July's issue of Law Practice Today is phenomenal! If you're not a subscriber, you need to be. Each month's webzine features very useful articles about managing and maintaining a successful legal practice.
July's issues is geared toward those attorneys who are "suddenly solo" because of layoffs. I think law graduates fall into one of two categories: solo/small firm bound (and knew it from day 1), or BigLaw bound (or at least aspiring to such). In my case, I fell into the former category.
My story is probably quite similar to a lot of people. I didn't have a particularly good law school experience, and basically after my first year had decided I was not going to work in any sort of capacity.
During my first summer, I took a legal aid-type job (because everything else was taken and I couldn't get a "law" job) with a small firm specializing in Indian law. That experience changed my life, and I knew at the end of that summer I wanted to be an attorney, albeit, not one of those "stuffy" ones I saw at school or downtown.
I began quickly by assessing my options and formulating my practice plans. Based on my experience, I knew the real action was as a solo or small firm practitioner, thus I slurped up everything I could on the subjects. I joined list-serves, practice management associations/groups, and talked to other attorneys. After all my preparations,I felt I was ready, and I made the leap.
I think the key to my success thus far has been my preparations. I may not know everything (which I freely admit), but I know how and where to find the information. I know this partly because of experience (being thrown into the oven helps one to quickly learn), but because my "Practice Preparation Plan"demands it.
My PPP is a simple statement, one-page in length, that discusses the question, "what would I do if I suddenly lost my job." I created the page because I knew/know that I serve at the will of those around me. It's not secure enough to trust that because I have a law degree, I'll guarantee myself a job. Quite simply, the cliche about death and taxes is the one secure point.
The essence of the PPP is to answer the question and lay a simple ground work for landing a new job (increasingly more difficult in this economy) or venturing on your own (more of an option). There's no magical formula or design template, because it's based on your wants, desires, and goals. However, it should be pin-point focused, offering suggestions that will motivate your broken spirit, develop your drive to rebuild, and give you answers to fundamental questions. Mine happens to have a significant statement about my overall goals and dreams: "I want to spend more time with my family than the office, therefore I will leave the office no later than 5 p.m." Of course, this gets broken every few months, but it's a general statement about my philosphy, and a reminder that some things are more important than my work.
What I knew I needed when I finished my 1st year, is something I believe every attorney must have, regardless and in spite of your present security. The skills you've acquired during your studies and career are meaningless if you can't put them to use. This is the essence of the July webzine. If you're not practicing with your own PPP, I'd encourage you to create one now.
July's issues is geared toward those attorneys who are "suddenly solo" because of layoffs. I think law graduates fall into one of two categories: solo/small firm bound (and knew it from day 1), or BigLaw bound (or at least aspiring to such). In my case, I fell into the former category.
My story is probably quite similar to a lot of people. I didn't have a particularly good law school experience, and basically after my first year had decided I was not going to work in any sort of capacity.
During my first summer, I took a legal aid-type job (because everything else was taken and I couldn't get a "law" job) with a small firm specializing in Indian law. That experience changed my life, and I knew at the end of that summer I wanted to be an attorney, albeit, not one of those "stuffy" ones I saw at school or downtown.
I began quickly by assessing my options and formulating my practice plans. Based on my experience, I knew the real action was as a solo or small firm practitioner, thus I slurped up everything I could on the subjects. I joined list-serves, practice management associations/groups, and talked to other attorneys. After all my preparations,I felt I was ready, and I made the leap.
I think the key to my success thus far has been my preparations. I may not know everything (which I freely admit), but I know how and where to find the information. I know this partly because of experience (being thrown into the oven helps one to quickly learn), but because my "Practice Preparation Plan"demands it.
My PPP is a simple statement, one-page in length, that discusses the question, "what would I do if I suddenly lost my job." I created the page because I knew/know that I serve at the will of those around me. It's not secure enough to trust that because I have a law degree, I'll guarantee myself a job. Quite simply, the cliche about death and taxes is the one secure point.
The essence of the PPP is to answer the question and lay a simple ground work for landing a new job (increasingly more difficult in this economy) or venturing on your own (more of an option). There's no magical formula or design template, because it's based on your wants, desires, and goals. However, it should be pin-point focused, offering suggestions that will motivate your broken spirit, develop your drive to rebuild, and give you answers to fundamental questions. Mine happens to have a significant statement about my overall goals and dreams: "I want to spend more time with my family than the office, therefore I will leave the office no later than 5 p.m." Of course, this gets broken every few months, but it's a general statement about my philosphy, and a reminder that some things are more important than my work.
What I knew I needed when I finished my 1st year, is something I believe every attorney must have, regardless and in spite of your present security. The skills you've acquired during your studies and career are meaningless if you can't put them to use. This is the essence of the July webzine. If you're not practicing with your own PPP, I'd encourage you to create one now.
No comments:
Post a Comment