As we usher in a new decade, now is the time for young lawyers to make New Year's resolutions that will put them on a trajectory for career success. If you have a spotty history of sticking with past New Year's resolutions, fear not. Below are seven totally doable resolutions that you will be motivated to keep.

Reorganize

An organized lawyer is an efficient lawyer. Take a good, hard look at your files, email box, the sticky notes on your desk, your apps, your computer and anywhere else where information is stored. Can your present system be improved?

If yes, now is the time to organize your desk and paper files. Even better, begin exploring the digital technologies that allow you to manage your calendar, store your contacts, collaborate with members of your firm, share documents, access documents outside the office, track your time, keep track of your travel and expenses, mark up important documents and schedule delay-delivery emails.

Getting organized will free you up to better serve your clients, reduce your stress, and even allow you some coveted time for life outside the practice of law.

Commit to Building Your Business

In the daily crush of practicing law, it is not uncommon for young lawyers to put business development at the bottom of their to-do list. This is a mistake. Doing good work is only half the formula of what it takes to succeed in the long-term as an attorney. The sooner you begin cultivating your business development skills, the better.

As a starting point, identify your target market. In what practice areas are you seeking to bring in business, and whom can you approach? In the age of LinkedIn and other online networking opportunities, the timing has never been better to identify professional contacts and to begin reaching out. Plus, you will want to get actively involved in relevant organizations—professional, industry, community, charitable and otherwise—where you can meet people who will, hopefully, think of you when an appropriate legal need arises.

Don't forget that friends, family, neighbors, former classmates, former co-workers and other members of your firm can also be invaluable sources in sending business your way.

Reflect on What You Can Do Better

Self-reflection is perhaps the hardest New Year's resolution to keep because it involves activities that may make you cringe—such as reading the transcript of the deposition you took that didn't yield the information you needed; or reviewing a legal brief with an eye toward whether your writing was clear, concise and powerful; or re-thinking your closing argument in a losing trial.

The good news about self-reflection is that once you push through that upsetting feeling in the pit of your stomach, an honest, objective assessment of how you performed and where you can do better will pay off in spades.

For instance, if you are unhappy with how you handled an evasive witness at a deposition, study the transcripts of senior lawyers who have dealt with a similar problem witness, so that you have strategies in-hand for next time. If you think your briefs can be more impactful, study the writing styles of experienced writers at your firm and ask for their feedback on your next brief. If you want to deliver not just strong closing arguments—but closing arguments that knock it out of the park—go to the courthouse and watch the best litigators in your firm in action. Then, as part of your trial preparation, ask them to critique your next closing argument before you deliver it to the jury.

In short, learning from your mistakes is much better than repeating them. So, think seriously about where you're at, where you aspire to be, and how you can get there.

Do Pro Bono Work

In addition to making you feel good, pro bono work gives the young lawyer opportunities to work on things that he or she typically would not get to do as a newly minted attorney. So if you've been yearning to draft a complaint, represent a client at a mediation, negotiate a settlement, try a case, or something else—here's your chance. Find a cause you believe in and dive in.

As an added benefit, pro bono work will establish you as a good member of the legal community and may even lead to referrals of paying clients.

Commit to Your Health

At the risk of sounding like your mom: You cannot practice law at an optimum level if you don't take care of yourself.

Commit to getting enough sleep, eating healthy and exercising. The reasons are obvious.

Find a Mentor

Every seasoned lawyer began their career as a young lawyer, and many are willing to share what they learned along the way.

There is much that a good mentor can offer: guidance, encouragement, the perspective that comes with experience and the benefit of their professional network, to name a few benefits. A mentor also can serve as a role model for attorneys with special considerations, such as women and minorities.

When seeking out a mentor, don't limit yourself to your firm. The most important thing is finding an attorney whom you respect and trust, and who will engage in a helpful, honest dialogue.

Speak, Publish and Put Yourself Out There

Being a legal thought leader builds your reputation among your peers and establishes your credibility with potential clients.

In the digital age, opportunities to put yourself out there have never been more abundant. While prior generations of young lawyers were limited to writing for print publications and speaking in person at CLEs and other events, today's young lawyers have an entire digital universe in which they can create their own opportunities.

You can blog, speak at a webinar, produce a podcast, post to social media and otherwise be the master of a professional reputation from which you will reap benefits for years to come.

With some legwork, 2020 can be a pivotal year in your professional growth and development. Wishing you much success as you embark upon this exciting time in your career.

Bethany R. Nikitenko is an attorney at Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock Dodig in Philadelphia. She can be reached at [email protected].