Professional development must be the personal responsibility of each in-house attorney

“Professional development is a fusion of career planning and development – for yourself – and continuing education and training in both the law and your company’s business – for the benefit of your client.” This distinction comes from GC Mid-Atlantic, March 2008 at 14.

The article makes clear that every in-house attorney is responsible for planning her career. To put a fine point on it, everyone needs to think about how to make the most of a position and whether to change jobs. A second point of the article is each lawyer has to take control of his own professional development. Even with neither a promotion nor a new position, a lawyer can develop skills. That’s not the responsibility of the law department or the company.

In this economy, while jobs are precarious, it is even more pressing to take control of your own career, job satisfaction, and prospects.