Download - David Schwinger: Tips For New Lawyers
CREATED BY DAVID SCHWINGER
TIPS FOR NEWLAWYERS
There are many factors that contribute to successfullawyers.
You can be sure, however, that being an impressivelawyer in the first weeks and months of your career has
little to do with the knowledge and abilities that yougained in law school.
Some are more subtle andothers are more
straightforward.
Instead, the impressions you makeon your colleagues will center onthe intangibles—your ability to
assimilate and integrate into youroffice, your understanding of your
role as a new lawyer, and yourability to learn quickly.
Here are three easy ways todemonstrate that you’repositioned to become a
constructive, productive, andsuccessful member of your legal
practice from day one.
1. Don’t show up empty handed.As a new lawyer, you never want to go
into a meeting or another attorney’soffice without a legal pad and a pen in
hand.
In fact, you should probably not leaveyour office without paper and a pen.
You always want to be in a position totake down an assignment when theopportunity arises, and impromptu
conferences that result inassignments are a regular occurrence.
2. Offer support.
From day one, you candemonstrate your willingness to
contribute meaningfully by beingas supportive and helpful as
possible.
Show that you will do whatever it takes—stay late, come inearly, run down the street to the courthouse, etc.—in order
to help your colleagues get their work done quickly,efficiently, and correctly.
3. Adopt this mantra.
‘No project is beneath me. Repeat:No project is beneath me.’
Welcome any assignment that’s given to you, no matterhow simple. Regard every assignment as an opportunity
to learn, to grow, to understand more about your legalpractice. If you tackle each and every project you’re givenwith energy and enthusiasm, in no time you’ll be assigned
to more complicated projects and will be trusted withmore responsibility.