Jason Saruya of Clark Hill.

It is no secret that this is a strange and unprecedented time in history. For many, kitchen tables have become a shared office space, laptops and phones have become sole means of communication, and for attorneys, what used to be the greatest stage—court, has closed until further notice. Although I have grown fond of my minute-long morning commute, I still find challenge while thinking about the uncertainty of what lies ahead. While it is hard to imagine a post-quarantine world and the changes it will bring to the law industry and world, there are a few things that young lawyers can do during this time to prepare for whatever may come.

Make yourself invaluable now. Reach out to partners that normally give you work and ask if there is anything you can do to assist; do not wait for the partner to contact you. As much as you may have on your plate right now, it is likely the partner has even more, and would appreciate the young lawyer stepping up to assist. This should include nonbillable work as well. They will remember the outreach.

Furthermore, we are all finding ourselves with more time on our hands, and more space in our minds. This is a great time to establish goals as a young lawyer and employ a specific plan to achieve them. Young lawyers often have broad, long-term goals such as, "I would like to be an equity partner someday." This is a great ambition, but a specific understanding of what skills and experiences will help achieve is critical. Make a detailed plan on what you need to accomplish leading up to these milestones. Look at the tasks you can do today, next month and next year to work toward end goals. With that in mind, remember that a traditional career path is not the only way to do this. The pressure on the legal field to evolve means young lawyers can find new development opportunities. Consider how taking an in-house position, a compliance role or working at a law tech firm will offer unique opportunities to develop professional skills.

Now is also the perfect time to work on improving your brand as a lawyer by updating your LinkedIn page and law firm biography. Without in-person meetings, clients will be looking at your online persona. Make sure a Google search best reflects who you are, your skills and how you will be able to service the client. Highlight your achievements and include your developing areas of expertise. This can be the difference between your firm retaining a client or not.

It is also important to stay adaptable. A carefully detailed roadmap is important to staying on top of your goals, but unforeseen challenges and opportunities are inevitable. When this happens, understand how those unexpected moments could provide an opportunity for growth. Take the quarantine for example; the legal field needed to fully switch to remote working on short notice. Many firms, attorneys, and professional staff members experienced challenges with the switch, and clients need continuity of service more than ever. Faced with new problems on everything from labor and employment to real estate, clients need quick answers to a rapidly evolving situation. Being able to manage the technical and social challenges of remote work while also guiding clients is an immediate example of the value of being flexible.

In an increasingly uncertain legal market, it is also wise for young lawyers to develop a diverse professional network early on in their careers. This may seem obvious; you may have heard this a thousand times before, so now that the morning commute is not taking you past your living room couch, use the extra time to build connections. The post-quarantine world remains uncertain for everyone, but one thing that will remain true is the benefits of having an established and diverse network. Your network may include other young lawyers looking to problem solve together, as well as experienced attorneys who can provide useful insight. Increasing your professional network will increase your access to advice, opportunity and above all, support.

Lastly, young lawyers should practice self-care. Even in the best work conditions, being a lawyer requires serious emotional strength. The high-stakes decisions, client needs, adversarial nature, and long hours make law a challenging occupation, and an effective advocate must be able to cope with these stresses. Global pandemics will never do anything to help alleviate that already present stress, and it is always easier to prevent burnout than to try and recover from it. Figure out what healthy activities help you manage stress, such as working out, balanced eating, staying connected to friends, keeping a routine and finding time to enjoy other hobbies. If practicing self-care seems out of reach, or undesirable habits such as substance abuse or mental health issues emerge, feel no shame in reaching out for help—do not wait until the problems become all-consuming.

Young lawyers face many challenges in their early careers, and those challenges will only become more difficult in the post-quarantine world. However, with change comes opportunity, and creative young lawyers can use this moment to shape their futures in a positive way. With a creative focus on goal setting, adaptability, networking and self-care, young practitioners can develop the tools needed for a successful and fulfilling career.

Jason M. Saruya is an associate attorney at Clark Hill in the litigation group. He assists with every aspect of litigation from investigation, pleadings, discovery practice, and even participating in three trials in both state and federal court. Saruya advises and defends businesses in litigation involving products liability, labor and employment, intellectual property, business torts, customs and trade issues and complex commercial contract disputes.