Congratulations to those recently passing Georgia’s bar exam! After being sworn in, you will be an attorney at law. While it’s a notable achievement, your career is just beginning. This column outlines tips for freshly minted lawyers to help set the tone for future success and to navigate the ever-moving terrain of the practice of law. Although this column is oriented for our most junior lawyers, we can all benefit from a refresher on tips for growing as an attorney.
1. Embrace a Learning Mindset:
Approach your first year with an eagerness to learn. You will soon discover how much you don’t know. Be receptive to feedback, seek guidance from mentors and colleagues and continuously educate yourself on the ever-evolving legal landscape. The harder you work, the faster you will learn. The habit of being eager to learn should persist throughout your legal career. No matter your year level, you can never learn enough.
2. The Devil is in the Details:
As a junior attorney, others are relying on you to get the details right. From drafting contracts to conducting legal research, precision is key and, unlike in law school, imprecision has real-world consequences. Develop a keen eye for detail and nuisance. Ensure your work is thorough and accurate. A meticulous approach not only instills your colleagues’ confidence in you, but it also contributes to the success of your cases. One mistake can diminish others’ trust in your work and often will be remembered.
3. Seek Mentorship:
Identify mentors that can provide guidance, both on practical skill development and career management. Don’t be afraid to seek out mentors at different stages of their careers—diverse perspectives can maximize the data points and prisms through which you view life. Don’t view mentorship as a one-way street; make sure to offer value to your mentor in every way that you can.
4. Build Good Habits:
The importance of building good habits early cannot be overstated. As a new lawyer, you are entering a new environment, physically and mentally. This presents a unique opportunity to build new habit patterns. Be punctual. Be focused. Be hardworking. Be great at everything you do. Building these habits early will put you on a potent professional trajectory.
5. Good Attitude is Key:
As a junior attorney, your colleagues are not expecting you to know everything. You have been hired because of your potential and your employer’s benefit in that potential. Don’t have a bad attitude when feedback and constructive criticism is offered. Embracing this feedback is critical to your development. Also working with someone with a bad attitude can be insufferable and offset any of the positive characteristics that a person may have. Embracing feedback with positivity can set you apart.
6. Immerse Yourself:
Immersion is the best way to learn a foreign language. Likewise, immersion is the best way to learn the practice of law. Whether it be due diligence or legal research, wholly immerse yourself in your work. Be a sponge, seeking to absorb every piece of information and guidance about the law practice possible. Work late. Go to bar-related events and CLEs. Learn from those that have been successful in law. You will be amazed at the results that will flow from a couple of years of unfettered immersion.
7. Prioritize Professionalism:
Starting your career, you are an unknown to many. Your initial years are highly formative to what your brand and reputation will become. It is, thus, important to maintain a high standard of professionalism in all your interactions. Treat clients, colleagues and staff with respect. Uphold ethical standards and demonstrate integrity in your work. Professionalism is not only a reflection of your character, but also a reflection of your firm and colleagues’ character. Cherish and protect that reputation.
8. Enjoy the Journey and Be Patient:
No one starts at the top. Mastery takes years of strenuous, focused cultivation and focus. Enjoy the journey of professional development. Each stage has unique joys and difficulties that mold an individual. One day you will reflect on the early stages with appreciation. A favorite quote of mine is that “life is not about waiting for the storms to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.” Don’t wish your professional career away yearning to get to the next level. Enjoy and embrace the journey. Be patient. You will get out of your career what you put into it.
The first year as a lawyer is a period of significant growth and adaptation. Congratulations on making it this far. I am excited to see where you will go.
Jake Evans is a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, who practices complex business litigation and is the former chairman of Georgia’s State Ethics Commission.