What They Don’t Tell You About Success in Big Law

If you had told Chelsea Hillard back in college—while she was knee-deep in an art history thesis—that she’d one day be a Big Law partner, she would have laughed in your face.

And yet, here she is. Partner at McGuire Woods. President of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association. A driving force behind a groundbreaking new documentary about women in law.

But Chelsea’s path wasn’t a straight shot to success—it was a winding, bumpy, and sometimes completely unexpected journey. (Sound familiar? Yeah. Me too.)

So many lawyers—especially women—have this idea that success looks a certain way. 

📌 Go to law school. 📌 Get a job at a big firm. 📌 Work insane hours. 📌 Make partner. 📌 Be “successful.”

But here’s what they don’t tell you: Success isn’t about the title, the money, or the name on the door. It’s about building a career and a life that actually aligns with who you are.

And for most of us? That means unlearning a lot of what we were told about what it means to “make it” in this profession.

That’s why I was so pumped to have Chelsea on the Powerhouse Lawyers Podcast—because her story is a powerful reminder that success is what YOU make it.

🎧 Here are 3 things we covered that every lawyer needs to hear:

1. Pivoting is not failing.

Chelsea never planned to be a lawyer. She wanted to work in art history. But one research project in a law library opened a door she never expected—and she walked through it.

Then, when her original law school plan fell apart, she pivoted again. And again. And again.

She could have seen those moments as failures. Instead? She saw them as redirections toward something even bigger.

📢 Your path doesn’t have to be linear to be valid. Sometimes, the detours lead to the best destinations.

2. There is no one way to “make it” in Big Law.

As a woman in Big Law, Chelsea is a rare breed. We all know the statistics—women make up a fraction of equity partners in major firms.

But she’s still here. And she’s still pushing the needle forward.

Her secret? She constantly checks in with herself to make sure she’s on the right path. She does mid-year and annual self-check-ins to ask:

✅ Is this still what I want? ✅ Am I working in alignment with my values? ✅ What needs to shift?

Too many lawyers get on the hamster wheel of their careers and never step back to ask if they even want the life they’re building.

Success isn’t just about getting to the top—it’s about making sure you still want to be there when you arrive.

3. You need a community to thrive.

The legal world glorifies individual success. 💼 The billable hours. 💼 The solo wins. 💼 The climb to partner—alone.

But here’s the thing: No one gets to the top alone.

Chelsea credits much of her growth to mentors, peers, and the power of women supporting women.

She also helped produce a documentary about how women lawyers in Dallas have shaped both law and community—because she believes deeply in the impact of connection.

👉 If you don’t have a strong support system, now is the time to build one. Get in the room with women who lift you up. Find mentors. Create your own version of success with people who actually get it.

Your career isn’t defined by the setbacks—it’s shaped by how you pivot, grow, and redefine success on your terms.

So, let’s talk.

What’s one moment in your career that felt like a roadblock but turned out to be a turning point?

And if you haven’t listened to my conversation with Chelsea yet, trust me—you don’t want to miss this one.

🎙️ Listen to the episode here 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/powerhouse-lawyers/id1686603658

Here’s to building careers that fuel us—not drain us.

Connect with Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-hilliard-5954815/