Advice to New Attorneys

Yesterday, Florence Z. Mao, gave advice to new attorneys in this post: https://bit.ly/3eleZVj.

It got me thinking about advice I'd give to new #BigLaw attorneys as they begin their journeys this month.

In addition to Florence's points, I'll add:

🖋 CONTROL YOUR CALENDAR.

You need to be available, but not at all costs.

From the jump, block off time for what matters to you: working out, dinner with your family, morning quiet time and routines, time for administrative tasks, and/or time for deep work.

You'll end up moving a lot of these blocks at first, but the earlier you block this time, the sooner you'll learn to schedule around it, protecting the time for the long haul.

🖋 ATTEND FIRM EVENTS.

For better or worse, you need to be seen. You also need to develop as a "firm citizen."

The easiest way to do that is to attend the lunches, meetings, and happy hours set up for you, for all attorneys, for you practice group, etc.

People will get to know you this way. You'll also learn about ways to get involved with firm committees and start connecting with folks who can make that happen for you.

🖋 ASK QUESTIONS.

No question is a dumb one. There's a lot to learn and you'll need to learn it fast.

Figure out which associate senior to you (a second year, or even more senior) is approachable and accepting.

Ask them all your questions. If you get the sense you're wasting their time, move on until you find the associate who welcomes the questions and is happy to help you.

Then, a year or two from now, when you're in their shoes: be ready to answer the new associates' questions. This cycle of giving back is how firm culture sustains and/or improves over time.

What else would you say to new first year associates starting in bigger firms?

#lawyerwellbeing #professionalwomen #culture