My father was an attorney, and my older sister is an attorney. However, law was not my dream job. Growing up in Jamaica, I fancied myself a future Mariah Carey performing under bright lights on a massive stage in front of adoring fans.

Alas, close to the end of my college tenure, I realized that the practice of law was my fate. Once I started law school at Nova Southeastern University, I learned as much as I could in order to make notable contributions to the legal community.

In my mind, the best way to do that was to work at a large law firm as a partner. Partnership was my ultimate measure of success. I resolved to make it a reality—and I did. In 16 years of practice, I have learned many tips that have propelled my career and have made me successful and happy. Here are the six best (fee waived):

• Law firms are like the TV show "Survivor."

This is probably the most significant tip. It is imperative that you make alliances within your firm if you want to advance. What? Alliances? As on the hit television show "Survivor?"

You need only one ally, so choose carefully. You want an ally who has influence; is not just a talker but a doer; and truly, genuinely cares about your personal and professional development. The right person with enough influence will champion your causes in moments that impact your career path.

If you want to be a partner, talk to this person, share your goals, ask what you can do to inch closer to the goal, and show this person how committed you are to doing what it takes. This is extremely important if you intend to advance, particularly if you want to be on the fast track.

• Figure out how to stand out.

Almost 20 years ago while in law school, we students were told to ignore the movie "The Paper Chase" because the days of cutthroat competition were long gone. The environment was more collaborative. This is true, to a degree. No, your colleagues are not going to sabotage your work and hopefully they will view you as a team member but, make no mistake, competition still exists.

As a result, you must work at standing out. But how? Say, for example, you are a labor and employment attorney like me. Well, there are many labor and employment attorneys. What if you have a keen ability to interpret pension laws or laws related to employee benefits, which are very complicated? Congratulations, you just carved out a niche for yourself!

• Keep a success file.

When you receive an email or letter from a client or, better yet, opposing counsel, congratulating you on a good result, praising your practice style, or your behavior or some extracurricular achievement, put it in a file folder. This will come in very handy when you need to negotiate (See next tip.). I have my success file with a decade and a half's worth of commendations, including some from opposing counsel.

• Negotiate using facts, not emotions.

It is well known that employees hate to negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment. This is nonsense. Remember, every attorney is a contestant on the "Survivor" show; only the strong survive.

Are you a survivor? Yes! Negotiate using facts—not tears, not strong-arm tactics, but information that cannot be challenged such as great results, positive feedback from clients, and exceptional client retention. Have you generated significant revenue for your employer? All firms value their bottom line, so have information regarding your revenue generation ready. You would be surprised how often employers do not have all the facts needed to determine your proper compensation and benefits.

• Be the armchair.

A partner once told me that, in order to secure my position, I needed to always "be the armchair." What does this mean? Well, when you are weary, what do you look for? A chair, right? This is simply another way of telling you to make yourself indispensable.

Have a can-do attitude and be available as much as possible. Do not turn down work. You've never done it? Figure it out. There are too many resources to shirk the opportunity to learn something new. Make sure your presence is seen and, if you cannot be physically present, make sure your presence is felt. In the age of technology, that is easy.

This does not mean you should sacrifice vacations or personal time, which I believe are extremely important for your health. It does mean you should demonstrate that you are committed to your firm and your clients. When a new case comes up, your name should spring to mind first because you are the one who will get it done.

• Get involved in your community.

As someone who has sat on boards, I can say with sincerity that community service has significantly enhanced my law practice. The secret is to do something you are passionate about. You would be surprised how many people join an organization to please their firm when that group's values directly conflict with theirs. Join something you care about, or you will experience little personal growth or fulfillment.

Bonus Tip: Find a mentor! I have mentored over a dozen attorneys and know many others, some at nonprofit organizations, who would be happy to serve as mentors. You just have to ask. Now, go be that mega-star on the legal stage!

Alison Smith is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Kelley Kronenberg focusing her practice the area of employment and labor law. Contact her at 954-370-9970 or [email protected].