If you are a young lawyer just embarking on your career, you still have a lot to learn. There are many things that only a few years of experience can teach you. However, there are a few mistakes that you can learn to avoid so that you won’t have to worry about your career stalling or failing to develop in the proper direction.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
As an attorney, you will naturally be expected to know quite a lot. And you will certainly be called upon often to answer questions. However, one of the biggest mistakes that young lawyers make is failing to ask as many questions as they should be. Part of this comes from pride or the pressure to appear as the most confident and knowledgeable person in the room.
However, you should never limit yourself to guessing what the correct answer is. This is especially true when there are plenty of knowledgeable and experienced peers and superiors that you can call upon to get the right answer. By learning to ask the right questions in the right setting, you will help build your communication skills. This will give you valuable credibility with both your partners and your potential clients.
Don’t Be Afraid to Interact with Your Partners
Another grave error that many young lawyers tend to make is the failure to interact with their partners in a productive manner. This can be especially problematic when it comes to failing to properly understand their assignments. It can also be an issue when a young lawyer begins to feel overwhelmed with responsibility or the complex logistics of a certain case.
The best thing a young lawyer can do in a situation like this is to speak with and get actionable advice from their partners. The sooner you do so, the sooner you can work the problem out and get back on the same page. The more questions you ask about your specific assignments, the easier it will be for you to comprehend and be a part of the big picture.
Communication is the Ultimate Key to Your Success
By now, you should be fully aware that improved communication is the real key to your future success. This means learning to communicate more often as well as more effectively with your clients, partners, and the general public. Part of your success will come through learning how to better market your practice so that you will have more fruitful opportunities to develop your communication skills.
Source: https://www.law360.com/articles/1183163/what-young-lawyers-are-getting-wrong