Page 160 - MASTER COPY LEADERS BOOK 9editedJKK (24)_Neat
P. 160
Leaders in Legal Business
how to generate business. This became increasingly important to me as I grew more involved in the
management of my firm.
It seems like nothing has changed. While younger associates in our office sometimes come to me
with their questions, I still seek the advice of some of the same lawyers on whom I relied more than two
decades ago. Every day I also rely on the advice and guidance of the many professionals whom I have
befriended through the various legal organizations.
In today’s challenging legal environment, many new lawyers do not have this luxury. They have to
start their own firms not because they want to be solo practitioners, but because they have no other choice.
It is hard enough starting out as a new lawyer; looking back, I cannot imagine also starting out as a new
small business owner.
Although my legal education was terrific, one thing was lacking: business education. Law school
did not teach me or other graduating attorneys how to start a new business, and for the most part, not even
how to practice law. If you are a new lawyer and facing the challenge of becoming a solo practitioner, there
are many resources to help get you started. In fact, most everything you need can be found within your local
and state bar entities, and also the American Bar Association.
Find a Mentor
Almost every local and state bar association and every section, division, and forum of the ABA has
a mentoring program available to its members. If you aren’t sure if your association does, ask. There are
professional staff members who work for nearly every bar association, and they can point you in the right
direction. Finding the right person to be able to answer your questions is a must. Remember, someone has
traveled your road before and would be glad to help, even (and sometimes especially) if you are a solo
practitioner. Mentors are so much more than an older lawyer giving you advice, and they are an e-mail or
phone call away. A good mentor can give you advice on taking depositions; provide a copy of a pleading
or form; or teach you how to deal with a difficult client or situation. The key is developing these
relationships. Part of this is making sure you belong to the right organizations and not just belonging, but
also being an active participant.
Get Involved
Often, attorneys make the tempting mistake of joining an organization just to list it on their resume
or website. How much business do you think you are going to get from doing this? If you are not going to
get involved in an organization, then don’t waste your money. No relationships will be developed just by
mailing in a dues check.
Ideally, joining a bar association or other similar professional development group should bring you
as much benefit as you pay in dues — and much more. By being active participant, you ensure that when it
comes time to renew, you can see the value in paying for that membership in new business generated.
Start small by simply attending meetings and events. Go to a few meetings and make it a regular part of
your schedule before jumping onto committees or volunteering for a leadership role. Spend some time
getting to know the organization’s structure and learning who the true stars are in the groups. Volunteer for
committees or activities that you see are well run and highly organized already. Those activities will be the
easiest and most enjoyable. In time you’ll find other ways that you can make a stronger impact by taking
on bigger tasks such as restructuring a section or division, which I helped undertake a few years ago for the
ABA. It was completely worth my time and energy, and I’m very happy I did it, but it wasn’t the first thing
I took on for the ABA. I attended conferences, watched, and learned, and then I decided what issues really
mattered to me and spent my energy there. You can’t do it all. Don’t try.
One very simple way to learn more about the bar group you’re joining is by signing up for its
listserv and becoming an active contributor. Not only are you contributing information, but you are also
153
how to generate business. This became increasingly important to me as I grew more involved in the
management of my firm.
It seems like nothing has changed. While younger associates in our office sometimes come to me
with their questions, I still seek the advice of some of the same lawyers on whom I relied more than two
decades ago. Every day I also rely on the advice and guidance of the many professionals whom I have
befriended through the various legal organizations.
In today’s challenging legal environment, many new lawyers do not have this luxury. They have to
start their own firms not because they want to be solo practitioners, but because they have no other choice.
It is hard enough starting out as a new lawyer; looking back, I cannot imagine also starting out as a new
small business owner.
Although my legal education was terrific, one thing was lacking: business education. Law school
did not teach me or other graduating attorneys how to start a new business, and for the most part, not even
how to practice law. If you are a new lawyer and facing the challenge of becoming a solo practitioner, there
are many resources to help get you started. In fact, most everything you need can be found within your local
and state bar entities, and also the American Bar Association.
Find a Mentor
Almost every local and state bar association and every section, division, and forum of the ABA has
a mentoring program available to its members. If you aren’t sure if your association does, ask. There are
professional staff members who work for nearly every bar association, and they can point you in the right
direction. Finding the right person to be able to answer your questions is a must. Remember, someone has
traveled your road before and would be glad to help, even (and sometimes especially) if you are a solo
practitioner. Mentors are so much more than an older lawyer giving you advice, and they are an e-mail or
phone call away. A good mentor can give you advice on taking depositions; provide a copy of a pleading
or form; or teach you how to deal with a difficult client or situation. The key is developing these
relationships. Part of this is making sure you belong to the right organizations and not just belonging, but
also being an active participant.
Get Involved
Often, attorneys make the tempting mistake of joining an organization just to list it on their resume
or website. How much business do you think you are going to get from doing this? If you are not going to
get involved in an organization, then don’t waste your money. No relationships will be developed just by
mailing in a dues check.
Ideally, joining a bar association or other similar professional development group should bring you
as much benefit as you pay in dues — and much more. By being active participant, you ensure that when it
comes time to renew, you can see the value in paying for that membership in new business generated.
Start small by simply attending meetings and events. Go to a few meetings and make it a regular part of
your schedule before jumping onto committees or volunteering for a leadership role. Spend some time
getting to know the organization’s structure and learning who the true stars are in the groups. Volunteer for
committees or activities that you see are well run and highly organized already. Those activities will be the
easiest and most enjoyable. In time you’ll find other ways that you can make a stronger impact by taking
on bigger tasks such as restructuring a section or division, which I helped undertake a few years ago for the
ABA. It was completely worth my time and energy, and I’m very happy I did it, but it wasn’t the first thing
I took on for the ABA. I attended conferences, watched, and learned, and then I decided what issues really
mattered to me and spent my energy there. You can’t do it all. Don’t try.
One very simple way to learn more about the bar group you’re joining is by signing up for its
listserv and becoming an active contributor. Not only are you contributing information, but you are also
153
