In today’s interconnected professional landscape, building meaningful relationships is more crucial than ever for advancing your career, and the most effective legal leaders are intentional about surrounding themselves with the right circle of support. No successful career is built in isolation, making it essential to develop a trusted group of mentors, sponsors, peers and advocates who can offer guidance, open doors and champion your growth. This session introduces a practical framework for identifying the five advisers every legal career needs and offers concrete practices for keeping those relationships active, from structured check-ins to soliciting real, productive feedback rather than validation. Panelists will also address the risks of informal leadership and oversight, including how to formalize supervisory responsibility, set clear escalation triggers when relying on outside vendors or technology, and know when to decline sign-off on work you cannot personally defend. Attendees will leave with a structured model for building and maintaining their own career council, along with practical strategies for managing the professional risk and accountability that come with growing influence.