford Chance, particularly for new entrants to the firm, has been Erin Zucker, the firm’s dedicated assignment manager, who has been instrumental in transforming the experience of first-year law clerks and associates. Instead of specializing at the commencement of their professional career or operating under the rigidity of the typical six-month rotation, most new entrants now enter a pool for a two-and-a-half-year period, during which time they are exposed to assignments across the firm’s transactional practices. That very exposure – to a broad selection of practices and practitioners – offers the opportunity to glean an insight into what their own future could hold, while developing well-rounded lawyers with a more holistic understanding of the profession.

When considered in the context of a world (and business environment) that is increasingly globalized, one with less defined boundaries and practice areas that no longer operate in silos, bringing together the aforementioned threads – diverse pathways, modern working practices and holistic approaches to training – no longer seems like nice-to-haves, but rather professional imperatives.

The stories that follow paint a picture of progression and much-needed modernization for the next generation of lawyers. And while change can be a scary word, based on my interactions with those who generously gave their time as part of this undertaking, I can confidently say that if this is what the future leaders of the legal profession look like, we’re in good hands.

Alex Speirs, Editor-in-Chief, GC magazine

Lawyers choose a legal career for many different reasons. Some have it in their DNA and come from a family of attorneys. For others, the idea may arise during high school or college, or maybe after spending some time in another kind of job or doing community service. When the idea strikes, some are not certain and need time to explore; others are driven straight to law school. But they all have one thing in common: something sparked their interest.

My job is to help empower our lawyers. They arrive here on their first day having already navigated their way through law school, the recruitment process and a summer program. It’s an impressive beginning, and I find great joy in doing my part to help them shape the future of their careers – digging into the work and finding the right space to practice in.

Since the firm decided in 2015 to embrace a pool concept for our first years in the transactional practice, I have been tasked with implementing that process. Shortly thereafter, I began coordinating staffing within the litigation practice in collaboration with our partners and counsel. This approach offers significant benefits. For one, it keeps everyone consistently busy and allows lawyers to immerse themselves in a variety of work, where and when our clients need it. It also provides exposure to our international network of offices in a very fluid way – that’s a great fit with our culture as a global firm.

A big part of my job is getting to know people: what kind of work interests them, their professional styles and goals – their voices. What I’ve learned is that this generation of junior lawyers is shifting the prevailing wisdom about success in the law.

I’m also here to encourage people to step outside their comfort zone by exposing them to different types of work. I know that I am having a positive impact on someone’s career when they say, “I’m so glad I tried something new.”

What you will read in these pages is just a sampling of the stories that our junior lawyers could tell. From my perspective, the takeaway is this: whether they practice law for their entire careers or move on to something completely unexpected, they are on a path to forging their own success in an evolving field. That’s why their perspective is so valuable. n

Erin Zucker, Americas regional professional development manager, Clifford Chance

I’ve always been interested in the field of government. I worked in politics before going to law school, including on Michael Bloomberg’s 2009 campaign for Mayor of New York and later at the NYC Housing Authority as a strategist and liaison with elected officials. It was interesting work, but after four years, I started thinking about Big Law.

I was craving the intensity of a campaign, but also wanted a more stable environment where I wouldn’t have to worry about finding a job if the campaign was unsuccessful. My experience in politics also gave me a good understanding of what it’s like to work long hours and under pressure, so I already knew that it was an environment I thrived in.

As a lawyer, most of your training is done on the job, and you have to jump right in. I’ve found it helpful to be thrown into the fire a bit – of course, in a safe environment – because you often don’t know that you’re ready for more difficult work until you take on those challenges. I also value the opportunities I’ve had to work with attorneys who are at the top of their field because it’s given me the chance to learn how they work through complex issues and, over time, to make some of those strategies my own.

Everyone works hard here, and I really like that. As a junior lawyer, you don’t always have control over when you work, but once you’ve shown that you can get the job done, the “how” and the “where” become less important – and you’re given the space you need to balance other priorities.

Now, if I need to work from home because my child is sick, I can do that, and we are provided the technical tools to help us carry out our work seamlessly. Finding that flexibility and respect for other priorities, particularly in a profession that is outwardly seen as rigid, was very welcome and allowed me to envision working in this industry long term.

Now that I’ve been here a while, I can see that part of the game is about trusting yourself and relaxing a bit – not about your work or being driven in your career, but more in managing emotions. To be honest, if someone had given me that advice when I was in law school, I probably wouldn’t have followed it. But I’ve learned that if you go the extra mile and do everything you possibly can on a project – every time – then there’s no reason to worry. Just give it your all and have no regrets.

When I look back on my legal career, I feel very fortunate. I had the opportunity to attend law school in Argentina and get a master’s degree in international law in Geneva, Switzerland. Then I had the chance to work for Argentina’s Treasury Attorney General’s Office, a government department that represents Argentina in its international disputes. After that, an international law firm made me an offer to join its Mexico City office.

Today, I work at a firm that started its global expansion a long time ago: international work is in our DNA. That is obviously important to my practice, but I have found that it also makes us very diverse, and that means a lot to me. Whether I have found myself living in the United States, Latin America or Europe, it has been personally as well as intellectually enriching to interact with people from different cultural backgrounds.

I love that my practice involves consequential issues. International arbitration, particularly foreign investor-state arbitration, is fascinating because it touches many aspects of the legal, economic and political life of a country, such as international law, public finance and the rule of law. We frequently represent our clients in their disputes within regulated and capital-intensive industries that present unique and very interesting challenges. Matters involving certain economic activities can have a very broad impact – a power generation project, for instance, may affect millions of people.

If you want to work on matters that involve different societies and legal traditions, it’s important to be open and eager to learn – to stay intellectually curious. Every day, I find opportunities to learn from others, and I am grateful for all the experiences that have created that openness in me.

I think it is important to have a mentor, whether that is someone in a more senior position or a peer at your own level. Having those relationships and being able to talk with someone you trust helps you to improve your professional skills. It also allows you to see a situation from different perspectives, which improves your work product and, in the end, helps you achieve the best possible outcome for your client.

In terms of personal advice, I would say that perseverance is key. Most things worth pursuing in life and in your career are a matter of pushing yourself to make the most of every opportunity, discover what truly interests you, and then find the right way to put it all together.

Antitrust combines much of what interests me about law. This area of law presents the opportunity to immerse myself in a client’s business and advocate for its interests. The practice has a strong regulatory component, so there is much substantive knowledge to learn. The many recent developments in antitrust afford me the chance to work on cutting-edge issues. Of particular interest to me is the intersection between antitrust and technology.

My class was the first to participate in the firm’s Transactional Pool in New York, and I was soon drawn to M&A. I volunteered to assist the antitrust team, which sits in our corporate group, and I ended up spending half a summer in DC working on a major antitrust investigation. The DC office and the practice area seemed like a great fit for me, and the firm was very supportive of my move to DC.

The legal field today is rapidly evolving. There are more options for my generation of lawyers, whether that means working for start-ups or multinationals, trying out different or emerging substantive areas, or having the mobility to switch offices as your practice develops. There is a definite sense that people want those choices, and they want to be able to take ownership in developing their careers.

In my own career, I have identified priorities in my environment. I value being a member of a team where my input counts: when I propose ideas, they are listened to and taken seriously. Whether it’s about pitching for work or making a suggestion about tweaking the way we do something, I have focused on finding that dynamic in my practice. My partners and senior associates provide strong mentorship and support. That kind of investment is very important to me.

Be an advocate for yourself and take chances. Setbacks are a natural part of anything worth doing. Early in your career, it may feel at times that you’re not being given as many opportunities as you’d like. But you need to take the initiative to create those opportunities. Finding a way to advocate for yourself is not something that may come easily. However, I have learned that failure to act will hold you back, especially in our field.

As a young person reading books for school, I was attracted to characters who were lawyers – To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorites. The pop culture portrayal of lawyers – what it took for them to understand a case and really help someone – resonated with me. I think I’ve always known that I wanted to be a lawyer.

After completing my undergraduate studies, serving for five years in the military and earning a master’s degree in regional studies, I was ready for law school. I went to night school part-time and worked at the New York Stock Exchange during the day. The job provided exposure to the financial side of business and the work of a transactional lawyer.

When the time came to select a firm for my summer program, I knew exactly where I wanted to be. I had always heard that my firm has an outstanding global reputation, and once I arrived and started working with our teams, my choice was confirmed. After the program, the firm offered an assignment to stay on as a paralegal during my last year in school, and from there, things fell into place.

As an intelligence specialist in the US Marine Corps, I received intensive training about different cultures and histories. These are important factors in a tactical or military environment, and the lessons translate well in an international legal practice.

Transitioning out of the military wasn’t easy, though. I went from wearing a combat uniform every day to wearing a suit. The firm’s support has been essential, but I’ve also found it helpful to integrate some of the daily rituals of military life. I still wake up early and make the bed: that discipline starts my process for the rest of the day.

One of the most valuable skills I’ve learned is to just march on, even when you find yourself in an embarrassing or awkward situation. The military tests you for that ability, and it’s very useful in the law. As a junior, you’re going to make mistakes. But if you can take that as a given and see mistakes for what they are, then you can learn from them and make sure you don’t repeat them.

Every day at work is a humbling experience: no matter how much you’ve learned, there’s always something new coming up. Having that awareness can help you check your pride and keep difficult issues in perspective. I’ve learned a lot just by watching experienced partners and associates face a new problem and then coordinate an entire team to tackle it.