FEW TIPS FOR FRESH LAWYERS & JUNIOR ASSOCIATES

FEW TIPS FOR FRESH LAWYERS & JUNIOR ASSOCIATES

• First and foremost, important thing for junior associates - Get your terms of employment in writing.

• You are a professional. So, look like one all the time, no matter where you are.

• The appearance and attitude of your assistant is a direct reflection on you so pay attention on them & you are directly responsible for what your assistant does.

• Always have emergency supply in your office like- medications, toiletries, sewing kit, umbrella, non-perishable snacks, extra suit including shirt, tie, pants or skirt and shoes to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions or emergency.

• Work diligently to meet and hopefully exceed your boss’s expectations.

• Find out what the culture in your firm is with regard to the work day and make sure you follow it & most importantly always check yourself as everyone in the firm see and hear what you do.

• Always have a to-do list -and review it at the starting & end of every week with your calendar for the next four weeks.

• Producing quality work is an essential – as an associate your draft should be final work which should not need any correction.

• You need to embrace the fact that there is always something new to learn.

• Earn the respect of your co-workers and then fight to keep it.

• Avoid having relationship at your workplace.

• Foster a close relationship with someone in your office who has your back.

• If you want to advance in your firm, you need to be where the action is.

• If a colleague is struggling with a particular situation, try to get to the bottom of what is going on.

• Make your correspondence with client simple and straightforward.

• DO NOT chew gum or wear extra perfume in court.

• Always behave with client, fellow lawyer with respect and never profane or use abusive language.

• Try to be a better listener & a better communicator.

• DO NOT give advice to strangers over the phone.

• DO NOT take the case you are not qualified to take.

• Find an experienced lawyer you can talk to.

• NEVER procrastinate (delay in taking action).

• Always try to make good first impression – as you can always be a jerk later.

• Think twice before accusing someone of ethical violation.

• For billing hours – update your work daily, never leave it for another as you may miss some details the next day.

• Maintain a good filing system

• Have realistic expectation from your practice.

• To grow your practice – build relationships – with other lawyers, then community, the region.

• Treat your client well to get well paid.

• Get money upfront – Aaj Nakad Kal Udhar.

• Close a case – get judgment, keep file property, update bills and other clients correspondence – bind all together and keep away safe.

• Keep up with your billable hour – write down your work, make a system to track your time – comply with firm’s billable hour policy, if not getting enough hour ask for more work.

• Legal research is not free- charge/use it according to the case & pocket of the client.

• Prepare your case for the worst-case scenario + (backup the clients files [online] & keep safe the original documents in locker etc.)

• Use of technology does not make you a better lawyer, it only makes you efficient.

• On the telephone with a client or any other person – keep your conversation private against bystanders.

• Email conversion (ask permission from client, tell them about charging the email conversion), email can be evidence so use it carefully.

• Use internet carefully, do not post (your client, yourself, witness) specifications of case online.

• Never break client privilege – basic rule to build relationship with your client.

• Never judge any person.

• It’s hard & rare that anyone or most of people give 100% credible information to you. Determine the truth by digging deeper into the facts.

• A box of tissues in your desk is always helpful.

• Like not every doctor is for every client in a similar way not every attorney is for every client.

• BEWARE of the client who has fired his/her first lawyer.

• Should you represent your friends or family? For small advice always help however if your relative want to hire you then, its best option to refer them to a 3rd person.

• Always have clear talk with your client, you and your client should be on the same page and understand each other.

• Never give guarantees about the outcome of a case. don’t get cornered by clients into promising more than you can deliver. tell them the minimum and maximum they can expect.

• It’s not in the client’s best interest or in the attorney’s best interest to let the client dictate the legal strategy and argument.

For instance: Are you a good attorney?” my response? “Yes, I am a good attorney. But if you do what I tell you to do, I am a great attorney.

• If there are any accusations on your client, don’t be embarrassed to get specifics about it from your client. Ask your client about other party weakness.

• The perfect first question for your client: What can I help you with?

• Don’t just ask your client about the facts of the case. make sure you find out where they grew up, what their level of education is, how many kids they have.

• Stress on the importance of telling the truth.

• You may be the only sane person in your client’s life. summon all of your client control skills and speak in a very concrete manner.

• When you cross the line from being involved to being overly involved – the rule is you are there to help your client get out of the mess not get into the mess with your client. And before helping your client don’t get attached emotionally and attend to your problem first then your clients.

• Make sure you are suing the right party.

• In a particular case, if possible always try to arrange mediation first.

• Always go for a good settlement.

• HOPE for the BEST, but PREPARE for & EXPECT the WORST.

• If you are offered a pre-trial settlement, then discuss with your client first before taking.

• Always behave properly & respectfully while in court or with the judge, irrelevant of the fact whether the court is ordering in your favour or against.

• Treat the clients of other Lawyers with respect.

• Find a nice judge you can talk to.

• Research your judge – as it is said ‘A good lawyer knows the law; a great lawyer knows the judge’.

• Be extremely careful in ex-parte cases.

• Prepare your witness – they should be clear what they speak, tell only what they know & what is asked from them, they should not guess.

• Your client should be appropriately dressed for the court.

• Always cross-examine the witness thoroughly.

• Know when to sit down and shut up – for this look at the judge’s expression for clues.

• If possible take a pro bono case for once in a while.

• Appreciate employees of the court (in filing department & other departments), they help you a lot all the time.

• Do not cross-examine your spouse or other close relatives.

• Practicing law is a 24x7 job, but try to make time for your family & other significate things.

• Find time for your hobbies.

• Keep yourself updated with – latest trends & judgments of your jurisdiction.

• If you leave a firm, do it right – do not take clients and other lawyers with you, nor affect the reputation of the firm.

• Don’t burn out – as Ferris Bueller said “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

• Stay humble & stay grateful.

• Everybody makes mistakes – don’t lie, cover up or hide it. Tell your boss and try to fix it.

• You have the ability to change people’s perceptions about lawyers.

• Donate your legal skills to your juniors.

• Start caring about politics.

• Love what you practice.

The above tips are from the book The Lawyer’s Handbook by Karen Thalacker published by Sphinx Publishing, Illinois.

*Disclaimer: The contents of the blog are not intended to convey any legal advice to the reader neither the blog creates any attorney-client relationship. You may contact an enrolled legal practitioner for assistance with your legal needs.*