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.