First Year Lawyers This One Is For You

Developing the Next Generation of Rainmakers First Year Lawyers: This one is for you Does your law firm have first year lawyers starting next week? Do you know a first year lawyer who will start next week? If so, this one is for you and for them. I remember how excited I was when I showed up for work my first day at my law firm. I had spent four years in the USAF and now I was starting my law practice. If my memory serves me correctly, I wore a short sleeve dress shirt with my tie and suit that day, and learned that was not appropriate attire. Over the years, I have regularly given presentations to first year lawyers during their firm orientation. I call it Starting Right for Career Success. This fall I will be giving the presentation to University of Nebraska law students. I focus on the importance of taking responsibility for their careers, developing a plan with written goals and using time wisely. If you are a regular reader, you know I have written my suggestions for first year lawyers. Several months ago I took two blog posts and created a Practical Lawyer Article: 40 Important Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was a First Year Lawyer. Finally, I wrote an article for the Texas Young Lawyers Association titled:  Practical Tips on Client Development for Young Lawyers First year lawyers have other questions. They rarely ask them because they are afraid the questions are stupid, or they feel they should be able to figure out the answers on their own. Here are 10 questions I have been asked by young lawyers. Seasoned lawyers might think they are stupid, but for young lawyers ready to start their first “real job,” knowing what to do in the circumstances described may be important. I practiced law for 37 years developing a national construction law practice representing some of the top highway and transportation construction contractors in the US.