Embracing Authenticity in Law Can Be Tricky, But It Opens Doors

“Authenticity” might be the buzziest of corporate buzzwords. It’s the subject of endless articles, books, and podcasts, seeking to help readers be themselves at work and in life. However, authenticity’s place in the highly-coded, some say stuffy, legal profession is anything but clear.

Showing up authentically in the practice of law, while not without risk, is indeed possible and can broadly benefit both individuals and organizations. This article explores authenticity, its value, and how to incorporate more of it into your law practice.

The Soundtrack

What is “authenticity,” anyway? Think of your authentic self as the unique soundtrack of you. It’s a collection of melodies that are always playing and are entirely yours. Some of the songs are upbeat tunes, other selections may be hard metal, but together they make up the tapestry that is you. Acting with authenticity is playing your soundtrack and allowing others to hear it.

A common misconception is that authenticity means unabashedly showing up as all parts of yourself in any environment. The concept is far more nuanced. Like any soundtrack, you possess the power to adjust the volume or skip to a certain song.

As legal professionals, adjusting the volume is likely already part of professional life. Consider how your professional persona might vary based on whether you’re interacting with a judge, a client, opposing counsel, a trusted peer, or a senior leader. In each case, the audience varies and so may your personal approach. Some may argue that adjusting the volume undermines authenticity. But, note, adjusting the volume does not mean changing the soundtrack entirely or muting it altogether.

Another common misconception is that authenticity first requires “safe spaces.” The cold reality is that showing up as your authentic self carries risk of rejection or criticism, especially in industries that prize conformity. Though the risk of showing your authentic self can’t be eliminated, legal employers, institutions, and organizations must take steps to create cultures that allow attorneys and employees to feel comfortable enough to accept the risk and turn up the volume on their true authentic selves.

Your Unique Value Proposition

Authenticity helps you stand out from the crowd. Leaders who share pieces of themselves can be perceived as more transparent, memorable, and relatable. It can help jobseekers set themselves apart in times of tough competition. Like personal branding, another corporate buzzword, authenticity can help lawyers establish meaningful connections with clients by communicating confidence and credibility.

Pave the Way for Others

Authenticity isn’t just a means to an end. Acting with authenticity paves the way for broader change, even in the notoriously rigid legal profession. When one person takes the personal risk to show up as themselves, it lowers the risk for others to follow.

We’ve seen this play out time and again. Although perhaps hard to imagine, it was once uncommon for women to wear pants in some workplaces. Common advice was for caregivers to avoid talking about family at work, lest they be viewed as uncommitted.

Natural and protective hairstyles in some workplace settings were less common. Each of these norms has changed or appears to be in the process of slow change, showing that as professionals challenge bias, accept risk, and show up authentically at work, others follow.

Build Better Relationships

Authenticity cuts across functions, industries, and location. It’s the oil that lubricates open communication. Acting with authenticity shows that you trust your audience enough to show facets of yourself. Doing so builds trust and connection in a way that “strictly professional” interactions cannot.

Take it from a client. In a crowded legal marketplace, authenticity is a meaningful differentiator. When evaluating multiple law firm proposals, ability to perform the work exceptionally well, at a competitive price, and in a way that upholds corporate values are bare minimum qualifications.

Individual connection can be what differentiates one firm from another. Clients consider which lawyers we trust to communicate directly with our internal stakeholders. We consider which lawyers we would be willing to spend many hours working side-by-side in high-pressure environments. Those assessments are easier when outside lawyers foster genuine and authentic connections with clients.

Start Small

Showing up as your authentic self is often something that happens slowly over time. It isn’t haphazardly casting your curated professional persona to the side and showing up as someone new. It’s revealing pieces of your history, point of view, and values to build a foundation of trust and familiarity.

Acknowledge the Mess

Everyone faces challenges. Willingness to discuss our struggles and our responses to them provides a window into that universal human experience. Acknowledging messy or imperfect parts of life offers a peek behind the glossy exterior and shows our humanity and pieces of ourselves we may otherwise strategically omit.

Celebrate Individual Perspectives and Strengths

People want to work with three-dimensional humans and want to be recognized as three-dimensional individuals themselves. Encouraging the sharing of unique perspectives and celebrating individual strengths creates an environment where authenticity can flourish, potentially creating stronger and more inclusive teams.

If we’re willing to let our soundtrack play, authenticity can become an asset, helping to build stronger relationships, teams, and industry culture.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Tax, or its owners.

Author Information

Edna Annan Nazarov is a corporate paralegal at Starbucks Corporation. She is a mother, a lover of history and literature, a social equity consultant, a Master’s of Sociology student, and leader of corporate inclusion programming and affinity groups.

Brittany Johnson is director, corporate counsel, at Starbucks Corporation. She and her team lead legal support for the company’s domestic and international expansion through brand licensing. Johnson is a mother, a mentor, and a coffee lover with an early morning writing habit. Their views in this column do not necessarily reflect those of their employer.