The Complete Lawyer

Law firms often wonder whether they should implement a mentoring program. I recommend against it. Mentoring programs usually start off with a bang and then fizzle, leaving younger lawyers dazed and confused, and at least a bit cynical. What does work, however, is to integrate good mentoring and coaching skills into the way your firm is managed. Aspects of this management style may superficially resemble a bolt-on “mentoring program,” but it is a very different approach. As a partner or shareholder, what ...

This is the first of a two-part article on coaching and mentoring. “What you do with your billable time is revenue. What you do with your non-billable time is your future.” - David Maister In The Odyssey, when Odysseus left for his journeys he entrusted the care, education, and guidance of his son Telemachus to Mentor, a loyal advisor and teacher. Today, mentoring in the legal profession allows more experienced attorneys to help less experienced attorneys grow in their profession. Coaching has become a ...

This article is from the March 2009 issue of Focus On: The Critical Importance Of Coaching And Mentoring For Today’s Lawyer. For the complete issue, visit the Focus On section. Young lawyers are often surprised to arrive at their first law firm job and learn they have no "boss." In a typical business environment, a new employee is assigned to a supervisor to whom he reports. The supervisor assigns him work, provides feedback on his performance, and is accountable for his ...

During uncertain times in the legal market, a law firm that wants to survive and thrive must stabilize its core and align all of its efforts with specific, identified long-term strategic goals. Professional Development (PD) is the perfect structural tool to achieve that stability and alignment. PD can equip associates with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to meet the challenges of the current economic climate. When firms cut professional development programs, they communicate a short-term, “every man for ...

Them that’s got, git Anonymous In his latest bestseller Outliers: The Story of Success (Little, Brown and Company, 2008), Malcolm Gladwell leans on the Biblical verse, “For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath” (Matthew 25:29). Malcolm calls this the “Matthew Effect.” During these difficult economic times, law firms need to wrap their minds around this concept if they are to retain quality ...

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For over two decades lawyers have recognized the need for formalized mentoring systems so that the wisdom and guidance of elder lawyers can be systematically imparted to younger lawyers. Mentoring is happening within law firms and through bar associations. Mentoring is great: it is emotionally and professionally supportive; it enhances integration, cultural diversity, and collegiality; it promotes the values of the profession; and it can lead to long-lasting, rewarding relationships. But mentoring is not coaching. At its core, mentoring is person- ...

Mission Statement: Suzi Pomerantz, MT, MCC is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed Master Certified executive coach, speaker, facilitator, and author specializing in leadership development and business development with Fortune 500 executives, attorneys, and entrepreneurs. She is a recognized leader in the advancement of the profession of coaching in organizations, serving on several international boards of directors and advisory boards. Ms. Pomerantz specializes in rainmaking coaching integrating sales, marketing, and networking. She helps attorneys to demystify the sales process and implement a systematic ...

Mentoring is a process by which a wise and helpful guide or advisor uses past experiences to show another person how to avoid mistakes and help advance that individual’s career. A good mentor is part role model, storyteller, empathic listener and cheerleader. Like all good relationships, a mentor relationship requires two committed individuals to ensure its success. Good mentors: Act as a sounding board to troubleshoot problems Advise and inspire Assist with practice management issues (i.e. billing, filing, conflicts checks, etc.) Provide feedback on work ...

Why do international lawyers hire coaches or seek mentors? Often, it’s to help them exceed their prior performance. Perhaps they want to develop more clients globally, make partner, get promoted, or become leaders within their law firms or field. Sometimes international lawyers work with coaches or mentors to help them with a career change or redirection—within or outside the law. This is especially true now during the global recession; lawyers are increasingly seeking career coaching when they lose—or anticipate losing—their ...

What determines whether a woman attorney in a law firm at the senior associate, of counsel or non-equity partner level will be promoted to shareholder? Is it technical competence? No—she would not have made it this far if she hadn’t already been judged capable of excellent legal work. Even a book of business is necessary but not sufficient (unless it approaches $2 million). Some successful business developers have not been promoted whereas others with less business “of their own” become ...

For over two decades lawyers have recognized the need for formalized mentoring systems so that the wisdom and guidance of elder lawyers can be systematically imparted to younger lawyers. Mentoring is happening within law firms and through bar associations. Mentoring is great: it is emotionally and professionally supportive; it enhances integration, cultural diversity, and collegiality; it promotes the values of the profession; and it can lead to long-lasting, rewarding relationships. But mentoring is not coaching. At its core, mentoring is person- ...

Young lawyers are often surprised to arrive at their first law firm job and learn they have no "boss." In a typical business environment, a new employee is assigned to a supervisor to whom he reports. The supervisor assigns him work, provides feedback on his performance, and is accountable for his productivity and growth within the company. In contrast, law firms rarely follow a vertical management structure; instead, they maintain a horizontal pattern resembling a collection of small law practices. ...

Coaching has become a buzzword in the last five years. Lawyers hire coaches to help with everything from business development and leadership to time management and life balance. Many law firms have jumped on the bandwagon as well, forming coaching committees designed to provide internal “coaching” for their lawyers. However, as coaching has become more popular and widely accepted, the lines between coaching and other disciplines have become blurred. When is a relationship between two individuals coaching, and when is ...

Delegation is an assumed competency for lawyers: if you were to ask any lawyer whether he is a good delegator, without much thought he would probably answer, "Yes," or at least, "I'm good enough." Given a little more thought, most attorneys can remember too many times when a delegated project has gone askew, revealing miscommunication, insufficient direction, or incomplete understanding of the project. These problems are often the consequence of less-than-stellar delegation skills. Delegating well pays immediate dividends through work product ...

Q: I feel as if I need a mentor if I am going to move forward with my career. How do I find one? A: First let’s talk about what a mentor is and then we can delve into how to find one. A mentor is a trusted counselor, someone who advises and guides you based on her own knowledge and experience. Typically, mentors are older than you are or have more experience. Because the mentor has already gone ...

"The people who get on in this world,” wrote George Bernard Shaw, “are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them.” This is good advice in a bad market, but not always easy to follow. Succeeding in troubled times isn’t really about luck, though we often talk about it that way; in fact, people who find opportunity and put themselves into positions to be “luckier” than some of their ...

The Complete Lawyer is the only website in the legal profession that focuses solely on the professionalism and quality of life and career issues that impact every lawyer’s success and satisfaction. Our contributors are practicing lawyers, innovative authors, veteran coaches and consultants who provide daily tools and insights that help lawyers succeed in their careers and lives as a whole. The site features more than 40 departments: FIRM & PRACTICE MANAGEMENT Alternative Dispute Resolution, Client Relations, Coaching & Mentoring, Diversity, Firm Management, ...

Mission Statement: Diane Costigan provides coaching, consulting and training to organizations and individuals who wish to enhance themselves and maximize their performance. Through her work with leading law firms, professional service organizations and other businesses, Diane helps attorneys and business people at all levels. Her clients are high potential, open-minded, creative individuals with an unlimited capacity for learning and growth. Diane's approach to her work centers around leveraging emotional intelligence-particularly self-awareness and self-assessment. How we choose to implement self-knowledge is at the ...

Mission Statement To deliver group seminars and provide counsel services to college and law students, practicing attorneys and other professionals on career development issues and job search strategies. I provide focus, support and motivation for people as they clarify their goals and develop action plans to achieve their work/life objectives. Services include: * administration of Highlands Abilities Battery and other self-assessment tools * career strategy development/goal setting * resume/cover letter preparation * market analysis and leads generation * development of a ...

Experience Professor of Law, Touro Law Center, Central Islip, New York (1991-present) Trustee, New York State Lawyer Assistance Trust (2007-present) SELECTED PUBLICATIONS: THE AFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL: PRACTICING LAW AS A HEALING PROFESSION (2007). The Professional Responsibility of Clinics: Emotional Competence, Multiculturalism & Ethics, 13 JOURNAL OF LAW AND MEDICINE 431 (2006). Commitment and Responsibility: Modeling and Teaching Professionalism Pervasively, 14 WIDENER L. REV. 329 (2005). SUBSTANCE ABUSE, STRESS, MENTAL HEALTH AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION: COURSE CURRICULUM, New York State Lawyers Assistance Trust (2004). Emotional Competence, Multicultural ...

Mission Statement: Shannon & Manch is a consulting firm dedicated to helping lawyers find success and satisfaction in the profession and assisting their employers in developing policies and practices that support lawyer development. In our firm's 24 years, we have worked with the majority of the Am Law 100 firms and their lawyers. Areas of expertise include recruiting, retention, training and development, mentoring, evaluation, career path management, outplacement, and leadership. Experience: As a consultant to legal employers, Ms. Manch has worked with law ...

The 2007 UPDATE on Associate Attrition—Findings from a National Study of Law Firm Associate Hiring and Departures is the seventh report on associate attrition and mobility in more than a decade-long series of research studies conducted by the NALP Foundation. The study offers firms the opportunity to participate in a survey that is designed to examine and measure attrition in a number of ways and to offer insight into often contemplated areas of associate hiring, development, and retention. Included in ...

Perhaps the first piece of advice for an associate is to be wary of advice, especially unsolicited advice. People like me want to be helpful, but the advice we give is only helpful if it suits you. With that in mind, see how the following ideas resonate (or not) with you. Be Yourself Many associates seek wholeheartedly to conform to the culture of their workplace. Wittingly or unwittingly, they take on a certain personality or style. Some, in a conscious effort to ...

Whether you practice at a global mega firm and handle international issues daily, or aspire to an international practice, associates working in today’s global economy must stay competitive. Here are some key strategies for thriving amidst globalization. Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley said, “The more we study, the more we discover our ignorance.” Not surprisingly, really successful lawyers distinguish themselves by ongoing learning. Rather than resting on their laurels, they continue to learn and grow. Absorbing new information, and using this data ...

On February 18, 2003, I became the country’s first Chief Diversity Officer at K & L (now K & L Gates), one of America’s Fortune 100 law firms. As a full-time management-level executive officer on diversity, I reported to the chairman of the management committee and attended all management meetings of the firm. The appointment was heralded by the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of PPG Industries, Inc., Jim Diggs as “groundbreaking.” The July/August 2003 Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s ...

Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody Can make it out here alone. - Maya Angelou You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. - Dale Carnegie As a new associate in a law firm, you’re undoubtedly trying to determine the most crucial survival rules. The message to meet your billable-hours requirements, triple-check your work and cultivate your legal skills are emblazoned in ...

As I walked through the corridors of a large law firm recently, I came upon a conference room strewn with boxes and papers, notebooks and standing file holders, dirty coffee mugs and pizza boxes. It had been a long time since I’d seen a document review room. I stopped for a moment and imagined the work that had been done in that room—mundane work, most likely—done by first- and second-year associates looking through boxes of documents, flagging those that met ...

Not too long ago, the folks who make Legos, the world-famous plastic building blocks, needed help revamping one of the company’s popular products. Instead of turning to in-house talent, they sent out a call to four avid adult customers. These self-professed Lego zealots worked on the development project for eleven months. Their compensation? A new set of Legos and the incredible satisfaction of being tapped for their insights and opinions about a product they love. This is just one of many ...