Are you a new lawyer? Then there’s a good chance that you still need some advice on how to become the best lawyer that you can be. Not all lawyers can be as cool, calm, and collected as Jeremy Diamond. There’s a lot of things to learn even after you finish law school and begin your practice full-time. The stress of the job can hit you and there are even the occasional sleepless nights as you turn information over in your mind.
There’s nothing wrong with realizing thing because being a lawyer is one of the hardest jobs in the world, so as you build you cases remember these tips to get you through the good days and the bad days.
Use The Experts Around You.
If you’re freshly hired into a firm, remember that there are experts around you who have been doing this for a long time, so seek their advice whenever you can. See what wisdoms they can share to get little nuggets of insightful information to help you be the best at your job that you can be.
It’s also important to not be afraid to ask questions. No one is going to expect you to have all of the answers (outside of maybe your clients), so feel free to ask those around you. In addition to this, listen closely to what other lawyers say with a keen interest, so you can quicken your learning pace. Plus, they will be happy to help by sharing their wisdom because it will make them feel appreciated.
Focus On All The Details.
Have you ever heard the quotes “Don’t sweat the small stuff?” or “Don’t sweat the details?” That doesn’t apply to you. You need to sweat the small stuff and the details. Everything in your profession is important, from the way in which you present yourself to your clients and act with your colleagues to how you build your cases and read files and information.
You must look over every little bit of information so that nothing is missed or it can not only ruin your case, but it could even ruin someone’s life. Few occupational stakes are higher than they are for a lawyer or an attorney. So make sure to spend the extra time to look over every little detail, no matter how small, to make sure nothing is missed. Even though at time’s it’s tempting to just scan some information that doesn’t seem necessarily relevant, it could end up making a huge difference.
Be A Professional.
This can’t be stressed enough. When you’re a lawyer, you’re essentially living your life in a fishbowl because you have a very serious reputation to manage. The idea behind life in a fishbowl is that you’re the fish who lives in a glass bowl. Anyone walking by can see what you’re doing and that word will spread.
So no matter whether you’re dealing with your clients, with your colleagues, or you’re just out pumping gas or at the local store, be professional. The worst thing that could happen is for a bad word about you to spread around town, especially if you live in a small city. It can be like wildfire.
Seek Feedback.
Once your case is finished, if there is a colleague who is familiar with how you dealt with it, seek their feedback. Feedback is an important step for growing in any regard and little growth can happen without it. Get comfortable with asking others for their thoughts on how you handled a case or represented your client in the courtroom, so that you can continue to grow as much as possible. Plus, it will gain you respect among your peers as well because it shows your dedication without the ego.
Understand You’re Rarely Working A New Case.
It’s highly unlikely you’re the first person to ever work a certain case. The chance are quite certain that it has been done before, so continue to research other cases after law school to see how other lawyers have fought cases so that you have the best chance possible to win. In addition to this, it can help with the terrible feeling of feeling alone in something.
Manage A Social Life.
All work and no plan is never a good recipe for life. Make sure to make time to still have a social life. Go out with friends, take your partner on amazing dates, and go take an awesome vacation. Still be you. Don’t let the hours required at the desk or the ambition in you to detract you from enjoying the finer things in life.
Being a new lawyer is an exciting time in your life, but be sure to follow these tips so that you’re as prepared as possible to be the best you can be.
