In any economic climate, associates who prove indispensable to their law firms will likely get ahead in their careers. When the economy goes bad though, as it always does at some point, being indispensable is an attorney's best asset in the fight for professional survival. The best and most recent examples of this are in the current COVID-19-induced economic downturn and the Great Recession of 2008, during which, firms had to decide how many lawyers they could keep on their payrolls.

The good news for associates? There are many ways to demonstrate value that go beyond the expected qualities of intelligence, attention to detail and responsiveness. Four of the most effective are being proactive, cultivating relationships, demonstrating leadership and sharing knowledge.