The Mid-Year Career Check-In Every Associate Should Do
- Mahta Talani
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
As we head into the fall and wake up from our summer fog (don't worry, you're not alone), it's the perfect time to take stock of how this year has gone and whether there is anything you want to change for the second half.
One thing is certain: the legal market isn't standing still.
From major law firm mergers like Ashurst Perkins Coie to yet another Big Law Cravath scale salary increase, the market continues to evolve. While these headlines focus on firms, they should also prompt associates to ask a different question:
What do these changes mean for my own career?
I challenge you to take five minutes and think through the questions below. Hopefully your answers give you some clarity heading into the fall.
Am I Getting the Experience I Want?
This isn't just about being busy. It's about whether you're getting the right work and the right level of responsibility.
Maybe you're an employment litigator hoping for more labor relations work. Maybe you're a capital markets associate looking for more IPO experience. Or maybe you simply don't feel like you're getting enough hands-on experience.
Ask yourself whether you're building the experience that will make you the lawyer you want to be two or three years from now.
Am I Learning From the Right People?
Do you have partners and senior associates who are genuinely investing in your development?
Responsibility is great, but too much independence too early can leave you feeling unsupported. Make sure you're learning from people who are helping you grow in the areas you actually want to build your career.
Is My Practice Group Growing?
Look beyond your own workload.
Are associates being promoted? Is your group hiring because it's expanding, or because turnover is high? Is there enough work to keep everyone busy?
These are all signals worth paying attention to as you think about your long-term future.
If I Stayed One More Year...
If nothing changed over the next twelve months, would you be happy with where your career ends up?
Sometimes another year is exactly the right decision.
For example, if you're a senior associate with a realistic path to partnership, staying another year may make perfect sense. On the other hand, if you've been promised partnership for the past two years and it keeps getting pushed back, it may be worth asking whether that timeline is actually realistic.
The same goes for junior associates. If you're hoping to specialize or make a slight practice area pivot, those moves are often easier earlier in your career while your billing rate is lower and firms have more flexibility to train you.
There isn't one right answer. The important thing is making an intentional decision instead of simply staying because it's easier.
Would Changing Firms Actually Solve My Problems?
As a career consultant, my goal is never to tell someone they should immediately leave their firm.
Sometimes the answer is a conversation with a partner, asking for different work, or giving yourself another year to develop. Sometimes changing firms is absolutely the right move.
The key is understanding the problem first, then deciding whether a lateral move is actually the best solution.
TL;DR
Take a step back and ask yourself whether you're getting the experience you want, receiving the mentorship you need, and working in a practice group that aligns with your long-term goals.
If those questions leave you with hesitation, don't ignore it. The best career decisions aren't reactive. They're intentional.
If you'd like to talk through your own situation, I'm always happy to have that conversation.
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