Your reputation in the law is important to your future success.  We are sharing seven considerations for you when thinking about the type of reputation you are looking to build.

1. Establish your expertise.
2. As a new attorney it is your job to learn your chosen practice.  You are not going to be an expert in those early years but that is okay.  As you learn others around you will notice your dedication and diligence.  This will help you build that reputation for expertise as to expand your knowledge.
3. Maintain professionalism.
4. Professionalism is vital to your reputation and that applies to anyone you interact with professionally.  Most attorneys interact with some of the same people on a regular basis so keep that in mind.  Examples include being punctual and respectful of others' time.  Be courteous and do not talk down to others.  People pay attention to how you treat them, as well as those around you so consider this as you decide how you want to present yourself and interact with others.
5. Demonstrate your work ethic.
6. Be responsive to inquiries.  Return phone calls and emails promptly.  Be consistent in your work so that clients and colleagues know that you are dependable.  
7. Practice your communication skills.
8. Consider ways to highlight your stronger skills but do not be shy to work on those skills that you are not as comfortable with to become a well rounded professional.
9. Network.
10. Networking is one of the best ways to build a strong legal career and it is absolutely tied in with your professional reputation.  
11. Engage with your local community.
12. Many attorneys are well known for their civic engagement.  What kind of work, committee or organization can you join and devote time to?  A natural place to look is something that fits within your practice area.
13. Create and maintain your online presence.
14. Craft a thoughtful bio for your firm’s website.  You can then use this bio to create an engaging profile for LinkedIn. LinkedIn can be a great place to hone your professional reputation to a wider audience.

A strong professional reputation takes time and effort.  But with a thoughtful plan and a commitment to excellence your reputation will help you achieve your goals.

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

This week we are addressing a common summer question for those of you entering law school this fall - what do I need for law school???

Physical Items:

1. Tech - a lightweight laptop is a necessity.  Many law students also opt for tablets for note taking, scheduling, planning, and more.

2. Noise cancelling headphones - these are a must to help you concentrate and get through long study sessions.

3. Portable charger - this will ensure that no matter where you are sitting in the library you are charged and ready to go.

4. Traditional back-to-school essentials - sticky notes, pens, and highlighters are a classic law school staple.

5. School bag - you should get something study and comfortable to carry around all of your essentials.

6. Study templates from our Etsy shop!  Use code LWLPOD for 15% your entire purchase.  

Things to consider as you begin law school:

1. Familiarize yourself with the curriculum by reviewing the structure, schedule, assignments, and required reading.

2. Develop strong reading and analytical skills.

3. Understand the Socratic method.

4. Create a study schedule.

5. Utilize your school’s available resources.

6. Build a strong network.

7. Improve your legal writing skills.

8. Stay organized and manage stress intentionally.

9. Embrace a growth mindset.

10. Remember your goals.

LWL Design Shop on Etsy use code LWLPOD for 15% off your purchase


Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

We are gearing up for a summer filled with vacations, day trips, and time spent with family and friends.  So, of course, we are considering how we can actually disconnect when we are out of the office, whether that is for an afternoon or for a week.  

As an attorney, it takes more than just popping up your out of office response on your email. Especially in a smaller firm, there may be files or tasks that you are the point of contact, decision maker and advisor.  To be able to disconnect when you are at the office, and truly have a physical and mental break, you need to plan. 

Here are ten easy steps to help you plan to disconnect.

1. Plan ahead.  To the extent you can, schedule this time out of the office in advance so that your staff, clients, and colleagues know that you will be unavailable and you can prepare your files accordingly.

2. Review your files to organize and prioritize your open matters.

3. Delegate.  Now that you have organized and prioritized your open matters, go through the tasks and decide what you can delegate to other staff members to get done before you plan to be away, or to work on while you are away.  Provide clear direction and as much information as you can, including relevant contact information for other involved colleagues, so that your staff is equipped to accomplish the work you have delegated to them.

4. Set realistic boundaries.  After you have reviewed and organized your matters, you should have a realistic idea of what could occur while you are away.

5. Schedule and automate tasks.  If there are any tasks that you routinely handle, schedule these beforehand.

6. Clear your inbox.  Now, inbox zero is a scenario most only dream of, but prior to setting your out of office message, make sure you have gone through your email and responded to any outstanding inquiries.

7. Inform Staff, Colleagues and Clients.  Of course your staff should be advised of your out of office plans, but if you are actively working on a matter, a quick email to a colleague and client advising that you will be out of the office helps to set the expectation that you will not be available so that an outstanding matter can be dealt with prior to your leaving.

8. Keep detailed notes.  You should be doing this as we work on files, but particularly before time out of the office, make sure that you have kept detailed notes so that staff will have all the information they may need to work on a file.

9. Take care of personal matters.  Put your mail on hold.  Make sure your passport is up to date.  Schedule your transportation to and from the airport.  Book the pet sitter.  Make your dinner reservations. Take steps now so that your time can be as stress free as possible while you are away.

10. Mentally disconnect.  This is the hardest of all the steps.  By empowering your staff and partners, you can give yourself permission to mentally disconnect knowing that they can handle the everyday questions or matters that may come up in your absence.  

Preparation and communication is key to making your time out of the office truly disconnected. 

LWL Design Shop on Etsy use code LWLPOD for 15% off your purchase


Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.