I just returned from the 35th annual convention of National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), where top legal leaders (and recruiters!) convene. Here are the 5 career tips I heard over and over again:

1. Gain substantive legal expertise. This requirement is “table stakes” (this phrase was used repeatedly!).
2. Gain soft skills. You must also be one to watch/one to listen to in order to make a difference. #1, knowing the law by itself, is not enough.
3. Understand the business and be passionate about it for your business partners to listen to you. They need to know you get it and are their advocate.
4. Give and get good advice. You can’t do this journey alone. Know where you want to go, find out what you need to do to get there, and acquire those necessary skills. Because people are not mind readers, you need to tell them where you want to go (diplomatically of course) and to take feedback graciously. You ideally want to be known before an opportunity arises so you are thought of first when it comes up. And if it’s not right for you, refer that opportunity to someone else.
5. Develop good relationships with people (clients, classmates, colleagues, everyone) because careers are long and you will need help along the way. Recruiters serve as gatekeepers to jobs, so come referred, and speak about your career with tangible examples of success and with humility.