6 things you can do in lock-down that will benefit your career.

1. Update your CV. Your CV is a dynamic document that should evolve as your experience grows. Pay particular attention to your matter list and make sure you include all the things that you have worked on over the last 12 months. Should that dream role come up (internally or externally) with little or no warning you are ready to go for it without too much fuss.

2. Consider your career plan. Where do you want to be in 2 years? In 5 years? What can you be doing now to get there?

3. Look at options for further education. Research what options are out there for further study that may enhance your technical expertise or commercial acumen.

4. Give a thought to marketing. Think about how you might be able to contribute to any relevant legal updates or blog posts about your practice area. Think about business development and what you might be able to contribute to your firm when there is more certainty.

5. Engage with your network. Touch base with your mentors and/ or people you have admired in the legal industry and see how they are adapting. Suggest a coffee meeting when things have returned to normal.

6. Check in with a recruiter. You do not need to be actively be seeking a new role to ask them for their take on the market and any green shoots they may be seeing. Most recruiters enjoy long term relationships with people in their sector and now is an excellent time to check in even if you are not considering a new opportunity in the short term.

Whilst there is a great deal of uncertainty at the moment, this will change. From a career planning perspective- this is an opportune time to step back and give yourself the freedom to think about and plan for your future.