How Relationships Make a Difference — And How WFH Impacts Building a Legal Career

How Relationships Make a Difference — And How WFH Impacts Building a Legal Career

In the legal profession, technical expertise and knowledge of the law are essential—but they are not enough on their own. What truly sets successful professionals apart is the ability to build and nurture strong relationships. Within law offices, relationships between colleagues and team members play a pivotal role in advancing careers, fostering professional growth, and navigating the inevitable challenges of the practice. And in-house, legal advice is most effective when it is integrated into how the business actually operates—not delivered in isolation. Strong relationships with business teams turn the legal department from gatekeeper to strategic partner.

Ultimately, relationships are not just about business—they are about people. They shape the way we work, the way we grow, and the way we succeed together.

At SHORE & Associés, relationships are at the heart of everything we do. Our connections with candidates and clients are grounded in trust, confidence, and genuine support. We invest deeply in meaningful relationships because we believe that behind every placement, every mandate, and every success story are people who deserve sincerity, respect, and partnership. Whether we are helping a candidate find the right fit or supporting a client in building their ideal team, our commitment to relationships ensures we deliver value that extends far beyond the transaction.

What Makes Relationships Sincere—and Why They Matter in Business

Sincere relationships are built on authenticity, trust, and mutual respect. In business—and especially in the legal sector—sincerity means showing up consistently, active listening, communicating honestly with clarity, and acting with integrity even when it may be inconvenient.

It is the difference between a transactional exchange and a partnership that lasts years.

Clients who trust you are more loyal, more forgiving when challenges arise, and more likely to refer you to others. Internally, sincere relationships improve collaboration, reduce friction, and speed up decision‑making. Externally, they protect your reputation and differentiate you in a market where legal expertise alone is no longer a unique advantage.

In the end, sincere relationships are not a “soft skill”—they are a strategic advantage. They compound over time, turning trust into resilience, loyalty, and sustainable growth.

Does Working From Home Impact Career Advancement? Yes—But Not Always How You Think.

The shift toward remote and hybrid work has reshaped how legal professionals build relationships and show leadership potential. It’s not that WFH limits success—it simply changes the conditions under which relationships are formed and maintained.

The Challenge: Fewer Organic Interactions

Working from home makes it harder to build rapport spontaneously.
Those informal moments—walking back from a meeting, popping into a partner’s office, sharing a coffee—don’t happen on their own. And those moments matter. They foster visibility, trust, and familiarity, especially for junior lawyers who are still building their internal networks.

This makes it harder to project “leadership presence,” readiness, and potential from behind a screen. Remote workers must be more intentional—more communicative, more proactive, and more visible in structured ways.

The Leadership Responsibility: Avoiding Proximity Bias

Leaders must actively ensure that remote lawyers aren’t overlooked simply because they aren’t physically present.
Fair distribution of files, equal access to mentorship, inclusive team meetings, and deliberate outreach to remote staff all play a role in leveling the field.

Relationship-building should not be limited by geography.

Where WFH Supports Career Growth

Interestingly, WFH and hybrid models also bring major advantages:

• Flexibility strengthens retention. Many lawyers say flexibility increases their loyalty and sense of support.
• Hybrid work especially benefits parents and caregivers. It helps them stay engaged and advance their careers without sacrificing family responsibilities.
• Intentional collaboration can strengthen relationships.

The reality is this: remote or hybrid work does not diminish career potential—it simply requires different relational muscles.

In the End: Career Advancement Is Relationship Advancement

Whether working in person, remotely, or somewhere in between, the path forward in a legal career is paved with relationships. Your reputation, your opportunities, your mentors, your sponsors, your resilience—these are shaped by the people who know you, trust you, and choose to support you.

The medium may evolve, but the message stays the same:

Everything in our professional lives—and especially in law—comes back to relationships.

And that’s why, at SHORE & Associés, relationships will always remain our guiding principle.