Go Premium for $25 and get
Already a member? Log in here.
No lawyer sets out to become a disciplinary statistic. Some lawyers, however, find themselves corresponding more often with disciplinary authorities than others. Solo and small firm practitioners, especially with practices in criminal, family or personal injury law, receive the highest number of client complaint letters. During the many
Q: I dread looking at my phone in the morning. Every day I am inundated with emails, usually from offices in an earlier time zone. The emails often contain random requests that don’t seem as if they would take much time, but they end up blowing up my mornings. Sometimes partners want
Get ready to navigate the fast-changing social terrain— during your summer externship, at your first off-campus interview, at a clerkship, or as you transition into your first “real world” job after your final semester—with these helpful tips from fellow students and legal professionals. 1. Think…and
Question: I am a new lawyer, and I understand the need to keep my “filter” on. But it seems awkward to focus on that all the time. And I sometimes find that I have let my guard down before I know it. Any suggestions?
The need to address behavior surprises many law students and young lawyers because they carry the assumption that adults should and will behave in a professional manner. Unfortunately, experience shows that assumption is far from reality. Being a professional goes beyond your work product and your everyday
What was the first thing you learned in law school? Maybe it was why you should double check the name of the ship you’re loading with cotton? Or how you can be liable for someone losing their leg if all you did was kick them under
The day to day life of a young lawyer is one of the aspects of the profession that is almost impossible to teach during the law school. In my first post, I talked about working on your work product. While the nature of a specific practice will certainly
Q: Are there lessons for new lawyers from the recent Academy Awards “Envelopegate” snafu involving PricewaterhouseCoopers? A: Oh yes. The more obvious lessons are that even with straightforward assignments, the consequences of mistakes can be huge and “do-overs” may not be possible. I discuss these and other lessons below. “Envelopegate” is
Times are changing but whether you can showcase your personality with your dress tattoos piercings and other ways to express yourself is still a judgment call.
When we talk about professionalism, we’re talking about a few things, all of which work together to demonstrate that you are trustworthy and competent.
Law school is a social and cultural world unto itself. Like all societies and cultures, it has its own set of norms and rules. Understanding and employing proper etiquette will help you succeed. “We had an incident in a student’s first week at school,” recalled Sarah Zearfoss, senior assistant dean for
Before the Bar is the blog of the ABA Law Student Division. It brings together a diversity of opinions, experiences, and voices from those associated with the law anywhere in the world and is targeted to law students, current, past and future.
Unless stated, the opinions shared by our writers do not reflect the official position of the American Bar Association.
Before the Bar Guidelines
Become a Contributor
