A Lawyer Walks into a Bar

Probably the best story I have about getting a client took place several years ago. A publisher solicited some of her colleagues; she was looking for a freelance writer and editor. My name turned up on two lists, and that’s how easily I got the gig. So how do you make sure your name turns up on someone’s short list? Or on the short lists of several people?

Stay in touch. I send handwritten notes and memorable Christmas cards. I share information even if there’s no direct benefit to me. Little, professional, “thinking of you,” “thought you might be interested” bits of correspondence go a long way toward keeping your name on someone’s mind. Sometimes these efforts generate goodwill in untold ways.

Bar associations are another viable venue for staying in touch and for meeting new people. There seemingly is a bar association for every possible interest: city bars, county bars, state bars, women’s bars, black lawyers’ bars, Italian-Americans’ bars, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender bars. Some also admit nonlawyers or allow them to attend bar functions. Find a bar that suits you, and make a go of it: attend a talk, go to a luncheon, participate in a volunteer activity. When you get there, actually talk to someone. Remember that many people are uncomfortable. Don’t cling to the people you know. Meet new ones. Chat about more than work, the law, the weather. Help others feel at ease. Ask for business cards. Then stay in touch.

Team Mary, Team Bobby, Teammate

The May suicide by hanging of Mary Richardson Kennedy, estranged wife of environmental attorney Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has been distracting me all week. The family lives in my area. I met Mary several times years ago. She seemed like a sweet soul. I interviewed RFK Jr. for a publication. He seemed committed to his cause. This was a prominent couple, one half of which had a prominent career and a prominent name. Things happened, time passed, they grew apart, and she pursued a very sad path.

Being involved in the publishing industry, and living in a small town, I’d heard the gossip. Their history is a reminder for any lawyer with a big career: Whether and to what extent does a big-dog lawyer want to create and maintain a satisfying home life? Should a cheerleader/caretaker life partner be selected, or someone with an equally prominent position? Either choice poses hazards: one spouse can be stuck at home while the other forges ahead; or both partners are gone every day while nannies tend the children. Finding the right balance is difficult even if one partner doesn’t have a great job. But Mary Kennedy’s suicide reminds us all to work as hard on our home lives as we do in our offices. Make use of down time. If a significant other is struggling, pay attention. Ratcheting back a big law career a notch or two might yield more satisfaction and a better life in the long run.

Why Sustainability Needs to Be on Every Lawyer's Radar

Sustainability--the notion that we need to leave the Earth in a better place than we found it, and not deplete nonrenewable natural resources while we are here--is something lawyers no longer can afford to ignore. See my coverage of this topic in the May Of Counsel.

No Need to Re-Create that Wheel

I was a first-year associate before discovering forms and templates. They might have been covered in legal research and writing, but I was probably too busy figuring out Lexis to have paid much attention. Don’t make my mistake. At the very least, a good template can be a starting point to a better conversation about how a given document should be strengthened.  I myself own some fairly pricey books featuring sample law firm policies, but check out the free social media policy template here. Happy surfing!

Make an Opportunity Out of Bad News

Big Law has not exactly endorsed the blogosphere, according to this report in the National Law Journal on how few major law firms have lawyers who blog. Initially, all I could think was an exasperated Really? But there’s opportunity there for everyone in a firm. Whether you are a paralegal, an associate, a partner, a marketer, suggest a blog. Make a business case for it. Offer to write it. Seize some initiative. Then track the results.

Mega Firms Are Not Too Big to Fail

The implosion of Dewey & LeBoeuf (“Sources Say Dewey toClose Doors May 15 If Not Before,” reports AmLawDaily) is a cogent reminder to rainmakers, bread-and-butter partners, counsel, senior associates, junior associates, clueless associates, summer associates, and staff that no matter how comfortable you might be, the end might be near. It’s tempting to coast a bit when the surroundings are cushy. But in today’s economy, no one can really afford to do that. Keep that resumé polished and those contacts updated. Remember to look over your shoulder, no matter where you are. Don’t let your firm’s faltering financial situation set your career back.