What shall I do in August?

August is a quiet month for many barristers. Clients are on holiday but your practice ticks on.

“Time isn’t the main thing. It’s the only thing.”  Miles Davies

How to use the downtime

After you’ve had a holiday, you might be itching to set the wheels in motion for a successful year. If that sounds like you, here’s a checklist.

1.  Practise being visible

If you’d like to build your confidence with practice marketing, August is a good month to dip your toe in the water.

If you’re worried about creating the perception of not having enough work, this concern disappears in August. Clients don’t expect you to be fully-booked all summer. 

You can use August to practice posting content online.  Add new connections to your network and share and comment on other people’s content. Commit to writing one article for publication before the month is out. 

2.  Set your objectives

Since the legal year follows the academic year, September probably feels like the natural time of year to set your objectives.

In August, choose at least one ambitious objective for next year. For example: “Become the go-to junior at my level in my practice area in 12 months.”

Then work out a client-centred plan to help you achieve this goal, using all the resources available to you.  You’ll find plenty on this site.

3.  Take time off

I can’t prove this evidentially but from my experience working with very successful barristers I am sure of this.

Those barristers who remain connected with a close group of family and friends outside of work are the happiest and most successful in their career.

There will be times in your career when you have to put work first. But if you make this your modus operandi, eventually, your career will stall.

In all high-pressure jobs, a support structure helps you maintain momentum. Carve out time for the people who make all the hard work worthwhile and give them your full attention this month.

And finally…update your Chambers profile

In an earlier post, I wrote about the impact on your google ranking of maintaining your Chambers profile. You can read it again here.

August is a great time to do a refresh. You will have acquired new skills and experience this year so make sure you let your clients know what you can offer them now.

By Heidi Smith

Creator of Jurilogical.com