As businesses expand, so too must those who work for them. As an attorney, you must also remain willing to evolve regardless of the type of law you practice. A buzzworthy label that’s getting a lot of attention these days around legal circles is the T-shaped lawyer.
At its core, a person who falls into this category has plenty of complementary skills that boost their capabilities and marketability. Dive in and learn more about what this type of lawyer looks like, why you might want to consider becoming one and how you can do it.
Key Takeaways
- A T-shaped lawyer has a strong specialty (the vertical part of the T) and an array of complementary skills (the horizontal bar) that allow for more flexibility in offering services to clients.
- Recently, businesses and clients have been looking for attorneys to perform more than one function.
- Finding your skill set may come easily, or it may take some work. Remember, it’s never too late to develop yourself.
What Is a T-Shaped Lawyer?
During law school, you spent time in classes gaining exposure to a variety of legal specializations. You likely decided the type of law you wanted to practice before your first internship, which put you on the path to your current legal career. The knowledge you have and the skills you’ve gained through practice in your specialty make up your professional foundation.
A T-shaped attorney got the name because it begins with the specialty in mind. Your professional foundation is the vertical part of a T. You cannot evolve and become a dynamic legal practitioner without this fundamental base.
The horizontal part of the T is where you can set yourself apart from others and up for further success in this ever-changing landscape of business and law. What sets you apart from your peers is the broader sweep of abilities or experiences that you can tap into and bring to the table. An attorney with a solid legal specialty and a range of related skills is a T-shaped lawyer.