Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Want to Work at a Smaller Law Firm? Some Tips for Your Job Search
Size Matters: Desperately Seeking Susan By Valerie Katz
http://abovethelaw.com/2011/06/size-matters-desperately-seeking-susan/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+abovethelaw+%28Above+the+Law%29
Last week, I received an email from a recent graduate who is in the midst of a small firm job search. She is having trouble focusing her search because there are so many small law firms and so few resources (or so she thought) about how to find all the various firms. She wrote:
She asked me where to look to find and network with attorneys at the many small firms in her city. She signed it “Seeking Small Firm.” I decided that her nom de plume was so awesome, I had to help.
To me, the hardest decision for a new lawyer undergoing a job search is to determine what type of environment is right for the newbie. By this, I mean whether you want to work at Biglaw, a small firm, a public interest organization, a government organization, etc. Seeking had made that important decision, and decided that she wanted to work at a small firm. So, for her, the search process can be completed in 6 simple steps (in the sense that any job search these days is “simple”).
Step 1: Create Your Map
The first step in any small firm search is to map out your potential target firms. The easiest way to do this is to use Martindale.com. Do a search for firms (i) in your desired location, and (ii) of your desired firm size. The options for small firms include firms of 1, 2-9, 10-24, and 24-49 attorneys. This will give you a list of all of the small firms in your area. If possible, narrow down the size. For instance, perhaps you do not wish to work with a solo practitioner or think 24-49 is too big. Then, take the (potentially) reduced list and start an Excel spreadsheet. This exercise is not for the faint of heart, however. In Chicago, for example, your target map may be 629 firms (if you consider 1-49).
Step 2: Do Your Due Diligence
After you have identified all of the small firms in your area, you should research those firms to determine which are most appealing. Go to the websites and look at the attorneys, the clients, the practice areas, etc. If you still have your Lexis password from law school (or a friend does), search through published cases for certain attorneys or law firms. Look at published lists that rank small firms. And, to be safe, search your local ARDC for complaints. Ask your career center, your friends, headhunters, or anyone who may be knowledgeable about small firms. Then, narrow down your list accordingly.
Step 3: Prioritize
The point of this exercise is to get a job. So, to maximize your odds, prioritize the firms on your target list where you stand the best shot of getting an interview (informational or real). How? Determine any of the firms with attorneys in your network. Think as broadly as possible when making this determination: if someone went to your college/law school/high school/camp/gym/church etc., that person is in your network. Do not forget to mine the networks of everyone you know, whether or not the people are lawyers. Remember, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are you friends during step 3. Place all of the firms that you identify through this step at the top of your list. Do not eliminate the other firms, just give them lower priority.
Step 4: Reach Out
At this point, you have perfected your list of target firms. Now it is time to put the list to work for you. This means you should go through your list and set up phone calls, coffees, or informational interviews (take whatever you can get). After you get through the firms where you have a connection, you should still reach out to the other firms on your list. Send an email to the hiring partner, managing partner, or someone with some decision making power, and ask for an informational interview. The worst he/she can say is no (or simply not respond). This is the time to be fearless (or shameless, either works).
Want more advice on this step? Check out Jay’s tips for getting an informational interview.
If you are unsure what to do during the conversation, I was given the following check list for an informational interview:
A. Give a two-minute introduction (who are you, why did you ask to talk)
B. Ask what the person does (“What is a typical day at X firm like?”)
C. Ask what the person likes most/least about practicing at X firm (or in a small firm in general)
D. Ask how the person got started (either at the firm, or in the small firm world in general)
E. Close by asking the person for any advice or referrals (again, either to people in the firm, or to other small-firm lawyers generally)
Step 5: Follow Up
I learned this the hard way. Even an informational interview (or coffee or phone call) merits a thank you. So, send a thank you note. It is a good way to stay on that person’s radar. And, take excellent notes of your conversation so that if you come across any article or hear about a certain relevant topic, you can re-contact the person.
Step 6: Be Patient and Persistent
Searching for a job sucks. The reason is that a job search is a job in and of itself, so treat it accordingly. And, let’s be honest, what else do you have to do since you have no job? It is not like it is summer and there are other things you would rather do. I hope that was inspirational.
If you do these steps consistently, you should find a job. It likely will take time, but you have conducted a broad and exhaustive job search, so something will come up.
In the meantime, you should make sure to respond to job posts for new lawyers. Local law publications have the most small firm job postings, but the national websites often list small firm jobs as well. Also, use your free time to develop some skills. Volunteer with a legal non-profit or consider applying for a post-graduate fellowship. Small firms tend to like attorneys with experience, so doing this can only improve your candidacy. And work on continuing to grow your small firm network. For instance, most state bars have a small firm chapter, as does the ABA. It cannot hurt to go to a lunch or a CLE (although most activities are done for the summer, but think about this in the fall).
Good luck, and please feel free to contact me with any of your other small firm advice needs. Please note, I specialize in questions about small firm holiday parties and 80s sitcoms, but I will give your question my best shot.
When not writing about small law firms for Above the Law, Valerie Katz (not her real name) works at a small firm in Chicago. You can reach her by email at Valerie.L.Katz@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter at @ValerieLKatz.
http://abovethelaw.com/2011/06/size-matters-desperately-seeking-susan/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+abovethelaw+%28Above+the+Law%29
Last week, I received an email from a recent graduate who is in the midst of a small firm job search. She is having trouble focusing her search because there are so many small law firms and so few resources (or so she thought) about how to find all the various firms. She wrote:
Every lawyer I speak to, whether a friend, in an interview, or informational interview, has an inconsistent network. The one small firm lawyer I know has referred me to solo practitioners and Biglaw attorneys, but not other small firms. Career services offices mainly work with big firms, not too many small firms. There are few small firm positions posted on job boards, but I know that most small firms fill open positions by word of mouth.
She asked me where to look to find and network with attorneys at the many small firms in her city. She signed it “Seeking Small Firm.” I decided that her nom de plume was so awesome, I had to help.
To me, the hardest decision for a new lawyer undergoing a job search is to determine what type of environment is right for the newbie. By this, I mean whether you want to work at Biglaw, a small firm, a public interest organization, a government organization, etc. Seeking had made that important decision, and decided that she wanted to work at a small firm. So, for her, the search process can be completed in 6 simple steps (in the sense that any job search these days is “simple”).
Step 1: Create Your Map
The first step in any small firm search is to map out your potential target firms. The easiest way to do this is to use Martindale.com. Do a search for firms (i) in your desired location, and (ii) of your desired firm size. The options for small firms include firms of 1, 2-9, 10-24, and 24-49 attorneys. This will give you a list of all of the small firms in your area. If possible, narrow down the size. For instance, perhaps you do not wish to work with a solo practitioner or think 24-49 is too big. Then, take the (potentially) reduced list and start an Excel spreadsheet. This exercise is not for the faint of heart, however. In Chicago, for example, your target map may be 629 firms (if you consider 1-49).
Step 2: Do Your Due Diligence
After you have identified all of the small firms in your area, you should research those firms to determine which are most appealing. Go to the websites and look at the attorneys, the clients, the practice areas, etc. If you still have your Lexis password from law school (or a friend does), search through published cases for certain attorneys or law firms. Look at published lists that rank small firms. And, to be safe, search your local ARDC for complaints. Ask your career center, your friends, headhunters, or anyone who may be knowledgeable about small firms. Then, narrow down your list accordingly.
Step 3: Prioritize
The point of this exercise is to get a job. So, to maximize your odds, prioritize the firms on your target list where you stand the best shot of getting an interview (informational or real). How? Determine any of the firms with attorneys in your network. Think as broadly as possible when making this determination: if someone went to your college/law school/high school/camp/gym/church etc., that person is in your network. Do not forget to mine the networks of everyone you know, whether or not the people are lawyers. Remember, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are you friends during step 3. Place all of the firms that you identify through this step at the top of your list. Do not eliminate the other firms, just give them lower priority.
Step 4: Reach Out
At this point, you have perfected your list of target firms. Now it is time to put the list to work for you. This means you should go through your list and set up phone calls, coffees, or informational interviews (take whatever you can get). After you get through the firms where you have a connection, you should still reach out to the other firms on your list. Send an email to the hiring partner, managing partner, or someone with some decision making power, and ask for an informational interview. The worst he/she can say is no (or simply not respond). This is the time to be fearless (or shameless, either works).
Want more advice on this step? Check out Jay’s tips for getting an informational interview.
If you are unsure what to do during the conversation, I was given the following check list for an informational interview:
A. Give a two-minute introduction (who are you, why did you ask to talk)
B. Ask what the person does (“What is a typical day at X firm like?”)
C. Ask what the person likes most/least about practicing at X firm (or in a small firm in general)
D. Ask how the person got started (either at the firm, or in the small firm world in general)
E. Close by asking the person for any advice or referrals (again, either to people in the firm, or to other small-firm lawyers generally)
Step 5: Follow Up
I learned this the hard way. Even an informational interview (or coffee or phone call) merits a thank you. So, send a thank you note. It is a good way to stay on that person’s radar. And, take excellent notes of your conversation so that if you come across any article or hear about a certain relevant topic, you can re-contact the person.
Step 6: Be Patient and Persistent
Searching for a job sucks. The reason is that a job search is a job in and of itself, so treat it accordingly. And, let’s be honest, what else do you have to do since you have no job? It is not like it is summer and there are other things you would rather do. I hope that was inspirational.
If you do these steps consistently, you should find a job. It likely will take time, but you have conducted a broad and exhaustive job search, so something will come up.
In the meantime, you should make sure to respond to job posts for new lawyers. Local law publications have the most small firm job postings, but the national websites often list small firm jobs as well. Also, use your free time to develop some skills. Volunteer with a legal non-profit or consider applying for a post-graduate fellowship. Small firms tend to like attorneys with experience, so doing this can only improve your candidacy. And work on continuing to grow your small firm network. For instance, most state bars have a small firm chapter, as does the ABA. It cannot hurt to go to a lunch or a CLE (although most activities are done for the summer, but think about this in the fall).
Good luck, and please feel free to contact me with any of your other small firm advice needs. Please note, I specialize in questions about small firm holiday parties and 80s sitcoms, but I will give your question my best shot.
When not writing about small law firms for Above the Law, Valerie Katz (not her real name) works at a small firm in Chicago. You can reach her by email at Valerie.L.Katz@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter at @ValerieLKatz.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Make Allies of Court Staff (or Else)
http://lawyerist.com/make-allies-of-court-staff/
by
Court staff are crucial to any litigator’s success. Making their jobs easier and their workplace more pleasant will pay you big dividends. Making them fell insulted or frustrated will cost you big-time.
While most lawyers understand how court staff fit into the legal system, far too many lawyers fail to realize how a lawyer’s reputation with staff can affect the quality and results of his work. Court employees are usually an experienced, tightly-knit group who are seemingly always the target of budget cuts. While most have never written a scholarly essay on jurisprudence, they understand the law and how it functions far better than many lawyers, and they have many opportunities to help or hinder a lawyer’s efforts. I spent almost four years as a judicial clerk, and I was continually stunned by how many lawyers were intensely disliked by staff—and for good reasons.
I was also amazed to hear stories of lawyers treating court employees as if they worked for the lawyer, with the lawyer playing the role of tyrannical boss. Considering the fact that the key to the kingdom—the official case file—is created, controlled, and protected by court employees, it is beyond foolish to annoy or mistreat them.
So be on time, smile, say please and thank you, ask questions that show you respect court staff expertise, and think about maybe bringing treats once in a while. If you do, court staff will go out of their way to reply to your e-mails and phone calls, correct your mistakes, and get you out of a jam. They’ll also speak highly of you to both judges and potential clients.
by
While most lawyers understand how court staff fit into the legal system, far too many lawyers fail to realize how a lawyer’s reputation with staff can affect the quality and results of his work. Court employees are usually an experienced, tightly-knit group who are seemingly always the target of budget cuts. While most have never written a scholarly essay on jurisprudence, they understand the law and how it functions far better than many lawyers, and they have many opportunities to help or hinder a lawyer’s efforts. I spent almost four years as a judicial clerk, and I was continually stunned by how many lawyers were intensely disliked by staff—and for good reasons.
Put On Your Happy Face
Lawyering at the courthouse is often a lonely and difficult business. A lawyer must wear a mask—to his client, the judge, and jury, he must appear confident and professional at all times. But too often, the mask comes off when court is no longer in session. The natural human desire to gossip, vent, or complain winds up being directed at court employees, but they are usually not interested in having those conversations with lawyers. I also heard dozens of stories of lawyers initiating conversations with staff (including judicial clerks) to criticize opposing counsel on a personal level, or even to mock their own clients. This is a quick way to earn a reputation as (at best) a pest, and (at worst) a lunatic.I was also amazed to hear stories of lawyers treating court employees as if they worked for the lawyer, with the lawyer playing the role of tyrannical boss. Considering the fact that the key to the kingdom—the official case file—is created, controlled, and protected by court employees, it is beyond foolish to annoy or mistreat them.
Don’t Mess With the Judge’s Team
Finally, judges spend their day in the company of staff, rely on them, and are protective of them. Judges and staff talk about good vs. bad lawyer behavior every day, and some judges are more likely than others to take advantage of an opportunity to make an example of a lawyer with a reputation for being less than easy to deal with.So be on time, smile, say please and thank you, ask questions that show you respect court staff expertise, and think about maybe bringing treats once in a while. If you do, court staff will go out of their way to reply to your e-mails and phone calls, correct your mistakes, and get you out of a jam. They’ll also speak highly of you to both judges and potential clients.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Job Search Strategy Tip - Keeping Your Resume Current
One of the first steps in a successful job search is having a current, updated resume ready to go at all times.
In a recent Career Services survey of current law students, 46% of responders indicated they did not have a current resume in Symplicity. Additionally 41% of responding students have not had their resume reviewed by a career counselor.
Regardless of your current employment position (seeking, not seeking, currently employed, etc.) it is important to have your resume updated and ready to go at a moment's notice.
Why is it important to have a current resume?
You never know when someone is going to ask for your resume. You may be talking with a law school alumnus at an event and they might say, "Send me your resume. I'll pass it around for you." Or, a former employer may call you and say, "Email me your resume. We have an opening I think you'd be a good fit for." Or, perhaps you're on a call with an alumnus for an informational interview. They might say, "Email me your resume right now and I'll take a look at it while we're talking."
I recently had an experience where two former employers called me the same week with job opportunities they were looking to fill immediately. One of these former employers I worked for nearly twenty years ago. Because of the continued relationship I have maintained with these employers over the years, they thought of me as a potential candidate and asked for current copies of my resume. Because I keep my resume current, I didn't have to scramble to get my resume to them quickly.
Having a current resume has also come in handy during informal interviews for community service and volunteering for a professional organization volunteer position.
Keep your resume current throughout your career, not just when you're looking for a job
It's good practice to keep your resume up to date throughout your professional career, rather than try and update it when someone asks for it. The easiest way to do this is to update it whenever there's a change to your experience, new job duties, participation in a new club or important community service, you have an article published, etc. Keeping your resume current will also greatly reduce the chance that you will add in typos or make other mistakes that you might if you're in a hurry.
It order to be ready for any potential job opportunity, I would highly recommend you upload and keep your resume current both on your computer and in Symplicity. If you opt in to the resume book in Symplicity, ANY employer who has Symplicity access to our law school can search through resumes for potential hires. Additionally, you may find a job posting in Symplicity that has a short deadline. Having your application materials ready to go will make the process much less painless.
Any time you update your resume, you will also want to send copies to any employers you've previously applied to. This is a great tactic for keeping in touch with the firm and letting them know you're still interested in working for them.
I would also highly recommend that you have a career counselor review your resume. We have seen hundreds of resumes throughout our careers and will often catch mistakes you won't. Additionally, legal employers have very specific resume expectations. We can help you format your resume to meet those expectations.
We are more than happy to review your resumes and other application documents. You have but to ask.
Ask the Experts
1L class (as well as externships)
Karen Andrews
2L class (as well as government, military, or public interest/service career paths)
MariLee Allred
3L class (as well as judicial clerkships and alternative careers)
Beth Hansen
LLMs or Alumni
Mary Hoagland
In a recent Career Services survey of current law students, 46% of responders indicated they did not have a current resume in Symplicity. Additionally 41% of responding students have not had their resume reviewed by a career counselor.
Regardless of your current employment position (seeking, not seeking, currently employed, etc.) it is important to have your resume updated and ready to go at a moment's notice.
Why is it important to have a current resume?
You never know when someone is going to ask for your resume. You may be talking with a law school alumnus at an event and they might say, "Send me your resume. I'll pass it around for you." Or, a former employer may call you and say, "Email me your resume. We have an opening I think you'd be a good fit for." Or, perhaps you're on a call with an alumnus for an informational interview. They might say, "Email me your resume right now and I'll take a look at it while we're talking."
I recently had an experience where two former employers called me the same week with job opportunities they were looking to fill immediately. One of these former employers I worked for nearly twenty years ago. Because of the continued relationship I have maintained with these employers over the years, they thought of me as a potential candidate and asked for current copies of my resume. Because I keep my resume current, I didn't have to scramble to get my resume to them quickly.
Having a current resume has also come in handy during informal interviews for community service and volunteering for a professional organization volunteer position.
Keep your resume current throughout your career, not just when you're looking for a job
It's good practice to keep your resume up to date throughout your professional career, rather than try and update it when someone asks for it. The easiest way to do this is to update it whenever there's a change to your experience, new job duties, participation in a new club or important community service, you have an article published, etc. Keeping your resume current will also greatly reduce the chance that you will add in typos or make other mistakes that you might if you're in a hurry.
It order to be ready for any potential job opportunity, I would highly recommend you upload and keep your resume current both on your computer and in Symplicity. If you opt in to the resume book in Symplicity, ANY employer who has Symplicity access to our law school can search through resumes for potential hires. Additionally, you may find a job posting in Symplicity that has a short deadline. Having your application materials ready to go will make the process much less painless.
Any time you update your resume, you will also want to send copies to any employers you've previously applied to. This is a great tactic for keeping in touch with the firm and letting them know you're still interested in working for them.
I would also highly recommend that you have a career counselor review your resume. We have seen hundreds of resumes throughout our careers and will often catch mistakes you won't. Additionally, legal employers have very specific resume expectations. We can help you format your resume to meet those expectations.
We are more than happy to review your resumes and other application documents. You have but to ask.
Ask the Experts
1L class (as well as externships)
Karen Andrews
2L class (as well as government, military, or public interest/service career paths)
MariLee Allred
3L class (as well as judicial clerkships and alternative careers)
Beth Hansen
LLMs or Alumni
Mary Hoagland
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Avoid These 10 Rookie Associate Mistakes
http://lawyerist.com/avoid-these-10-rookie-associate-mistakes/
by Kendra Brodin
You’ve got a new associate position at a firm. First of all, congrats! That’s a big deal in this challenging legal market. But don’t get so excited that you screw it up by making some very typical new associate blunders in the first few days, weeks, or months on the job.
Working with lawyers and law firms, I get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to new associates and how they integrate themselves smoothly (or not so smoothly) into the law firm culture.
Based on my observations, here are ten of the most significant mistakes I see new associates making (though seasoned associates and partners could learn a few lessons here as well.)
1 Having a bad attitude. Try to stay interested, excited and eager about your work. I know it’s tough sometimes, but if you get a sassy attitude, lack enthusiasm or energy for your work, or generally are no fun to be around, your reviews will be as bad as your attitude.
2 Not finishing what you start. If you take on a project, finish it. Even if you took it on when you were looking for projects and now you are suddenly swamped, find a way to get it done. It’s really taboo to hand a project back to a partner with a “Sorry, I just don’t have time to do this.” Figure out a way to do it, and manage your workload another way.
3 Handing off projects. Even if think you can’t get a project done because you are suddenly too busy (see above), don’t reassign the project without checking in with the assigning partner. Only request to reassign a project in an extreme emergency because it will make you look flaky and unreliable.
4 Getting wrapped up in the billable hour. Yes, yes. It’s true. The billable hour is still the be-all, end-all in many firms. But there’s something that’s even more critical, and that’s your reputation. It’s better to bill a few less hours but produce high-quality work than to bill a few more hours and produce substandard results. You’ll be remembered for the quality of work you produce, not whether you billed 2000 or 2050 hours.
5 Office romances. This is generally obvious, but (to whatever extent possible) try to keep your romantic life and your work separate. If you really do find the love of your life at work, be professional about it. Grossing out the partners with your PDA’s is not the way to score points.
6 Waiting around. Don’t expect opportunities to just come along and bite you on the rump. Be proactive. The associates who really go far quickly are those that figure out how to develop business. This makes you even more important to the firm, both immediately and in the long-run. Also, actively create relationships with your fellow firm colleagues. You may not be at this firm forever, so develop strong relationships in the legal community whenever and wherever you can.
7 Getting distracted by the internet and social media. The internet is a terrific tool of research and other projects, but it’s just too easy to get sucked into it for non-work reasons. Try to stay off the social media sites during work hours, and do your web perusing at home. It’s distracting to you and undermines the quality of your work.
8 Being satisfied being a mediocre writer. Your writing will distinguish you from other associates (in either a good way or a bad way.) Granted, some of us are better writers than others, but if this is not your strong suit, figure out a way to improve it. Also, always use proper grammar and punctuation when emailing or communicating with clients. You aren’t texting your best friend. Keep it professional.
9 Being inaccessible. If you keep your door shut all the time, it looks like you are hiding something even if you aren’t. Shut the door when you need to in order to focus, but try as much as possible to keep your door open.
10 Hiding your mistakes. One of the greatest mistakes I see new associates making is not admitting mistakes. You will make them (I hate to be the bearer of bad news.) You do not know everything coming out of law school (far from it) and you will make mistakes along the way. Admit to them, ask for help remedying them, and move on. Your honesty, integrity, and humility will take you much farther than hiding your imperfections and hoping no one finds out. Try to avoid mistakes by asking for help in the first place, but if you make a mistake, fess up to it immediately.
(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithwj/4925454/)
Kendra Brodin is a career and professional development coach and consultant who works with law firms and inviduals with the ultimate goal of helping lawyers become more productive, more satisfied, and generally happier in their legal careers. Kendra is also the founder of WomenLawyersOnline.com, a national online resource for women attorneys.
by Kendra Brodin
You’ve got a new associate position at a firm. First of all, congrats! That’s a big deal in this challenging legal market. But don’t get so excited that you screw it up by making some very typical new associate blunders in the first few days, weeks, or months on the job.
Working with lawyers and law firms, I get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to new associates and how they integrate themselves smoothly (or not so smoothly) into the law firm culture.
Based on my observations, here are ten of the most significant mistakes I see new associates making (though seasoned associates and partners could learn a few lessons here as well.)
1 Having a bad attitude. Try to stay interested, excited and eager about your work. I know it’s tough sometimes, but if you get a sassy attitude, lack enthusiasm or energy for your work, or generally are no fun to be around, your reviews will be as bad as your attitude.
2 Not finishing what you start. If you take on a project, finish it. Even if you took it on when you were looking for projects and now you are suddenly swamped, find a way to get it done. It’s really taboo to hand a project back to a partner with a “Sorry, I just don’t have time to do this.” Figure out a way to do it, and manage your workload another way.
3 Handing off projects. Even if think you can’t get a project done because you are suddenly too busy (see above), don’t reassign the project without checking in with the assigning partner. Only request to reassign a project in an extreme emergency because it will make you look flaky and unreliable.
4 Getting wrapped up in the billable hour. Yes, yes. It’s true. The billable hour is still the be-all, end-all in many firms. But there’s something that’s even more critical, and that’s your reputation. It’s better to bill a few less hours but produce high-quality work than to bill a few more hours and produce substandard results. You’ll be remembered for the quality of work you produce, not whether you billed 2000 or 2050 hours.
5 Office romances. This is generally obvious, but (to whatever extent possible) try to keep your romantic life and your work separate. If you really do find the love of your life at work, be professional about it. Grossing out the partners with your PDA’s is not the way to score points.
6 Waiting around. Don’t expect opportunities to just come along and bite you on the rump. Be proactive. The associates who really go far quickly are those that figure out how to develop business. This makes you even more important to the firm, both immediately and in the long-run. Also, actively create relationships with your fellow firm colleagues. You may not be at this firm forever, so develop strong relationships in the legal community whenever and wherever you can.
7 Getting distracted by the internet and social media. The internet is a terrific tool of research and other projects, but it’s just too easy to get sucked into it for non-work reasons. Try to stay off the social media sites during work hours, and do your web perusing at home. It’s distracting to you and undermines the quality of your work.
8 Being satisfied being a mediocre writer. Your writing will distinguish you from other associates (in either a good way or a bad way.) Granted, some of us are better writers than others, but if this is not your strong suit, figure out a way to improve it. Also, always use proper grammar and punctuation when emailing or communicating with clients. You aren’t texting your best friend. Keep it professional.
9 Being inaccessible. If you keep your door shut all the time, it looks like you are hiding something even if you aren’t. Shut the door when you need to in order to focus, but try as much as possible to keep your door open.
10 Hiding your mistakes. One of the greatest mistakes I see new associates making is not admitting mistakes. You will make them (I hate to be the bearer of bad news.) You do not know everything coming out of law school (far from it) and you will make mistakes along the way. Admit to them, ask for help remedying them, and move on. Your honesty, integrity, and humility will take you much farther than hiding your imperfections and hoping no one finds out. Try to avoid mistakes by asking for help in the first place, but if you make a mistake, fess up to it immediately.
(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithwj/4925454/)
Kendra Brodin is a career and professional development coach and consultant who works with law firms and inviduals with the ultimate goal of helping lawyers become more productive, more satisfied, and generally happier in their legal careers. Kendra is also the founder of WomenLawyersOnline.com, a national online resource for women attorneys.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
What's Hot and What's Not in Practice Areas (June 2011)
What’s Hot and What’s Not in Practice Areas
By Bob Denney
Twice a year, Bob Denney identifies the most important current trends in the business of practicing law, including what’s hot and not in specific practice areas.
Red Hot
- Health Care. This industry was hot even before ObamaCare fanned the flames of reform. It involves many practice areas including regulatory, finance, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, labor and employment, and professional liability. This will be red hot permanently.
- Energy. Oil and gas have been hot for several years. Although “alternate energy” has cooled somewhat, coal has heated up again. And, since the disaster in Japan, nuclear power has reawakened regulatory and financial concerns. This too will remain red hot.
- Financial Services. Institutions are still trying to understand the scope of Dodd-Frank. Some larger firms have formed multidisciplinary teams to counsel clients in dealing with the new regulations, some of which are not yet defined. This will remain red hot for a while.
Hot
- Regulatory. Many states are passing their own laws in opposition to the efforts of the federal government, particularly in health care, energy, banking and environmental. Constitutional issues are beginning to arise.
- White-Collar Crime. Criminal investigations regarding fraud are increasing. Adding fuel to the fire are new issues relating to the disclosure of inside information on social media.
- Labor & Employment. Whether on the labor or management side, this is one of the areas that is always hot. Violations of the wage-and-hour laws are increasing. So is union opposition to right-to-work laws or pending legislation in many states. And what will be the fallout of the Wal-Mart sex-discrimination case?
- Intellectual Property. IP firms have been growing and full-service firms are expanding their IP departments through mergers and lateral hires. Now that Congress has passed patent reform, this will become red hot.
Hot & Cold
- Commercial Litigation. This is a varied picture. In some firms it’s hot and in others, only warm. The cost of litigation has led to an increase in Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) in some firms. However, despite pressure on legal departments to cut costs, surveys report GCs expect a continuing increase in the number of new cases.
Cool
- Bankruptcy. This is a counter-cyclical area that is hot when the economy is poor and cools down when the economy improves. New filings have dropped sharply since last Fall. BR will stay cool unless there is a double dip in the recession.
- Mergers & Acquisitions. Some deals are still going through, but many are on hold until corporations feel more confident about the economy and the Obama administration’s actions. But it will be hot soon again.
Bob Denney is President of Robert Denney Associates, Inc. He says “it seems like forever” that he has been providing counsel on management and growth strategy to firms throughout the United States and parts of Canada. The complete Midyear Update on “What’s Hot and What’s Not in the Legal Profession” is now on the firm’s website, www.robertdenney.com.
http://www.attorneyatwork.com/articles/whats-hot-and-whats-not-in-practice-areas/
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Phone Phobia? Conquer Your Fear of Phoning
A CURMUDGEON'S PERSPECTIVE
Fear of Phoning
By Otto Sorts
When I was an associate, the most prominent item on my desk was a big, black, ugly toad that sat on the front corner and stared at me expectantly all day, every day. Occasionally it would ring and I would be jerked from the safe haven of legal research and thrust into the paralyzing world of human interaction. Today, I see associates who hide in their little havens of email, texting, and Facebook and Twitter, and more senior lawyers who still hide behind “important” formal documents sent via courier.Sure, these communications methods have their place. Texting or twittering works fine for your buddies, and email can be effective to focus conversations with coworkers and to transmit certain information to clients. Formal communications must, obviously, be formal. Notice, however, that each method maintains a barrier between you and the recipient. There is no human-to-human contact, where you can talk directly, touch (shake hands, pat on the back or, rarely, hug) and read all the nonverbal signals that enrich communication. And that’s a shame. Since face-to-face meetings are somewhat rare these days, there’s just one method left to fill the void: the dreaded telephone call.
Enter the Toad
I don’t know why talking on the phone is so intimidating (don’t get me started on the idea of Skype and video “chats”), but I know I’m not the only person who finds it so. Maybe it’s the inability to see the impact of your words on the other person. Maybe it’s just the uncertainty of what may come at you out of that void of silence. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to help overcome my fears. See if they work for you.- If you originate a call, pick what your first words are going to be ahead of time. Script the first few exchanges in your mind (or on paper if it helps).
- Identify why you are calling. What’s the point?
- If you know the person, visualize them on the call. Humanize the exchange.
- Leave a message if they don’t answer, and keep a note for their return call. Put the date and time on the note to manage when to try them again.
- For incoming calls, develop a canned greeting and a ritual exchange. It’s their call, so listen. Take notes as appropriate and don’t be pressured to respond. (Caller ID is great, but screening calls is chickening out. Be brave and take the call.)
- Know your boundaries. You have time constraints, limits on your authority and you do not have to make a decision or commitment right then. You can call them back.
These tips do not eliminate my phone anxiety entirely, but they help me focus on the communication instead of the fear. And usually I feel clearer about the issue at hand after speaking, voice to voice, with another human. Besides, on the occasional screw up where the phone call goes horribly wrong, I know that there’s always the face-to-face meeting to worry about.
Otto Sorts has been reading law since before Martindale met Hubbell. Of Counsel at a large corporate firm that prefers to remain anonymous, Otto is a respected attorney and champion of the grand tradition of the law. He is, however, suspicious of “new-fangled” management ideas and anyone who calls the profession the legal “industry.” When he gets really cranky about something he blogs at HeyYouKidsGetOffMyLaw.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Tips to Rise Above Your Peers in This Still-Struggling Economy
Recent law school graduates hoping to see improvements in legal hiring had little to celebrate when the National Association for Law Placement released its June report, indicating the worst job market since 1996, when the legal profession was still recovering from the recession of the late 1980s.
For the lucky 87 percent that found employment nine months after graduation last year, keeping their jobs is top of mind. To help young lawyers better understand what they should and should not be doing on the job, Betsy Collins, a partner in the Mobile, Ala., office of Burr & Forman LLP, recently released a free podcast from the Section of Litigation, “Advice for Young Lawyers.”
Drawing from 25 years of law practice and from the sage advice given to her when she was starting out, Collins offers several practical strategies to help ensure a thriving career in this still-struggling economy.
Several of Collins’ tips focus on how young attorneys can best impress their supervising lawyers:
- “When a partner asks you for a draft, don’t take that too literally,” says Collins, explaining that young lawyers should turn in work that is as complete as possible. “Partners don’t really want drafts. They don’t want a document with a lot of blanks that leaves a lot to be filled in.”
- “Think creatively,” advises Collins, comparing a young attorney’s research on a difficult question to a mouse in a maze. “If you hit a dead end, try to find another way to the cheese.” Taking such self-directed initiative will be appreciated by busy supervisors.
- Don’t ever ask a partner a question that you could easily find out on your own.
- Be a good communicator by staying in regular touch with the supervisor for whom you are doing work. “Make sure they know what you are doing, but don’t drive them crazy with every detail.”
- When conducting research on the Internet for a brief, “Don’t just take a soundbite. You need to read the case and know what the case says before you cite it.”
- When working with a partner or other supervising attorney, check the cases they cite in their briefs—actually pull those cases and read them. “You’ll be shocked at how many times you find something in those cases that works for you, or that the partner has incorrectly stated what those cases said.”
- Do not make inexcusable, careless mistakes such as citing overruled law. “This will get you into so much trouble in so many ways—with the partner you’re working for, with the client, with the court,” warns Collins. “The only thing you really have when starting out is your credibility, and if you lose it, it’s really hard to get back.”
Other tips center around developing personal and professional skills:
- “You need to learn to dictate legal work, instead of just composing on the keyboard or with a pen,” advises Collins, explaining that it helps lawyers learn to organize their thoughts in an oral fashion.
- When doing research using the Internet, take the time to hit those hyperlinks embedded in the documents you pull, and spend time reviewing what’s cited in those documents. “You’ll learn some law that you might not have known, and you’ll pick up new things.”
- “Don’t just write in parentheticals,” says Collins. “You need to learn how to analogize similar cases, and be able to explain to the court why the case law you’re citing is analogous to your own case, and why that suggests that it should apply.”
- And, related to the prior tip: “Always understand the procedural posture of a case that you’re relying on. A decision may be less than meaningful if the procedural posture of a case is different than your own.”
- Build rapport with the opposing counsel. Having a good relationship can make a difference if you find yourself in a lurch with a particular deadline or if you have a particular need.
Improve Your Chances of Moving Through the Recruiting Process
http://studentbranding.com/a-job-and-internship-refresher/
by Desiree Hack
Some students have the personal branding game all figured out and will have no trouble securing employment. For others, finding a position can be quite difficult. This post is designed to be an informative way to improve your chances of being moved through the recruiting process. You may be graduating and seeking full-time employment or have a few semesters left and looking for a summer internship. There are similarities in both scenarios, and although you may have heard some of these things before, you’d be surprised at some of the common mishaps I still see.
It is a great practice to have several different resumes that highlight different positions or experience you have. In order for your resume to be considered stellar, please list only relevant information. For example, if you’re applying to a sales position, include previous sales experience, goals or quotas, awards achieved, or any student organizations related to sales. It is not necessary to list every position you’ve ever had! Unless you’re applying to be a child care provider, your babysitting experience when you were 12 can be excluded. As a recruiter I’m asking myself “Can this person do this job.”
Do you really want to work here, or will you take anything? The latter should never be a response to an interview question. A common mistake is not answering the question that is being asked. It is really easy to start talking about a previous position or situation, get totally caught up in your story, and forget what the original question was. A great way to combat this is by keeping a specific situation, action, and result in mind. Practice doing the following: Describe the situation; what action took place; what were the results of your actions. This will keep you mentally organized.
Please don’t miss the bigger picture of obtaining valuable work experience to hold out for something in which you may not be prepared. Take time to evaluate the offer in hand and ask yourself, “What can I learn here?”, “Does this position have certain attributes I’m looking for?” and “Is it a step in the right direction?”
No one knows you better than you! Sell yourself! Take some time to reflect on your past experience and pick out skills that may be transferrable for the position you’re seeking. Enjoy it; this is the time of your life!
Desiree is a University Recruiter at T-Mobile USA.
by Desiree Hack
Some students have the personal branding game all figured out and will have no trouble securing employment. For others, finding a position can be quite difficult. This post is designed to be an informative way to improve your chances of being moved through the recruiting process. You may be graduating and seeking full-time employment or have a few semesters left and looking for a summer internship. There are similarities in both scenarios, and although you may have heard some of these things before, you’d be surprised at some of the common mishaps I still see.
1. Your strongest tool – a stellar resume
Your resume is your introduction and foot in the door all wrapped in one. It could also be the reason for your untimely exit. If you’ve applied to numerous places and no one seems to be contacting you, you may want to start there. Your resume should sell your best attributes and relevant experience or activities to a recruiter. It should be tailored specifically for the position in which you’re applying.It is a great practice to have several different resumes that highlight different positions or experience you have. In order for your resume to be considered stellar, please list only relevant information. For example, if you’re applying to a sales position, include previous sales experience, goals or quotas, awards achieved, or any student organizations related to sales. It is not necessary to list every position you’ve ever had! Unless you’re applying to be a child care provider, your babysitting experience when you were 12 can be excluded. As a recruiter I’m asking myself “Can this person do this job.”
2. Practice makes perfect
Interviewing is a lot like driving, it looks easy, but takes practice. Please don’t make the mistake of coming to an interview unprepared. Prior to your interview date, review your resume and past experience, the job description, and research the company. Many Career Service Centers allow you to come in for Mock Interviewing. This is a great way to practice your skills and get feedback. You are even able to do internet searches to find interview questions to practice. The questions that are being asked in an interview are designed to determine several things, including motivational fit and specific skills and attributes relevant to the position.Do you really want to work here, or will you take anything? The latter should never be a response to an interview question. A common mistake is not answering the question that is being asked. It is really easy to start talking about a previous position or situation, get totally caught up in your story, and forget what the original question was. A great way to combat this is by keeping a specific situation, action, and result in mind. Practice doing the following: Describe the situation; what action took place; what were the results of your actions. This will keep you mentally organized.
3. A bird in the hand…
All of us have very specific images of our dream job, from the commute to work, what we’ll wear, and the job duties. It is always great to have a plan and work towards a goal, however, we have to understand our first, second, and possibly third job may not be our dream job. The jobs you seek should put you on a path to ultimately reach your goal. Career development is a never-ending process that requires being open and flexible. I’ve seen a lot of students turn down opportunities because it is not exactly what they want to do, missing the fact that it is a step in the process.Please don’t miss the bigger picture of obtaining valuable work experience to hold out for something in which you may not be prepared. Take time to evaluate the offer in hand and ask yourself, “What can I learn here?”, “Does this position have certain attributes I’m looking for?” and “Is it a step in the right direction?”
No one knows you better than you! Sell yourself! Take some time to reflect on your past experience and pick out skills that may be transferrable for the position you’re seeking. Enjoy it; this is the time of your life!
Desiree is a University Recruiter at T-Mobile USA.
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