What attributes other than legal skills do new lawyers need to be successful?
A recent article in the National Law Journal lists some of these intangible skills. They include:
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Time Management - Everything takes longer than expected. Good lawyers give themselves extra time in case things go wrong. Good lawyers are prepared for messengers to get stuck in traffic, trains and planes to get delayed, and computers to malfunction. Developing good time management skills is especially important when juggling multiple assignments for multiple clients.
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Personal Reputation - A lawyer’s reputation is his or her greatest asset. A technically skilled lawyer can fail to flourish if he or she earns a reputation for sloppiness, tardiness, laziness, rudeness, arrogance, pretentiousness, dishonesty, unfairness, or cattiness, even if his or her legal analysis is high quality.
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Enterprise - Lawyers are hired to solve problems. It’s a mistake for young lawyers to say that they can’t do something because they don’t know how to use a certain computer program or aren’t familiar with the subject area. Learning how to do unfamiliar tasks and researching new subjects are part of the job.
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Knowledge of Current Events - Big law firms’ most successful rainmakers can carry on a conversation with anyone about anything. Reading the front section and business section, at a minimum, of one local and one national newspaper every day, in addition to at least one general interest publication, helps lawyers discuss cultural issues of the day with colleagues and clients.
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Diligence - The most effective new lawyers turn in completed work product, not drafts. Proofreading is critical. Running spellcheck is not a substitute for proofreading. Proper grammar is not a matter of "style." And no assignment in a law firm is beneath anyone.
For more, go to the full article.
