Keeping Curiosity Alive in Legal Practice: How Lifelong Learning Fuels Career Growth
In the legal profession, precision, consistency, and deep expertise are essential. But there’s another quality that often goes unmentioned—curiosi...
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In the legal profession, precision, consistency, and deep expertise are essential. But there’s another quality that often goes unmentioned—curiosity.
Curiosity is the spark that keeps your work interesting, your mind agile, and your career adaptable. It’s what drives a lawyer to look beyond the obvious, to question assumptions, and to stay ahead in a constantly changing legal landscape. And yet, it’s one of the first things to fade when the day-to-day demands take over.
Whether you’re a newly qualified solicitor plotting your career path, a mid-level associate searching for renewed motivation, or a partner seeking to inspire your team, nurturing curiosity could be the key to sustained growth and fulfilment.
Law is a discipline that rewards mastery. It’s easy to fall into patterns—specialising so deeply in one area that your daily work becomes predictable. While expertise is crucial, staying curious prevents stagnation.
Curiosity encourages:
Deeper client understanding – asking the “why” behind the “what” can uncover risks or opportunities others miss.
Creative problem-solving – finding innovative solutions within complex frameworks.
Career adaptability – positioning yourself to pivot into new practice areas, jurisdictions, or leadership roles.
Just as emotional capacity is now recognised as a vital part of sustainable legal careers, curiosity is the fuel that keeps engagement alive long after the novelty of a role has worn off.
Sometimes, a lack of curiosity is subtle. You may still be working hard, but the intellectual spark is dimming. Warning signs include:
A growing reluctance to take on matters outside your comfort zone.
Feeling like you’re “checking boxes” rather than solving problems.
A tendency to avoid professional development because “it won’t change much.”
Diminished energy when discussing your work with others.
When these signs appear, it’s worth asking yourself: Am I still learning, or just repeating?
Keeping curiosity alive doesn’t require a career overhaul—it can start with small, intentional actions:
Cross-practice exposure - Shadow colleagues in other departments, attend different client pitches, or sit in on a matter that intersects with your own. This broadens your legal perspective and deepens collaboration.
Micro-projects - Volunteer for pro bono initiatives, join an internal policy review, or participate in an innovation project. These smaller commitments can spark fresh thinking without overloading your schedule.
Continued learning - Enrol in short courses, listen to sector-specific podcasts, or join webinars on emerging legal issues. Staying informed about trends outside your immediate practice keeps your skills relevant and your ideas fresh—something especially valuable for those navigating their NQ journey.
Reverse mentoring - Learn from junior colleagues or legal tech specialists. Fresh perspectives often come from those newer to the profession.
Leaders have a significant influence on whether curiosity thrives in a team. Rather than only focusing on utilisation rates or billable targets, great leaders also check in on intellectual engagement.
Questions like “What part of your work still surprises you?” or “What’s one area you’d like to explore more deeply this year?” can open conversations that lead to new opportunities, better retention, and stronger performance.
Firms that actively encourage curiosity often see the payoff in improved morale, innovation, and client service—similar to those who prioritise culture fit during recruitment.
Curiosity isn’t a luxury—it’s a professional necessity. In a field that values precedent, curiosity is what helps you navigate what comes next. It’s how you adapt, innovate, and find meaning in the work you do every day.
So, whether you’re mapping the first steps of your career or guiding others through theirs, make room for curiosity. Ask more questions. Explore new ideas. Challenge your own thinking.
Because in the long run, the lawyers who stay curious are the ones who stay ahead.