Public Documents -
Law Practice
I’ve always enjoyed the quote, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” (Attributed, variously, to Walt Disney, Dr. Seuss, and Bernard Baruch.) Of course, those who employ or retain you do matter. So, what if you feel required to present yourself as someone you aren’t?
Posted by
Julie
Fleming on
2.6.09
in
Law Practice - Law Ethics.
One of the biggest mistakes I see in new lawyers, especially those pulling down the $160K “big firm” salaries, is living the lifestyle full out. The new BMW, the gorgeous condo, all of those nice accoutrements that seem like a fair reward for the hard work required to reach that earning level — if not purchased carefully, they turn into the proverbial golden handcuffs.
Posted by
Julie
Fleming on
2.6.09
in
Law Practice - Law Practice.
Unfortunately, lawyers at every stage of practice can set vague goals. Have you ever said you'd like to "bring in more business" or "increase your billable hours" or "get more exposure to your target clients"? These ambitions count as little more than wishes, because they're not concrete and measurable.
Posted by
Julie
Fleming on
2.6.09
in
Law Practice - Law Practice.
Working on a bar association committee or project is a good way to get leadership experience quickly. The reason is simple: because of the number and variety of bar associations (the ABA, state, city/county, area-of-practice, group affiliations, etc.) and the number and variety of sections and committees within each, leadership opportunities are numerous.
Posted by
Julie
Fleming on
2.6.09
in
Law Practice - Law Practice.
Your practice, your office, the personnel serving your clients - all of these are systems. Make a change in one area, and it’ll impact other areas as well. As a leader, it’s up to you to recognize the effects of your changes, both prospectively and retrospectively. Doing so will help you to anticipate and avoid problems and to design outcomes that positively impact a particular system.
Posted by
Julie
Fleming on
2.6.09
in
Law Practice - Law Practice.
A lawyer contacted me after switching to a new firm. Eager to make a great first impression and to make the most of the first six months, he asked what he should be sure to do. Here’s my non-exhaustive list.
Posted by
Julie
Fleming on
2.6.09
in
Law Practice - Law Practice.
How to become fully present? I recommend a quick centering exercise, which can be as simple as taking 3 or 4 slow, deep breaths. Bring all of your attention to the present activity, and if you find your attention wandering, breathe deeply again and bring it back. This level of focus will allow you to be more effective and less stressed.
Posted by
Julie
Fleming on
2.6.09
in
Law Practice - Law Practice.
We all fall into periods of overwhelm, frustration, malaise, boredom, and so on. Sometimes it’s a few minutes, and other times the feelings can last for weeks. Hitting the reset button is a simple technique I recommend. Every person I’ve ever talked with has something that serves as the human equivalent of Ctrl-Alt-Delete.
Posted by
Julie
Fleming on
2.6.09
in
Law Practice - Law Practice.
Over the next 45 days, 10 percent of firms will announce rate increases, and 10 percent will announce no change. The other 80 percent will wait and see. Clients will aggressively push back on the increases, and many might be rolled back, either explicitly or via discounting. Those 80 percent who’ll be watching from the sidelines will take their cue from the no-changers, leaving those making increases adrift on a fast-melting ice floe.
Posted by
Julie
Fleming on
1.23.09
in
Law Practice - Law Marketing.
Those who dislike the Obamas will likely find a prima donna attitude here, and those who like the Obamas will likely nod and agree that she was destined for much greater activities. Let’s set politics completely aside, though, and ask instead: What’s an ambitious young lawyer to do when dealing with work that appears to be unduly mundane?
Posted by
Julie
Fleming on
1.23.09
in
Law Practice - Law Practice.