"Last night, my wife and I did that thing many of you know too well. We sat on the couch with good intentions and six different streaming services at our fingertips. HBO Max first. Scroll. Prime. Scroll. Netflix. Scroll. Plenty of options, nothing compelling. After 10 minutes of indecision, she grabbed a book. I opened my laptop and started writing. Again."
"When clients, referral sources, or even peers look at a lawyer who does "a little bit of everything," the result is the same feeling I had on the couch - uncertainty, boredom, and ultimately, disengagement. Not because the lawyer is bad, but because nothing is clear enough to choose. I understand why this happens. Early in a legal career, saying yes to everything makes sense. You need experience. You need revenue. You need to figure out what you like."
Many lawyers offer diverse services, which creates client uncertainty and disengagement when nothing stands out. Saying yes to everything aids early-career learning and revenue but eventually limits growth. Specialization relies on three criteria: genuine enjoyment and demonstrated skill, identifiable market opportunity, and clear positioning that communicates expertise. Enjoyment fuels consistency; skill produces results and reputation. Market opportunity requires assessing demand and saturation in target regions. Clear positioning helps clients, referral sources, and peers choose and engage. Over time, focused practice builds reputation and simplifies decision-making for potential clients.
Read at Above the Law
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