The Real World Life After Law School
irst of all, if you step do, it's usually easier to focus
into that marble foyer for more on getting the job done
the first time and realize right rather than getting it done
that you would rather be anywhere perfectly. There won't be anyone
but there, you should be. The grading your papers, making sure
practice of law is for people who you've done everything properly.
truly want to be lawyers. Those There will, however, be a real,
who don't have their hearts in it live client paying good money for
will have a very difficult road you to make sure that what he/she
ahead of them. However, if the wants gets done.
smell of all those legal pads
really gets you going, don't lose In short, you should try to have
track of that passion. It will a broader perspective when it
get you through what just might comes to first-year work. Focus
be the toughest 12 months of your on the overall goal of
life. accomplishing a task, and don't
get bogged down in the miniscule
Many fresh-faced new lawyers go details.
into their first year on the job
with visions of perfection Once you start working as an
dancing in their heads. They plan attorney, there will be many
to draft perfect briefs and things you won't have any idea
advance perfect ideas while how to do. For example, the firm
wearing perfectly ironed shirts will have its own system of
and smiling perfectly bright filing, distributing information,
smiles. They are usually and handling day-to-day
disappointed. operations.
When it comes to doing the grunt Many times, you won't know where
work that first-years are sure to to go, how to get there, or whom
to talk to once you do; but After all, you must have
instead of spending your days in developed some sort of legal
the restroom mopping your sweaty intuition while sitting immobile
brow, ask someone for a practice in those stuffy college
guide that deals directly with auditoriums.
the firm's practice areas. This
is a simple, easy way to get your Also, don't be afraid to ask a
head above the water and gulp in senior associate or partner for
some much-needed air. answers to questions or for
clarification on assignments.
Once you have a basic Sometimes, you can save a lot of
understanding of how things at time simply by asking the right
the firm work, you will gain person a question.
confidence in your own abilities
and become more comfortable doing Now on to arguably the most
the work. However, there will exciting part of being an
most likely come a day when attorney (at least in the eyes of
someone hands you an assignment new associates): the perks. The
that leaves you baffled, best advice in this area is
wondering what in the world you moderation. Overdoing it or
spent the last three years of law taking advantage of the firm in
school learning. any way will be viewed
negatively. Therefore, even if
In this situation, take a deep the firm seems liberal when it
breath, and go with your gut comes to living the high life,
instinct. Do what you think you it's always better to exercise a
should do, regardless of whether certain level of restraint.
or not you know that it's the
right thing to do. Most likely, Another area where restraint
your gut feeling will be correct. should be practiced is in regard
to your personal life. Don't get disagreements and disappointments
me wrong. Everyone has issues of if you have to suddenly renege on
a personal nature that have to be commitments.
dealt with from time to time, but
keep in mind that your superiors And a last little tidbit of
have their own personal problems advice for newbie attorneys is to
to deal with. take advantage of your status.
Partnership will come soon
Unless you have a personal matter enough, and then you won't be
that absolutely, positively must able to ask dumb questions or get
be discussed, keep your private lost on your way to the restroom.
life to yourself. Also, it's a Take this opportunity to learn as
good idea to talk things over much as you can while you have
with your family and friends the least amount of
prior to starting work so that responsibility. Being teachable
they understand exactly what during the first 12 months will
you're getting into. That way, pay off in the future.
you won't have to deal with the
added stress of family - Law Crossing
About the Author:
http://www.lawcrossing.com/
Read more articles by: LawCrossing
Article Source: www.iSnare.com |
|
|
|
