Your career questions answered

Q: I work in conveyancing and qualified with CILEX just over five years ago. Before that I was a paralegal, so I’ve built up quite a bit of experience. I’m keen to progress and I’m expecting a team leader role to come up soon. How can I show I’m ready for a promotion and make sure I’m considered?

Olivia: You’re already in a great position with years of hands-on experience, a professional qualification and the ambition to take the next step. Now it’s about making your readiness visible.

Start by showing leadership in your day-to-day work, even without the title. Offer support to junior colleagues, step in when a file needs steady handling, or volunteer to take ownership of small team tasks. These moments quietly build a picture of someone who is already thinking like a leader.

Next, make your achievements easy for others to see. Keep a note of the matters you’ve handled well, the client praise you’ve received, and any improvements you have helped introduce. Bring these into your one-to-ones as evidence of the impact you are already having.

It also helps to think beyond your own caseload. Team leaders need to understand how the whole department works, so if you spot a way to improve efficiency or client experience, speak up. Even small suggestions show you’re thinking strategically.

Finally, be open about your ambition. Managers appreciate honesty. Let them know you’re interested in the upcoming role and ask what they would like to see from a strong candidate. It shows confidence, maturity and a willingness to grow – all qualities that will make you stand out.

Louise: Firstly, look at leadership behaviours you can demonstrate in your current role. Perhaps take ownership of small projects or improvements to processes to show you are someone who helps solve problems. Consider ways to support junior colleagues or new starters, perhaps offer to mentor or coach others.

You should also approach your manager about having a career conversation, letting them know you are interested in progression. A constructive and proactive discussion can help you understand what skills or experience they would be looking for in a future team leader as well as putting you on the radar for future opportunities. You can identify any gaps in your own skills base and build a development plan. You might find it helpful to strengthen delegation and prioritisation skills, for example, or look at how you handle difficult conversations.

Start to collect evidence of your impact by keeping a record of your achievements, particularly anything that demonstrates technical expertise, good judgement in handling complex cases, strong communication skills, initiative in improving processes or supporting the team’s productivity or client outcomes. This will help you demonstrate your readiness when the role is advertised.

Finally, make your interest visible across the business. Perhaps volunteering for cross-team projects, attending relevant training or development sessions or contributing ideas around improving team processes. This will show initiative and help you build relationships beyond those relating to your immediate role.

To learn more about developing the skills mentioned, visit myCareer, CILEX’s career development platform, where you will find assessment tools, e-learning and career exploration resources.

Q: I’ve been asked to present a seminar as part of a series my firm’s employment team is running. It’s small scale, but I’m terrified of public speaking. How can I overcome my fear and make it a success?

Louise: It’s great that you’ve been asked to present, it’s a sign that your firm sees you as someone worth putting in front of clients and potential clients. You should take it as a compliment.

Be assured, you are not alone in feeling nervous about public speaking. Most people do. The good news is that there are some practical ways to make it feel more manageable and perhaps even enjoyable.

One of the biggest confidence boosters is preparation. The more familiar you are with what you want to say and how you want to say it, the less space there is for nerves to take over. Try breaking your content into a few clear points and practising out loud. This isn’t about memorising it word for word, it’s about knowing what you want to say and letting the flow be natural.

For some people it helps to reframe what public speaking is. In reality, you are just sharing something you already know with people that want to hear from you. They are on your side and are there to learn something.

A friendly colleague in the room can also make a difference – think about whether that would help you, and who you might like it to be.

CILEX’s myCareer has more detailed tips on public speaking and preparation, but I would say keep it simple and be yourself. You don’t need to be a performer, you just need to communicate clearly. Start with a deep breath, slow down and pause when you need to, this will all help you stay grounded.

Best of luck and just remember the sense of achievement you will feel when you have delivered your first seminar.

Olivia: First, take a moment to recognise what this invitation means: your colleagues trust you. They believe you know your stuff and can represent the firm well.

Nervousness around public speaking is incredibly common, so don’t feel like you’re the only one battling this. The trick is to make the experience feel less intimidating.

Start with solid preparation. Know your material well enough that you could explain it in a relaxed conversation. When you’re confident in your content, your nerves have less room to take over.

Practice in a way that feels safe. Perhaps run through it with a friend, a colleague or even just your phone camera. Each practice round takes a little of the fear away.

A helpful mindset shift is to reframe your nerves as excitement. The physical feeling is almost identical. It’s a surprisingly effective trick.

Remember: your audience is rooting for you. They’re not judging your delivery; they’re hoping to learn something useful. When you focus on what they need rather than how you’re coming across, the pressure eases.

Finally, give yourself permission to pause. Nervous speakers rush; confident speakers breathe. A pause makes you sound composed and gives you a moment to gather yourself.

No matter how it goes, delivering this seminar is a win. It shows courage, growth, and a willingness to stretch yourself.