Huse quoted in recent "Making it Rain" Law 360 article

4 Ways To Rise To The Top In BigLaw Without Making It RainBy Aebra Coe

Law360, New York -- Being a rainmaker is often thought of as the gold standard when it comes to "making it" in BigLaw, but experts say there are a number of ways lawyers can become highly valued partners without being stellar business generators. 

In today's legal industry, clients are looking for lawyers and law firms that can deliver solid, cost-effective solutions to legal and business problems, which means that instead of being smooth-talking business generators, many lawyers can instead turn their attention to impeccably serving existing clients...

Here are four tips on becoming a major player without being a rainmaker.

1) Nurture Client Relationships

2) Be a Lateral Magnet

3) Be Business-Minded

4) Fill a Leadership Role

One way to become an indispensable member of a law firm is by taking on a leadership role, whether it's serving on a committee, leading a new initiative or becoming a leader in an up-and-coming area that impacts the business of law, experts said.

Jill Huse, co-founder of Society 54, said that attorneys at BigLaw firms should always be thinking about visibility, both inside and outside of their firms.

"Get involved in committees, mentoring, recruiting, marketing ... these types of things will help you gain visibility and show that you are a team player," Huse said...

Attorneys can also take on leadership roles outside of their law firms in order to create connections that can benefit their careers, Huse said, within professional, civic and charitable organizations.

"[Lawyers] can be very successful in their legal career without being a traditional rainmaker. The key is to help them identify the type of work they are energized by, the types of people they enjoy working with and the synergy that exists between their professional and personal life," Huse said. "Once they are able to develop this ideal, they need to develop a plan to work towards building the type of practice that supports these ideals."

For the full Law360 article, click here.