7 Pieces of Advice for Incoming First Year Law Associate

Last year, I wrote a post for the incoming first year law associates that got a lot of attention, so I wanted to provide an update a year later (and wiser).

The beginning of your legal career can be both exciting and overwhelming. After practicing for several years now, I’ve picked up a few lessons along the way that helped me navigate the complexities of law firm life. Here are some tips that might help you hit the ground running:

🔢 Prioritize Your Tasks Religiously. You’ll receive assignments from multiple attorneys, often all at once. Make a prioritized list of tasks, and continually update it to manage your workload efficiently. Use tools like digital planners or a notebook — whatever keeps you most well-organized.

📅 Master Your Calendar. Deadlines are non-negotiable in this profession. Missing one could impact a client relationship or a partner’s trust in your work product. Develop a habit of immediately adding deadlines to your calendar, with reminders set in advance. You should always try to add in buffer time to allow for unexpected last-minute issues.

🗒 Take Comprehensive Notes. Whether in meetings, calls, or while reviewing documents, take detailed notes. These notes are invaluable when you need to recall specifics or provide updates. Keep them organized in a way that works for you — an indexed notebook, digital notes, or both.

👨‍💻 👩‍💻 Leverage Face Time Wisely. With many firms encouraging office presence, use this to build relationships and ask questions in person. In-person interactions with partners and senior associates can clarify questions quickly and help you build rapport and credibility.

🧓 👴 👵 Cultivate Multiple Mentors. No single person has all the answers. Seek feedback from various colleagues, especially when making career choices like joining a specific group or taking on new responsibilities. A range of perspectives will help you make informed decisions, and you should seek to “average” multiple inputs from your mentors before making decisions.

📃 Build Your Precedent Library Early. Save exemplary documents, agreements, or correspondence you encounter. A well-maintained precedent library can save you hours of work in the future and enhance the quality of your drafts. Organization here is key.

🔊 Communicate Proactively and Often. Never assume that others know your workload or upcoming commitments. Keep supervisors informed about your availability, workload capacity, and any concerns you have about deadlines or assignments. Effective communication prevents misunderstandings and sets you up for success.

Entering a law firm is just the start of an incredible journey. Stay focused, be proactive, and remember that learning and adapting is a continuous process.

Other attorneys in my network, please feel free to add your own tips or experiences in the comments!

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