Transform your legal education into a successful and fulfilling legal career
In How to Be a Lawyer: The Path from Law School to Success, a team of veteran lawyers and entrepreneurs delivers an eye-opening discussion of how to translate your years of training and education into a running start in the world of practice. The book bridges the gap between law school and practice, whether you hope to be a big firm transactional attorney, a solo criminal lawyer, work for the government or any other legal profession. You'll discover how you can use what you learned in law school and how you can develop the real skills you'll need as you deal with clients and colleagues.
The authors explain what your professors won't tell you in law school and what employers and clients will actually expect from you. You'll also find:
Case studies and guest chapters describing the transition to major areas of law and how it can and should affect your law school decision making Expert advice on making your first job a successful one Guidance on how to avoid the most common career pitfalls and client mistakes Unfiltered opinions from clients about what they really think about lawyers
An ideal resource for aspiring and current law students and early career lawyers, How to Be a Lawyer is the practical blueprint you need to build your legal career from scratch.
By:
J Mendelson,
Alex Paul
Imprint: John Wiley & Sons Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: 4th Edition
Dimensions:
Height: 240mm,
Width: 157mm,
Spine: 23mm
Weight: 686g
ISBN: 9781119835813
ISBN 10: 111983581X
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 24 June 2022
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
About the Authors xv Acknowledgmentsxiii xv Why We Wrote This Book 1 Chapter 1 The Divide Between Law School and Lawyering 5 Chapter 2 The Core Concepts of Lawyering 11 Empathy 12 Listen First, Talk Second 16 Ask Questions 17 Always (Usually) Give Advice 18 Chapter 3 Understanding the Importance of Law School Rankings on Your Future 23 Chapter 4 Classic Coursework (What Is It Good For?) 27 Torts 28 Contracts 28 Civil Procedure 33 Property 33 Criminal Law 34 Constitutional Law 34 Legal Methods/Writing/Research 35 Evidence 36 Ethics and Professional Responsibility 36 Chapter 5 Choosing Proper Electives 39 Chapter 6 What Should You Get Out of Law School? 43 Chapter 7 Be a Fiduciary 45 Principle 1: Know If You're Acting as a Fiduciary and on Whose Behalf 46 Principle 2: Slow Down 49 Principle 3: Seek Advice and Help 50 Principle 4: Always Put Your Clients' Interests Ahead of Your Own 50 Chapter 8 A Short Primer on Negotiations 53 Negotiation Tactics 54 What Really Matters? 54 Preparing for the Negotiation 55 A Brief Introduction to Game Theory 57 Negotiating Win- Win Agreements 59 Negotiating Other Games 60 Negotiating Styles and Approaches 61 Collaborative Negotiation Versus Walk- Away Threats 65 Building Leverage and Getting to Yes 66 Chapter 9 Preparing for the Job Hunt 69 You on Paper 69 Social Media 70 Telling the Story 71 Networking into Employers 71 Mindset 72 Career Placement Services 72 Chapter 10 The Bar Exam 73 Chapter 11 You Got the Job- There Is No Time for Rest 75 Chapter 12 The Fourteen Commandments for New Lawyers (Okay, How about Strong Suggestions ?)7 1: Have a Learning Mindset 77 2: Rely On but Mistrust Forms 78 3: Beware of the Foggy Project Trap 79 4: Never Consider Anything That Goes to a Senior Colleague or Client to Be a Draft 79 5: Be More Organized Than Others 80 6: Take Ownership Without Request 81 7: Invest in Your Management Skills 81 8: Have a Three- to Five-Year Horizon 82 9: Plan to Develop Near- Term and Long- Term Advantages 83 10: Understand How to Best Use and Foster Mentor Relationships 85 11: Flatten Hierarchies 86 12: Own Your Mistakes 88 13: Know What a Junior Lawyer's Value Is 88 14: Keep Your Own List 88 Bonus Commandment for Those Working with Contracts! 88 Chapter 13 Common Mistakes New Lawyers Make That Limit Careers and Anger Clients 89 Chapter 14 Relationships, Difficult Personalities, and Being the Calmest Person in the Room 95 Forgetting You Are in the Services Industry 89 Getting Frustrated and Thinking People Are Idiots 89 Having Loose Lips 90 Assuming Each State Has the Same Laws 90 Treating Administrative Staff Poorly 90 Having a Sexual Relationship at Work 91 Being Inconsiderate of Others' Calendars 91 Forgetting You Are the Leverage 91 Forgetting Who the Client Is 92 Assuming Other Lawyers Are Good People 92 Shortchanging Research 93 Failing to Understand Basic Intellectual Property Law 93 Talking to Another Attorney's Client Without the Attorney 93 Screwing Up Billing (If You Bill Clients by the Hour) 93 Challenging Personalities 96 The Lawyer's Job When It Comes to Challenging Personalities 98 General Approaches to Managing Challenging Personalities 99 Sampling of Challenging Personalities and Tips for Dealing with Them 103 Parting Thoughts 112 Chapter 15 Understanding Current Technology 115 Chapter 16 Words from the Wise 117 Guest Chapter 1: Lynne Davis 120 Guest Chapter 2: Phil Weiser 126 Guest Chapter 3: Kenzo Kawanabe 130 Guest Chapter 4: Rachel Proffitt 138 Guest Chapter 5: Matt Baca 145 Guest Chapter 6: Kimberly R. Willoughby 151 Guest Chapter 7: Brad Bernthal 158 Guest Chapter 8: Jolene A. Yee 164 Guest Chapter 9: Gregory Mann 174 Guest Chapter 10: Nicole Day 181 Guest Chapter 11: Lindsey Beran 187 Guest Chapter 12: Robyn T. Williams 192 Guest Chapter 13: Alfred Levitt 201 Guest Chapter 14: Nicholas Troxel and Josh Fitch 207 Guest Chapter 15: Emily Galvin Almanza 219 Guest Chapter 16: Jennifer R. Zimmerman 228 Guest Chapter 17: Margot S. Edwards 236 Guest Chapter 18: Jason M. Lynch 241 Guest Chapter 19: Randy Klein 245 Guest Chapter 20: Stacy Carter 253 Guest Chapter 21: Nikki Stitt Sokol 259 Guest Chapter 22: Ryan Day 264 Guest Chapter 23: Tyrone Glover 269 Guest Chapter 24: William E. Foster 275 Chapter 17 What Clients Want 283 What Clients Liked 284 What Clients Didn't Like 286 Chapter 18 Law School as a Second Career 289 Entrance into Law School 289 Getting a Job 291 Chapter 19 How to Be a Happy Lawyer 293 Have an Identity Outside of Being a Lawyer 294 Take Pride in Your Work and the Impact It Has on Others 294 Keep a Continually Learning Mindset 295 Don't Get Too Wrapped Up in Your Work 295 Manage Your Stress 295 Watch Your Drug Consumption 296 Never Compromise Your Value System 297 Don't Forget to Laugh and Celebrate the Wins 297 Internalize the Losses, But Don't Dwell on Them 298 Work with Clients You Really Like 298 Have a Great Surrounding Team 298 Set Boundaries for Your Personal Life 298 What to Do When You Are Not Happy 299 Chapter 20 What If You Don't Want to Be a Lawyer Anymore? 301 Chapter 21 Let's Sum Up 305 Index 307
JASON MENDELSON, JD, is a lawyer, entrepreneur, startup founder, venture capitalist, software engineer, criminal justice reformer and musician. He was an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Law School for over a decade. ALEX PAUL, JD, is a lawyer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He co-founded Giving Place, an online philanthropy platform, as well as Wealthgate Trust Company and Family Office.
