What is work/life balance? Take the long-term view.
I was talking with someone recently about finding balance, and she had some interesting comments. In essence, she’s stressed out about meeting her responsibilities in the various areas of her life, and she feels guilt on top of that stress because she’s out of “balance.” Easy to understand, since we’re all supposed to be in […]
Associates want communication from law firms; who’s responsible for professional development?
A recent survey by the American Lawyer (no longer available) indicates that law firm associates are frustrated by the perceived lack of communication from law firm partners and management. Problem topics include everything from finances to an associate’s development and advancement to the context for assignments. Clearly, some firms have more problems with communication than […]
New lawyer skills focus: client development by cross-selling
Every lawyer working in a law firm is aware that she will someday be expected to bring in new clients. Rainmaking is a key skill for professional advancement, and it’s never too early to begin building those skills. New lawyers face particular challenges in beginning to build a business development program, simply because they’re new. […]
More on loyalty (or the lack thereof) between associate and firm
Associate retention continues to be a hot topic, especially as law firms seek ways to hold tight to the associates they’ve attracted at least in part by paying top dollar… and as associates eye the rising pay scales. Arnie Herz of Legal Sanity has posted an interesting discussion (no longer available) on the disengaged employee, using […]
Underpromise and overdeliver
One of the most critical parts of establishing a career, as well as finding work/life balance, is conducting oneself in a way that lets others know they can rely on your word. We’ve all had the experience of counting on someone to carry through on a promise and discovering that they didn’t. Even when there’s […]
New lawyer skills focus: Are you losing time?
I don’t know a single lawyer who enjoys billing. I do know a bunch of lawyers who leave completing their time sheets until the end of the month. That means that I know a lot of lawyers who lose time. It isn’t a sexy topic . There’s no way that billing can be sexy, unless it’s […]
Relationship or one-night stand: how law firms view associates (and clients)
David Maister wrote a fascinating article titled, “Do You Really Want Relationships?” He suggests that lawyers generally say we want relationships with our clients, long-standing interactions that tend to lead to more work in the future, more referrals, fewer challenges on billing, and more effective working relationships. This, Maister describes as the “romance” view. However, […]