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Main Index
Index:
* Let it Rain, Let it Rain!
PART I: Winning New Clients
* Let it Rain, Let it Rain
PART II: Generating Business from Existing Clients
* LET IT RAIN, LET IT RAIN
Part III
* Surviving Requires Survivor Behavior
* Practical Advice for First-Years:
Tips for Jump-Starting Your Career
* Working Abroad:
Put Your Language Skills And Sense Of Adventure To Use
* Let it Rain, Let it Rain!
PART I: Winning New Clients
The LexisNexis services will arm you with the essential tools for gathering the marketing information you need to develop effective rainmaking strategies. You can launch your campaign right from your desk.
LexisNexis gives you access to current news, legal, business and financial sources to help you analyze the opportunities, zero in on the most desirable targets and tailor a plan to secure their business.
Its simple. See for yourself. Part I of our series on client development focuses on identifying and winning new clients. Follow along as we step you through the process and provide specific examples.
IDENTIFY PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS
The first step in rainmaking is to develop a potential client list, which can be approached in several ways. What makes sense for you? That depends on your law firms plans. Maybe the firm wants to grow the business geographically or perhaps it wants to expand a specific practice area. Your objectives (and your firms) should drive your approach.
Search Specific Industries. You may want to search for companies in the same or similar industries as your current clients. Whether your firm plans to expand its in-state clients or open an office in another state, U.S. Company Reports is a great resource, which covers more than 10,000 public and 200,000 private companies.
PATH: Company Profiles
SOURCE: U.S. Company Reports
SEARCH: sic (2834) AND state (ny)
Look at the Issues. As an alternative, you may want to search for news about companies that are facing issues similar to those your current clients are facing, regardless of their industry or location.
PATH: News
SOURCE: News Group File, Most Recent Two Years
SEARCH: class action W/25 implant
EVALUATE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES
Once youve developed a raw list of potential clients for your business, youll want to make a thorough evaluation of each to determine which might have needs that best match your firms expertise and
business objectives. LexisNexis provides you with a wide range of tools to make that evaluation.
Evaluate Business & Products. An understanding of the companys primary lines of business and its products is crucial and LexisNexis offers several key resources to assist in your analysis.
The LexisNexis Market & Industry collection covers a multitude of relevant product topics, including product announcements and reviews, advertising, promotions and market research. Likewise, the Overview of Markets & Technology collection provides broad coverage of business and industrial environments, enabling you to learn about product sales and profits, organization history, the industry issues they face, merger and acquisition activity, even financial management.
PATH: Market & Industry > By Industry & Topic
SOURCE: Overview of Markets & Technology
SEARCH: company (monolith technologies)
Check Patents. A look at the patents assigned to your client or clients competitors can provide a broader perspective on company activities and help you assess its leadership position in its industry. The LexisNexis collection covers more than two million patents from the U.S., Europe and Japan.
PATH: Area of Law - By Topic - Patent Law > Patents > U.S. Patents
SOURCE: Utility, Design and Plant Patents
SEARCH: date aft 1999 AND assignee (innovative technologies)
Examine Financials. Are your prospective clients on solid ground -- will they be here tomorrow, can they pay you today? With a little digging, you can get a better perspective on their financial strength.
With a search of the news, you can discover partnerships and joint ventures that might influence the competitive equation.
PATH: News
SOURCE: News Group File, Most Recent Two Years
SEARCH: hlead(joint venture) AND here today gone tomorrow
An examination of Annual Reports to Shareholders will reveal a great deal about a companys current financial position and its outlook for the future. Be sure to look closely at the footnotes as well. They often contain useful information on changes in company financial practices.
PATH: Company & Financial > Financial Filings > U.S. Financial Filings
SOURCE: SEC Annual Reports to Shareholders
SEARCH: company (here today gone tomorrow)
Evaluate Competitive Environment. A search of Competitive Intelligence, which contains information on more than 140,000 public and private companies, can help you understand the prospective clients environment and identify emerging companies that might pose a competitive threat to it.
PATH: Company & Financial > Company Profiles & Directories > Individual Publications
SOURCE: Competitive Intelligence
SEARCH: company (here today gone tomorrow)
CHECK FOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
By now, you should have a smaller, but more targeted list of potential clients whose needs parallel your firms interests and expertise. Your next step is to check for conflicts of interest between your firm and theirs.
In todays dynamic business world, corporate relationships are constantly changing. So checking for conflicts is challenging but essential. LexisNexis gives you several authoritative business sources to make a thorough check. For example, you can find the institutional holders of more than 10,000 U.S. common and preferred stocks in Vickers Securities Report and Institutional Holdings.
PATH: Company & Financial > Financial Markets
SOURCE: Vickers Securities Report and Institutional Holdings
SEARCH: company (caledonian cartage)
The Directory of Corporate Affiliations is another vital source. It includes company profile and corporate linkage to the sixth level for more than 114,000 public and private companies.
PATH: Market & Industry > Directories
SOURCE: Directory of Corporate Affiliations
SEARCH: company (caledonian cartage)
IDENTIFY & PROFILE COMPANY EXECS
Having made a thorough evaluation, you should have a highly qualified list of prospective companies on which you can focus. The question now is to whom do you target your efforts? Who are the key executives within these companies? What can you learn about them in advance of any meeting?
LexisNexis gives you several key sources for identifying and profiling the decision makers. Duns Decision Makers, for example, is invaluable for providing background information on senior and middle managers.
PATH: Company & Financial > Company Executives & Directors
SOURCE: Duns Decision Makers
SEARCH: company (byjove securities)
Once you have their names, you can then compile background information on them. LexisNexis makes it easy, drawing on a wide range of news, biographical and business-related stories.
PATH: Reference
SOURCE: Biographical Information Sources
SEARCH: name (augustus W/3 of byjove)
Similarly, if youre looking for information on members of the companys in-house legal department, you can look under Reference for the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, which includes Professional Biography and Practice Profile listings for corporate legal departments throughout the U.S.
RESPOND TO RFPs
Your client development efforts are paying off! One company is looking at several law firms and is asking you to respond to their Request for Proposal (RFP) to help them determine which firm will best fit their needs.
If they are already on your target client list, youre in luck! You should be able to draw on all the information youve compiled on this company. If not, just revisit the steps outlined for evaluating clients. This process should provide plenty of information for building a complete profile on this new prospect.
Pay special attention to the information you gather on this prospects competition. It should provide you with a good perspective on the industry and the issues the company faces. With this knowledge, you should be able to demonstrate your grasp of their business and challenges, building a strong story for how your law firm can serve their needs better than any other.
LET IT RAIN, LET IT RAIN!
Client development --in todays competitive environment, its essential! Hopefully, this article will get you off to a successful start. However, it only skims the surface! The resources LexisNexis offers are broad and deep. Dont hesitate to ask your LexisNexis Applications Consultant for further resources and tools to increase the effectiveness of your rainmaking efforts.
Watch Next Month ...
In Part II of our Client Development series, learn how to identify and develop additional business among current clients. Be sure to look for it next month!
Continue in next section
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Main Index
* Let it Rain, Let it Rain
PART II: Generating Business from Existing Clients
When most attorneys think of rainmaking, they look first at ways to attract new clients. However, the fact is one of the best sources of new business may be right under your nose your firms current business clients. With established relationships and at least a working knowledge of their business, you are in an excellent position to leverage more business, provided you do your homework!
The LexisNexis services can be a tremendous resource. They will help you to deepen your understanding of your clients business, products and industry, enabling you to identify their needs and better cross-sell the services of your firms specialty areas.
Knock, Knock. Opportunity Here.
Your search for opportunities begins here. Get out your list of current clients. Select one as your first target. Then follow along as we show you some of the LexisNexis tools you can use to expand your client dossier.
PROFILE YOUR CLIENT COMPANY
Gather In-depth Background Materials about your client company from a comprehensive collection of well-respected sources in All Company Information. It covers all U.S. public companies, more than 200,000 private U.S. companies and thousands of other companies around the world. Youll find reports from the worlds leading investment banks and research firms, profiles of companies and company executives, annual reports and other SEC filings, bankruptcy reports, as well as merger and acquisition transactions.
PATH: Company & Financial
SOURCE: All Company Information (excluding Investext*)
SEARCH: company (behemoth electronics)
Get Background on Hard-to-Find Private Companies by searching Duns Market Identifiers Plus. Its a great source of basic company information. DMI contains more than 11 million records, 98 percent of which cover private companies.
PATH: Company & Financial > Company Profiles & Directories > Individual Publications
SOURCE: Duns Market Identifiers Plus
SEARCH: company (behemoth electronics)
Get the Latest News on your client by searching full-text articles from thousands of news sources from the most recent 90 days. Use the HLEAD segment in your search and youll find stories where your clients name appears in the headline or lead paragraph.
PATH: News
SOURCE: News Group File, Most Recent 90 Days
SEARCH: hlead (behemoth electronics)
Gain an International Perspective from Bloomberg News which covers the worlds governments, corporations, industries and major financial markets around the world.
PATH: News > By Industry & Topic > Banking & Finance
SOURCE: Bloomberg All Bloomberg News
SEARCH: date aft 1999 AND (behemoth electronics)
Evaluate Business & Products. You can get a deeper understanding of the companys business and products searching the LexisNexis Market & Industry collection. It covers a multitude of relevant product topics, including product announcements and reviews, advertising, promotions and market research. Likewise, the Overview of Markets & Technology collection provides broad coverage of business and industrial environments, enabling you to learn about product sales and profits, organization history, the industry issues they face, merger and acquisition activity, even financial management.
PATH: Market & Industry > By Industry & Topic
SOURCE: Overview of Markets & Technology
SEARCH: company (monolith technologies)
IDENTIFY & PROFILE EXECUTIVES
Identify the Decision Makers. LexisNexis gives you several key sources for identifying and profiling the decision makers. Duns Decision Makers, for example, is invaluable for providing background information on senior and middle managers.
PATH: Company & Financial > Company Executives & Directors
SOURCE: Duns Decision Makers
SEARCH: company (byjove securities)
Compile Background Information. Once you have their names, you can then compile background information on them. LexisNexis makes it easy, drawing on a wide range of news, biographical and business-related stories.
PATH: Reference
SOURCE: Biographical Information Sources
SEARCH: name (augustus W/3 byjove)
Similarly, if youre looking for information on members of the companys in-house legal department, you can look under Reference for the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, which includes Professional Biography and Practice Profile listings for corporate legal departments throughout the U.S.
Other valuable sources available to you through LexisNexis include Standard & Poors Corporation Register of Directors & Executives, Directory of Corporate Affiliations, and Marquis Whos Who Biographies.
Find News on Key Players. With thousands of news sources, LexisNexis can provide you with valuable insights to your clients key executives which should be useful as you plan your strategy and develop your presentation.
PATH: News
SOURCE: News Group File, Most Recent Two Years
SEARCH: augustus OR marcus W/3 jove
UNDERSTAND THE INDUSTRY
Examine Trends & Competition Investext Industry Reports are a great source for information on current and historical trends, competitive factors and forecasts. Leading analysts provide you insights to the worlds major industries Banking & Finance, Medical & Health Care, Telecommunications and more than 45 others.
PATH: Market & Industry . By Industry > Telecommunications
SOURCE: Investext Industry Reports Telecommunications
SEARCH: date aft 2000
Check Patents. A look at the patents assigned to your client and their competitors can provide a broader perspective on company activities and help you assess your clients leadership position in its industry. The LexisNexis collection covers more than two million patents from the U.S., Europe and Japan.
PATH: Area of Law - By Topic
Patent Law > Patents > U.S. Patents
SOURCE: Utility, Design and Plant Patents
SEARCH: date aft 1999 AND assignee
(innovative technologies)
Peruse Market Research that has been conducted on the industry to learn about the kinds of issues your client faces, such as competitive challenges and market share.
PATH: Market & Industry > By Industry & Topic > Marketing & Advertising
SOURCE: Marketing Research: A Magazine of Management & Applications
SEARCH: atl3(telcom!)
MONITOR CHALLENGES TO THE BUSINESS
The more you understand the challenges faced by your clients business and industry, the better youll be able to foresee potential opportunities to provide more legal services to that client.
Stay on Top of M&A Following merger and acquisition activity within your clients industry is vital. Youll find it worthwhile to follow reports on your client and other key players in its industry.
PATH: Market & Industry > By Industry & Topic > Mergers & Acquisitions
SOURCE: Mergers and Acquisitions Company Reports
SEARCH: company (fly by night airlines)
Track Bills & Regulations. By following evolving legislation and regulations at the federal and state level, you can stay attuned to the issues that are likely to affect your clients industry. LexisNexis offers you a variety of sources; here are just a few ...
PATH: Legislation & Politics > U.S. Congress
SOURCE: Bill Tracking Report Current Congress
or
PATH: Legislation & Politics > U.S. Executive Branch
SOURCE: Federal Regulation Tracking
or
PATH: Legislation & Politics > U.S. States
SOURCE: State Bill Tracking Current Session
SEARCH: airlines
Stay Attuned to Industry Developments. You will also want to monitor the news, watching for those industry events and trends that could impact your client and possibly expand your law firms role in its affairs.
PATH: News
SOURCE: News Group File, Most Recent 60 Days
SEARCH: hlead (airlines W 10 trend OR develop! OR chang!)
Monitor Trademark Activity. You can learn a lot about products and ad campaigns of your client and its competitors even before they reach the marketplace by following trademark activity. The extensive LexisNexis collection will let you track both state and federal trademarks with ease.
PATH: Area of Law By Topic > Trademarks, Unfair Competition & Trade Secrets > U.S. Trademark Registrations
SOURCE: Combined Federal and State Trademarks
SEARCH: all-own-assign (fly by night airlines)
Do It All Automatically. With so much content to draw from and so many items to track, client development could be a full-time job were it not for the convenience of the LexisNexis Clipping Service (ECLIPSE). ECLIPSE will enable you to monitor new developments in any clients industry on regular basis without having to personally conduct every search every week. Simply develop a search, check your results and modify your search until you are satisfied with your results. Then save your search as an ECLIPSE, specifying the frequency and your desired delivery option. (Imagine the convenience of being alerted to new developments whenever they happen by email!) Its that easy!
continue in next section!
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Main Index
* LET IT RAIN, LET IT RAIN
Part III
Client development in todays competitive environment, its essential! Yet, with the resources LexisNexis offers, you can do a swift, thorough job of identifying your opportunities. The ideas presented here are just a few of the tools available for your rainmaking efforts. Dont hesitate to ask your LexisNexis Applications Consultant for further resources and tools to increase your effectiveness.
Pro Bono Work -- Good For You!
Like most associates, you entered the legal profession with high ideals, seeking to be a great lawyer, and hoping to make a difference. Now as you find yourself juggling more and more responsibilities, you may be wondering how you can do it all -- meet your professional responsibilities, advance your career and make some contribution to the greater good.
Did You Know ...In 2000, LexisNexis donated more than $5 million in research services to law firms and non-profit organizations doing pro bono work.
The answer may be easier than you think -- ''pro bono publico.''
As you know, pro bono service is a professional responsibility. However, when you get involved, you'll quickly see that it is much more than that. Pro bono work provides you with countless opportunities for personal and professional growth that can help to not only advance your career but also bring you genuine satisfaction. Consider, for the moment, how it can work to your advantage...
Explore Practice Possibilities
Pro bono work gives young lawyers the rare chance to choose their own cases. For you, that is an opportunity to explore various practice areas and identify the kind of work that is most satisfying to you. There are plenty of choices in civil and criminal law that will let you make a real difference in the lives of individuals. And don't overlook other practice possibilities. Not-for-profit corporations, community-based organizations or microenterprises may enable you to experience the challenges of a tax, real estate or business practice.
Broaden Skills, Perform High-Level Work
Looking for in-depth, on-the-job skills training? Pro bono matters offer you accelerated professional development . For the litigator, it's an opportunity to take the lead on a case, working personally with a client and handling all aspects of the case from discovery to conducting a trial. For the transactional attorney, it's the opportunity to lead negotiations and make important decisions about the strategy of a transaction.
It can be exciting work. Moreover, pro bono service may enable you to exercise skills and judgment far more independently and at an earlier stage than you are likely to experience inside your firm.
Shine for Firm Partners, Senior Associates
In most cases, you'll be working under the supervision of a more experienced attorney who will expect you to handle most of the work on the matter - but who will also be there to help guide you, if necessary. So, pro bono matters usually give you the opportunity to establish a relationship with influential people within your firm, gain valuable advice and demonstrate your readiness for greater responsibility.
Build Your Network
Working with others for a common cause is a great way to showcase your talents and build relationships. Pro bono work often brings you together with people inside and outside your profession. Working on a community-based economic development project, for example, may put you shoulder-to-shoulder with clients and new business prospects. Likewise, bar-sponsored projects will have you working with other attorneys in your field, building contacts at the local, state and national levels that can be invaluable to your career.
Gain Favorable Attention for your Firm
Public service also reflects favorably on your firm. Some pro bono activities may even generate publicity. Cases involving community issues or public interest groups attract media interest. Even smaller cases with particular human interest appeal sometimes gain the spotlight. You can't put a price on that kind of exposure. The positive image created by your pro bono work speaks volumes about your firm and you!
Make a Difference to a Cause
Here's your opportunity to use your skills and make a difference for a cause that is meaningful to you. Public policy, environment, historic preservation, domestic violence, economic development, elder issues, microenterprise development, child welfare -- what's your passion? Follow it! Pro bono work offers a myriad of ways to advance justice and make positive contributions to the community.
Enrich your Life
The long hours and intense pressure you experience as a young attorney can take its toll. In undertaking a pro bono project, however, you will gain a special satisfaction, helping an individual or a community, and doing your part to preserve a fundamental right -- equal access to the law. That's an enriching experience - and one more reason pro bono work makes sense for you!
Add Up the Pros, Do It!
When you add up all the pros, you can see the time you spend on pro bono work is well-invested. Check with your firm or call your local bar association to ask about pro bono opportunities. (You may be surprised to learn that some offer CLE credit for related training or participation.)
Or, point your browser to any of these websites for more information:
ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono & Public Service www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono.html
The Pro Bono Network
http://www.probono.net/
Pro Bono Institute
http://www.probonoinst.org/
CorporateProBono.Org
http://www.corporateprobono.org/
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* Surviving Requires Survivor Behavior
| By Paula A. Patton, CEO/President, The NALP Foundation | |
http://wwweattorney.com/
Whether the legal market is in an economic slump or economic boom, law firm associates are wholly dependent on the excesses of overworked partners for their livelihoods.
It is a wise junior lawyer who recognizes his or her status and is constantly adding new, specific value to the academic and legal credentials they offer. The key is to understand and act on what law firms value about associates and make certain that those characteristics are part of your repertoire. Unfortunately, just having a generally solid but unremarkable performance record won't be enough in a competitive, bottom-line organization.
John Challenger, CEO of Challenger Gray and Christmas Inc., has described the types of people who are most likely to keep their jobs.
1. Want to survive? Then you need to be a trouble-seeker. If that sounds a bit disingenuous, take care not to confuse it with trouble-maker which can be an express ticket to the unemployment line. Rather, associates who are known as trouble-seekers survive because of their willingness to seek out difficult assignments. They adopt positive attitudes toward problem solving without worrying about things being difficult and make a point of always being up to the challenge.
2. Survive as a border crosser. Border crossers enhance their employability by demonstrating flexibility in attitude and aptitude that allows them to perform any number of jobs for which the firm might otherwise need to hire another person. No job too big, no job too small . . . but most important of all, no job is beneath me. Sometimes, even associates who thought they left the grunt work behind will need to pitch in with such mundane endeavors when the circumstance requires. Commitment, selflessness and a willingness to tackle the grunt work or jobs that others find unappealing is commendable
3. Be a facilitator to stand out! Today's law firms value individuals who can bridge the differences among groups, build coalitions and support a team-oriented workplace. As a result facilitators have significant value to a firm. Facilitative leadership skills and the ability to build relationships count enormously in complex interpersonal and business relationships.
4. Survive as a nonstop student who is eager to learn and who soaks up information to enhance performance. Self-initiated (and perhaps self-funded) training, even if the firm is cutting back on their contribution to associate skills tool-boxes can make a significant difference in their value to the firm.
5. Survive on a strong work ethic, taking on extra tasks without being asked. Successful associates are job vacuums and are also prospective survivors for the long haul. These junior associates sweep up all types of opportunities including future employment with the firm.
6. Learn to be a self manager. Associates who have the discipline to manage their time, behavior and productivity are valuable because they save their supervisors and administrators time and thus, save the firm money. In other words, associates who need spoon-feeding, constant direction or supervision, or lots of flattery or feedback need not apply for survivor status.
7. Become oblivious to time. Associates who have a degree of clocklessness can enhance value. True, being clueless about clock-time seems a bit ironic given associates' constant requirement for billing hours. But long days and weekends are normal in many areas of law. Those willing to give more time and effort at a moment's notice demonstrate an understanding of the business issues the firm faces in client service. That can be a much-valued attribute.
It's never a bad time to assess what is valued, adjust behaviors to match, and exude an attitude that speaks clearly of interest in and commitment to the firm. Those who do will be highly valued for the long term because they are experienced workers who can equal or better the output of full-time, entry-level employees.
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* Practical Advice for First-Years:
Tips for Jump-Starting Your Career
Welcome to the firm! Those years of sweat and study have finally paid off with a job at great law firm. Now you're faced with a new kind of challenge, making your mark as a practicing attorney. That means playing by a new set rules and with brand new players.
How can you make a great impression? What can you do to get your career off to a running start? Your law firm probably has given you some indication of what it expects as part of its orientation. However, there's nothing like the perspective of someone who's been there and done. Here is some practical advice from those who know...2nd years...
1. Leave Pride at the Door.
It's clear you are among the best and the brightest, but leave your pride at the door. New to the firm, you will be put into situations where you don't know what to do or what to say. No one -- not client nor attorney -- expects a first-year to the know all of the answers. They do, however, expect you to get the answers. So be willing to ask questions every step of the way and utilize the resources around you to get answers.
2. Observe & Listen.
Use your first days at the firm to get a sense of your environment. You can learn a lot about the dynamics of the office, a deal or a case by simply observing. Then try to be involved in as much as you can, so you can quickly get up the learning curve and start enjoying a much greater role in what you're doing.
3. Identify the Go-to People.
This is no time to be shy. Get to know your colleagues. Identify the 'go-to' people with whom you click. Then go to them with your questions. Tap into their experience. Talk through your concerns. They've all been in your shoes and can offer you good insights and support.
4. Learn the '3 Ps.'
Familiarize yourself with your firm's People, Policies and Practices. Get to know the library staff, paralegals, secretaries and support staff in the print room, mail room, even your LexisNexis rep. Understand their roles and learn how they work. At the same time, acquaint yourself with your firm's intranet, the billing system, the legal research system and other business and technology tools. The understanding you gain now will pay big dividends in efficiency as your caseload builds.
5. Get Organized.
Good organization is a huge bonus. It will be especially helpful when you are juggling six or seven assignments. So establish good habits at the outset -- make a to-do list, prioritize your activities, then stay on track. It's not a foolproof approach, but it will make your job easier 99 percent of the time, and it will certainly project a professional image to clients, partners and your colleagues.
6. Demonstrate Your Enthusiasm.
Senior associates and partners are genuinely impressed when you demonstrate enthusiasm for a project. The more interest you show, the more likely they will be to draw you into a project -- the calls, negotiations, correspondence, etc. -- which will broaden your experience, prepare you for more responsibility and build their confidence in you.
OK, so it's not all exciting work. Sometimes it can be downright tedious, but keep your thoughts to yourself and keep smiling. Everyone's been there and done that. No one likes to listen to a complainer.
7. Take the Initiative.
Ask for involvement. 'If there's a conference call, I'd like to sit in.' 'If you want, I'll make a copy of the memo, so I can familiarize myself with what you're trying to do.' You may not always get a 'yes.' However, your willingness to be part of the entire process and not just handle a discrete part will make a favorable impression and open the door to some great learning opportunities.
Likewise, if after a number of assignments, you're not getting substantive work, go after it. Talk to the assignment coordinator. Don't wait for things to come to you. Create opportunities and let people know your interests.
8. Focus on Quality.
Though you'll feel the pressure to do more and bill more, quality work is going to take you a lot further in your career than mere quantity. Demonstrate your command of the law by producing a great work product. When getting an assignment, listen carefully and determine exactly what is expected. Know the issues before you start. Ask questions. Get a specific deadline and, if needed, clarify priorities. Then be ready to put in the hours to make your work letter-perfect. Attention to detail matters.
9. Handle Mistakes Swiftly.
Despite all your efforts, you will probably make a mistake from time to time. It happens. No one expects you to be perfect. Just don't dwell on it. Handle it swiftly and with grace. Acknowledge it at once, correct it quickly, then move on.
10. Keep People Apprised.
Juggling assignments is challenging. Rarely, does everything go the way you want it to go. That's why communication is vital. Keep your assigning attorney and others on your team apprised of your progress. Alert them to problems or conflicts. If you see you can't hit the deadline, advise them why not. With voice mail, email and everything else your firm provides, you should be able to keep people informed. They may not always like the news, but they'll respect the fact that you kept them advised.
11. Treat Everyone with Dignity & Respect.
Treat your partners and senior associates as clients. And be sure your extend the same courtesy and respect to the library staff, paralegals, secretaries and support people throughout your firm. They are invaluable resources who deserve your respect. Moreover, when you're speeding to deadline, they will be pivotal to your success.
12. Carpe Diem!
If someone offers you an opportunity, seize it! For example, if a partner offers you an opportunity to shadow them, do it. It's a great chance to learn and observe. Or, given the opportunity, involve yourself in pro bono work. It's a wonderful way to be involved with a case from start to finish, and get a feel for the 'big picture.'
13. Make Time for Yourself.
Practicing law is demanding work, but work is not everything. You've got to make time for yourself if you want to be at your best for the firm. No one thinks less of the hard worker who takes some time. They know you deserve it.
14. Maintain your Balance.
Don't let yourself get overwhelmed. Take each day and each assignment, as it comes. When you have a tough day and things don't go as planned, keep it in perspective. Look for the humor. Try to laugh at yourself. Remember: all first-years are in the same boat and everyone was a first-year at one point, even the partners.
15. Relax & Enjoy!
After years of study and hard work, you've achieved your dream. You are an attorney now with the opportunity to do interesting, rewarding work. Relax and enjoy it. Savor the sweet taste of living the life you love!
What a Good Criminal Defense Lawyer Does
When faced with a serious criminal charge, it's almost always important to have an experienced lawyer on your side.
Defendants faced with the possibility of going to jail or prison should almost always hire an attorney, unless they qualify for the free or reduced-fee services of a public defender or court-appointed attorney. The truth is, no matter what the person's intelligence or educational background, the criminal justice system makes it virtually impossible to do a competent job of representing oneself. Each criminal case is unique, and only a specialist who is experienced in assessing the particulars of a case -- and in dealing with the many variables present in every criminal case -- can provide the type of representation that every criminal defendant needs to receive if justice is to be done.
Criminal defense lawyers do much more than simply question witnesses in court. For example, defense lawyers:
negotiate ''deals'' with prosecutors, often arranging for reduced charges and lesser sentencing (by contrast, prosecutors may be uncooperative with self-represented defendants)
formulate sentencing programs tailored to a client's specific needs, often helping defendants avoid future brushes with the criminal justice system
help defendants cope with the feelings of fear, embarrassment and reduced self-esteem that criminal charges tend to produce in many people
provide defendants with a reality check -- a knowledgeable, objective perspective on their situation and what is likely to happen should their cases go to trial. This perspective is vital for defendants trying to decide whether to accept a prosecutor's offered ''plea bargain''
are familiar with important legal rules that people representing themselves would find almost impossible to locate on their own, because many criminal law rules are hidden away in court interpretations of federal and state constitutions (for example, understanding what may constitute an ''unreasonable search and seizure'' often requires familiarity with a vast array of state and federal appellate court opinions)
are familiar with local court customs and procedures that aren't written down anywhere (for example, a defense lawyer may know which prosecutor has the ''real'' authority to settle a case, and what kinds of arguments are likely to appeal to that prosecutor)
understand the possible ''hidden costs'' of pleading guilty which a self-represented person might never think about
spend time on a case that a defendant cannot afford to spend
gather information from prosecution witnesses, who often fear people accused of crimes and therefore refuse to speak to people representing themselves, and
hire and manage investigators, who may be able to believably impeach (contradict) prosecution witnesses who embellish or change their stories at trial.
The Gulf Between Paper and Practice
Self-representation is made more difficult by the typical gulf between paper and practice in criminal cases. In books you can find laws that define crimes, fix punishments for their violation and mandate courtroom procedures. Take the time and trouble to read these books, defendants might think, and they'll understand the system. Alas, the practice of criminal law can't be understood by reading books alone. To experienced criminal defense attorneys, the criminal law appears much the same as a droplet of water appears to a biologist under a microscope -- a teeming world with life forms and molecules interacting unpredictably.
For example, ''prosecutorial discretion'' -- the power of prosecutors to decide whether to file criminal charges, and what charges to file -- determines much of what actually happens in the criminal courts. Which prosecutor has the power to make decisions, and when those decisions are made, can greatly affect the outcome of a case. An act that looks on paper to constitute one specific crime can be recast as a variety of other crimes, some more and others less serious. What in a statute book appears to be a fixed sentence for a particular crime can be negotiated into a variety of alternatives. In other words, the world of criminal law is vast, hidden and shifting, and defendants enter it alone at their peril. At the very least, most self-represented defendants should arrange for a lawyer to be a ''legal coach'' and consult with their coaches as needed.
Related Articles
Getting a Lawyer FAQ
If you are accused of a crime, you will probably face the possibility of going to jail. This fact alone will most likely drive you to look for a good lawyer. Unfortunately, private criminal defense lawyers don't come cheap, and you may not be able to afford one. This doesn't mean you'll be completely at the mercy of the government, however. The U.S. Constitution provides that you are entitled to be represented by an attorney if the state is trying to deprive you of your liberty. This means that a court may be required to appoint a lawyer to represent you for free-or for a fee you can afford. This section discusses the role of private and court-appointed attorneys in the criminal process and offers suggestions for finding a private attorney if you can afford one.
Developing a Defense Strategy
How criminal defense attorneys and defendants work together to create a defense strategy.
Obtaining a Criminal Defense Lawyer
How a defendant who can't afford a private lawyer can qualify for a court-appointed attorney.
Finding a Private Defense Attorney
When faced with criminal charges, trying to find the right lawyer -- quickly -- may feel overwhelming. Here's some guidance on how and where to search.
Does Self-Representation in a Criminal Case Ever Make Sense?
Not usually, but here's a discussion of the few situations in which you might consider representing yourself in a criminal case.
See Lawyers and Malpractice in the Lawsuits and Mediation area of Nolo's Legal Encyclopedia
For what to do when you're mad at your lawyer -- practical information on firing and suing your lawyer.
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* Working Abroad:
Put Your Language Skills And Sense Of Adventure To Use
| by Robert O'Connor Special contributor | |
International Section of the LexisNexis Bookstore Titles on international law, doing business abroad and country-specific law are available for purchase from the LexisNexis Bookstore.
The idea of spending a few years abroad can be very appealing. A stint working in another country can offer a richer experience than could ever be gained as a tourist. It is also, sadly, true that relatively few people act on such ideas. As the years pass, plans for foreign working adventures often get put on hold, before eventually sliding into the category of ''what if?''
But you should not regard the idea of working abroad as being forever out of reach - even after your own career might seem to have established a more parochial pattern. Lawyers are, if nothing else, flexible. And there are many ways to achieve your goal.
An obvious one is as an employee of a U.S. - based company. Corporations and law firms need American lawyers in their overseas offices. Another method is to go abroad as a baggage. A lawyer-spouse of an American executive transferred overseas is likely to find that the work permit issued to the transferee covers both husband and wife. A U.S. company in need of U.S. legal expertise might be particularly interested in the services of an expatriate lawyer. Such a ''local hire,'' would not incur relocation expenses for the employer.
Ayesha Waheed, chief executive officer of Strategic Legal Solutions, a legal recruitment firm in London, suggests that U.S. lawyers who want to work overseas should first decide where they want to go. The next step should be to compile an inventory of possible employers. It can be helpful, Waheed said, to list professional contacts, going as far back as law school, which might provide leads.
Waheed said that people should not consider seeking work in a country unless they speak the language. ''I have come across people who are trying to move to France and Germany because they think it would be a nice place to spend a couple of years, with no language skills at all,'' she said. ''It's much harder to find a job in that situation.''
Waheed also suggests that lawyers who want to work abroad should equip themselves with appropriate skills. She said that knowledge of corporate law would, for instance, be more valuable in a foreign market than a successful track record as a litigator. Waheed added that the move by some American law firms in London into arbitration has put dispute resolution experience in demand. Waheed also believes that it may be easier to find a temporary, rather than a permanent, position, particularly in a tight job market.
A U.S. lawyer who lands in England should not, of course, expect to be able to don robe and wig and win glory at the Old Bailey. As in the U.S. - and other countries - entry into the practice of law is strictly regulated. The legal profession in England also operates under the burden of ancient customs and rules. Typically, major cases are prepared by solicitors and presented in court by barristers.
But it should be possible for an American lawyer with sufficient specialized expertise - and confidence - to set up as a consultant in a foreign jurisdiction. Immigration law is an obvious possibility. Would-be migrants to the U.S. can be found in almost every country.
Waheed, who has previously lived in the U.S., Hong Kong, Pakistan, and Switzerland, said that people who plan to work abroad should be open to new things. She said that a resistance to the local culture could quickly communicate itself to local clients, creating a negative impression.
Waheed recalled working for several months in Hong Kong with an American who ordered pizza every night. ''He never tried the local cuisine,'' she said. ''That sort of person is not going to enjoy the fullness of the experience.''
Robert O'Connor is a freelance business and finance journalist based in London.
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