Most of us begin the New Year with a handful of resolutions. Doesn't your career deserve the same attention as your waistline?

This January, I recommend that you spend a few hours setting resolutions and goals for your own professional development. Associates who commit to reflecting on their careers, skills and needs, to writing these goals down, and tracking their progress, are far more likely to achieve these goals, and have higher job satisfaction.

START WITH THE BIG PICTURE: WHAT IS IN STORE FOR ME THIS YEAR?

Before we even begin to set professional goals, take a holistic look at the upcoming year. The reality is this: Your career doesn't take place in a vacuum. Your "life" will affect the amount of time you have available to devote to your development. Some years, you have less to give. For example, if you are getting married, building a house or having a baby, you will have less time. That doesn't excuse you from doing anything -- rather, it just limits the time you have and requires you to carefully select among different opportunities.

The first step, then, is to sit down with a calendar and map out major events, personal and professional -- vacations, trials and planned life events. This gives you a sense of the universe of time available to you.

HOW MUCH TIME DO I WANT TO INVEST IN MY CAREER THIS YEAR?

The next step is to decide how much time you are willing to commit to your own career. There is no rule that says you have to spend every free moment working on your development. To the contrary, I encourage you to be a person first and a lawyer second. Dare to be interesting! Set Tuesday nights aside to take salsa dancing lessons with your wife, teach a Sunday school class or sit under a tree and read a book. Plan on having a life. You will be a better lawyer for it -- and a better person. But, just as you make time for the gym and "Gray's Anatomy," you need to set time aside each week to work on your career.

WHAT SKILLS DO I WANT TO DEVELOP?

You have far more control over the skills and experiences you have than you would imagine. Identify tangible, specific and realistic goals for the year. For instance, a junior associate may choose to set taking a deposition as a yearly goal, while a senior associate may choose arguing an appeal as their goal. I recommend selecting three goals for the year.

Now you know what you want to do this year and how hard you are willing to work for it. Having worked through all of this, designate a set number of hours each week to spend on your own development.

WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THE TIME I HAVE DECIDED TO SPEND ON MY CAREER?

There are hundreds of possible ways to spend the time you have set aside for your own development. Each one has its advantages. The best laid career plans -- like portfolios -- are diversified. So pick a few. Let's look at the categories generally:

• Pro Bono Practice

Many junior associates use pro bono cases, particularly litigation, to cut their teeth. A partner and client are far more likely to allow you to stretch your wings and try a new skill in this context than when millions (and their book of business) are at stake.

Pro bono isn't just for litigators. Transactional attorneys can always find groups that would benefit from their advice and skills. Beyond direct legal representation, there are many opportunities to serve on the boards of directors for not-for-profit entities. Pick a cause that is close to your heart, say, rights of returning soldiers, cancer research or gay rights. Serving on the Board of these entities can provide valuable contacts in the community, possibly future business development, and will keep you energized and engaged.

• Bar Associations

The Bar associations provide a broad mix of opportunities for young lawyers. Obviously, there is a networking component. But there are speaking and publishing opportunities, and educational CLEs. Most bar associations include both substantive subgroups, e.g. Class Litigation, Trusts and Estates, as well as broader groups, such as Women's Forums and Small Firm Practice. My own bar association, the Chicago Bar Association, even has a big band and a book club.

• Community Groups

Beyond the bar and pro bono organizations, there are countless community organizations that provide networking opportunities. Think broadly -- this includes your Neighborhood Watch, Synagogue and the history museum. Your organizational skills (and willingness to work long hours on mind-numbing and menial tasks) will be greatly appreciated. And you will be investing in your community and representing your firm.

• Speaking and Writing

Speaking engagements and article writing are an opportunity to develop a reputation as an expert in your field. These opportunities are surprisingly easy to come by. There are countless publications looking to fill out monthly editions. With a couple of articles under your belt, you can credibly offer yourself as a speaker on the subject. As you build your resume, you will also be building your expertise and reputation in the legal community.

• Firm Committees and Activities

It is probably a good idea to devote a portion of your time to firm activities. This includes committees, recruiting, in-house seminars, mentoring, etc. Quite frankly, few junior associates need to be reminded to participate in these activities. But be cautious of devoting too much of your career development time to internal causes. While these are good opportunities to work with partners who can provide billable work and invaluable mentoring, it may be shortsighted to neglect your own development in favor of the firm's interests.

HOW DO I STAY ON TRACK?

Now, you have decided:

• what skills you are going to develop in 2009;

• how much time you are going to devote to your career development; and

• how you are going to divvy up that time between the many options.

Let's make sure your reach those goals. Develop a tracking and reminder system that will keep you focused over the year. I recommend setting monthly goals and scheduling quarterly check-ins with yourself. Good Luck!

Kathryn C. Newman is a Senior Associate in the Chicago office of Jenner & Block. She is actively involved in the firm, bar and community mentoring programs. She is the Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Class Litigation Committee, a co-chair of the American Bar Association's Trial Practice Subcommittee on Pro Bono Representation. She is a frequent publisher and speaker on substantive topics and associate development.