I wish I had known

I wish I had known…how to understand the people in a law firm (Part 1)

In my post last week, I talked about how your first year as an associate is quite intense, but before you know it you will acclimate and adjust…just like you did in your first year of law school.  I also discussed how that intensity is present, at least in part, as a result of adjusting to the expectations of others in your work environment.  This week, I will be discussing Part 1 of how understanding the expectations and goals of the...

I wish I had known…how to organize my contacts (part I)

Last week on “I wish I had known,” I introduced the concept of the all-inclusive “connectivity list.” This week I discuss the next step – organizing all those fabulous contacts! So last week I talked about my initial reluctance to put everyone I know on one list of my “network,” for fear that it would somehow taint my best relationships. Once I overcame the mindset that networking was about...

I wish I would have known…that your first year as an associate is a lot like your first year of law school

Last week I talked about how when we take time off as attorneys, it is often better to embrace the idea that taking time off can be effective as just a quick break instead of a long vacation.  This week, I want to talk about the intensity of that first year as an associate, and how it is actually a lot like the experience we had in our first year of law school. What I thought then: When I started working at law firm for the first...

I wish I had known…how to make my “connectivity list”

Last week on “I wish I had known” I revealed the game-changer that transformed my approach to networking. Today I uncover the next step in the process of developing a solid network, and discuss another mental roadblock that stood in my way. Last week I revealed the primary factor that helped me get started building my professional network: my own mindset. Once I began looking at the often intimidating task of...

I wish I had known…that taking time off is often more about what you really need than what you think you should want

Last week, I talked about how getting used to billing your time, as an integral part of law firm life, takes time and that it can be difficult to find time for that ever precious and often elusive “time off.” Today on “I wish I had known” I am discussing how taking time off from your work life may be more about what you really need than what you think you should want…and how that is actually okay. What I thought then: As I mentioned...

I wish I had known…the networking game-changer

Last week on “If I had known,” I discussed my personal evolution through viewing networking as intimidating and contrived, to embracing it as not only a necessary part of career building, but also one I can approach in my own way. This week I take it one step further and explain the networking game-changer that I discovered during this process. Remember this from last week’s post? “I was afraid that I just...