The New Lawyer's Handbook: 101 Things They Don't Teach You in Law School
288
The New Lawyer's Handbook: 101 Things They Don't Teach You in Law School
288eBook
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Overview
101 Success Strategies They Didn't Teach You in Law School - get expert advice on becoming a better lawyer.
While law school taught you the fundamentals, The New Lawyer's Handbook is your indispensable companion, unveiling 101 insider tips and tricks that will elevate your legal career from good to outstanding!
The New Lawyer's Handbook provides:
- Real-world Wisdom: Gain practical insights from seasoned legal professionals who have navigated the trenches and emerged victorious. Learn from their experiences and avoid common pitfalls that can derail even the most promising careers.
- Expert Strategies: Master the art of effective communication, negotiation, and advocacy with powerful techniques honed by top attorneys. Develop your unique style and stand out in the courtroom and boardroom.
- Building a Winning Network: Discover the secrets to cultivating a robust professional network that opens doors to exciting opportunities and accelerates your growth within the legal community.
- Balancing Work and Life: Achieve a harmonious work-life balance by implementing time management skills and self-care practices that boost productivity and prevent burnout.
- Legal Research and Writing: Unleash the full potential of your legal research and writing prowess with cutting-edge resources and best practices. Craft persuasive arguments and draft impeccable legal documents that leave a lasting impact.
- Mastering Client Relationships: Learn how to foster trust, understanding, and empathy with clients. Deliver exceptional service that forges strong bonds, ensuring client loyalty and referrals.
- Navigating Career Advancement: Propel your career forward with guidance on seeking mentors, obtaining promotions, and excelling in your chosen legal field.
From courtroom etiquette to mastering legal software, The New Lawyer's Handbook equips you with the essential skills and knowledge to conquer the legal world. With an abundance of actionable advice and expert guidance, this book is the ultimate roadmap for launching and flourishing in your legal career.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781402249105 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Sourcebooks |
| Publication date: | 06/01/2009 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 288 |
| Sales rank: | 504,847 |
| File size: | 478 KB |
About the Author
Karen L. Thalacker is a practicing attorney at Gallagher, Langlas, and Gallagher in Iowa. She is also an adjunct professor at Wartburg College where she teaches Business Law.
Read an Excerpt
Excerpt from Section I: Starting Out Right at a Law Firm
Two dogs are chasing a car and one says to the other, "What are you going to do if you catch it?"
That is exactly the way I felt at the beginning of my legal career. I had been chasing this dream of being a lawyer for so long, and when I had everything I needed—my college degree, my law degree, and my license to practice—I was a little uncertain about what would come next.
Despite the uncertainty you may be feeling, stay positive, pay attention to detail, and work hard. If you can do that, your transition from student to lawyer will be a smooth one.
1. Get the Details of Your Employment Agreement in Writing
When it comes to their own business affairs, attorneys are notorious for failing to get the terms of their agreements in writing. You would never tell a client to do business on a handshake, so why would you do it yourself? It is important to start your job off right by getting the terms of your employment in writing.
If you are a new attorney, getting the employment agreement you want is a four-part process:
1. Do some research and be prepared to negotiate your agreement. Get to know the Career Services Director at your law school. The director's job is to help both students and graduates find the job they want. He or she will have a wealth of knowledge about the range of salary and benefits you might expect given your education and experience and the size and location of the firm. If you are going straight into a partnership situation or are office-sharing with someone, you need very specific information from the firm itself about past profits and expenses so that you can determine how future profits and expenses will be shared.
2. Keep an open mind during negotiations. Don't be so set on a particular salary range that you overlook a firm that has amazing benefits or opportunities. That being said, if you work hard, you will be worth every penny the firm pays you, so do not be shy about fighting for the salary you believe you are worth.
3. Get the agreement in writing. If you fail to do this, you make it easier for your employer to avoid living up to his or her part of the deal.
4. Don't sign the agreement until you've had another lawyer look at it. Even if it's a friend or mentor and not someone you've actually hired, it's always a good idea to have a fresh set of eyes check it over.
2. Appearances Matter
When I say that appearances matter in your law practice, I am not suggesting that you need expensive suits and expensive cars. My dad says that a bad golfer with nice equipment is still a bad golfer. However, even though it is true that the finest suit will not make you a good lawyer, there is still a certain threshold of acceptable appearance that is expected of you.
Throughout your career, you will see attorneys who should immediately be reported to the Legal Fashion Police. The most extreme example is the attorney who went to visit her client at the detention facility wearing a tube top. That's right, the attorney was wearing a tube top. Even the facility expressed their disapproval of her clothing choice.
So put your tube top away and ask yourself these questions to determine whether or not your appearance is appropriate:
1. How do I look? When my clients look at me, will they have confidence in me as their attorney? Am I dressed modestly and tastefully? Are my clothes too tight or too loose? Are my teeth clean? Would a judge think I am dressed appropriately? No one will want to pay thousands of dollars in legal fees to someone who has body odor and bad breath. You are a professional. So look like one. If you have no idea how to do that, go to a clothing store or department store and a sales associate will be glad to help you put some outfits together.
2. How does my office look? Has my client's file been compiled in an orderly fashion? When my clients see my office, will they have confidence that I won't lose their documents? Do I have stacks of paper everywhere? Are there stale donuts and soda cans strewn everywhere? To a client in crisis, these are not good signs. If a client comes in unexpectedly and I have a full desk, my assistant and I have a designated spot where we stash the clutter. Avoid shoving it in your desk because you don't want documents to get lost or misplaced.
3. How does my assistant look? How does her work area look? Is he dressed neatly? Is he or she trying to make clients feel welcome and important? The appearance and attitude of your assistant is a direct reflection on you so pay attention.
While expensive clothes and furniture might make a certain first impression, competence and professionalism will make a lasting one.
Table of Contents
IntroductionSection I: Starting Out Right at a Law Firm
1. Get the details of your employment agreement in writing
2. Appearances matter
3. Have extra essentials at the office
4. Work when you are at work
5. A to-do list is your constant companion
6. The importance of having a good assistant
7. When you're an associate, draft means final
8. You don't know everything
Section II: Understanding Law Firm Politics
9. When your law office is more like the set of Survivor
10. Avoid having a romantic relationship with someone in your office
11. Foster a close relationship with someone in your office who has your back
12. It helps to be a golfer
13. What to do if a colleague is struggling
Section III: General Tips for Having a Successful Practice
14. Avoiding legal pet peeves
15. Don't tolerate bad behavior
16. Learn to be a better listener and a better communicator
17. Don't give advice to strangers over the phone
18. Resist the pressure to take a case you're not qualified to take
19. Find experienced lawyers you can talk to
20. Don't procrastinate
21. What to do when opposing counsel is a jerk
22. You can always be a jerk later
23. Think twice before accusing someone of an ethical violation
Section IV: The Business of Practicing Law
24. Be as involved as possible in your law firm's finances
25. The importance of a good filing system
26. Earning a living as a lawyer is a tough buck
27. How to build your practice
28. Treat your client like a customer
29. Get the money up front
30. How to close a case
31. Never let your malpractice insurance lapse
32. Keep up with your billable hours
33. Legal research isn't free anymore
34. Disaster planning
Section V: Becoming Comfortable with Technology
35. Stay on top of technology but don't be a slave to it
36. Know how to operate the office machines
37. Cell phone etiquette
38. Be careful with emails
39. The impact of the Internet
Section VI: Working with Clients
40. The importance of the attorney-client privilege
41. Do not judge
42. Don't give anyone a blank check on credibility
43. Keep a box of tissue on your desk
44. Not every attorney is for every client
45. Beware of the client who has fired his or her first attorney
46. When gender matters
47. Should you represent family and friends?
48. Make sure you and your client have the same expectations
49. Don't give guarantees
50. Tell your clients they need to follow your advice
51. Be specific
52. When a client or someone else is in jail
53. How to tell whether someone is having an affair and why you should care
54. How to get your client to tell you the truth
55. You may be the only sane person in your client's life
56. Anyone can become crazy
57. How to be involved but not overly involved
58. Make sure your client has the support of friends and family
59. Is the extended family part of the problem or part of the solution?
60. Does your client have a safety plan?
Section VII: Building a Case and Preparing for Trial
61. Make sure you are suing and serving the right party
62. Look at the jury instructions to prepare your case
63. Don't wait for someone to give you information
64. Prepare for depositions
65. Give mediation a try
66. How you know when you have a good settlement
67. Hope for the best but prepare for and expect the worst
68. Your pretrial settlement discussion with your client
Section ViiI: Success in the Courtroom