Time Flies: Hard-Learned Lessons Since 2009
By Ashleigh Rollins
Ashleigh Rollins is an associate in the San Diego office of Lozano Smith. She represents school districts in the areas of labor and employment, students, special education and charter schools.
Originally published in the Fall 2013 American Bar Association, Women in the Profession Newsletter.
I started to write this article a couple different times. I tried to come up with arguments and give overarching sage advice. I realized during my attempts that I was fraudulently making conclusions that could not be fully supported at this relatively early stage of my career. I do not pretend to know all the answers in just my fourth year of practice. After scrapping my previous attempts, I decided to do what I do best (no, not lawyering): be honest. Here are some lessons I have learned since I began practicing that will hopefully serve you well:
1. Do not be short-sighted. This is a career, not a job. We all did the extra work to finish school and pass the bar. It would have been a lot easier to get a job and shut it off at 5:00 p.m. everyday not to return until 9:00 a.m. the next morning. That is not what you chose. You chose a way of thinking and a way of life. Your legal career demands more of you; act accordingly. Invest in your career, and it will pay dividends.
2. Be intentional and choose your practice area wisely. Some newer attorneys might have laughed at this heading and the idea that any of us have the privilege of "choosing" a practice area. When I passed the bar at the end of 2009, it was not exactly a recent-admittee's job market. However, as you gain experience, you will have more opportunities. Think about where you want to go and how you can get there. Think about what you want out of a practice area and research different practice areas by reaching out to more experienced attorneys. That is a great way to learn new things, make contacts and perhaps eventually make a move. If economic realities require you to take a "job" that is not your chosen practice area, embrace your current situation, learn as much as you can and build relationships with colleagues and mentors. Identify transferable skills that you can develop and use in the future.
My current law firm principally represents school districts. I have found education law to be an amazing practice area, particularly for women attorneys. My firm actually has a slight majority of women. My firm's slow and busy seasons correspond with the school year, so many attorneys who are parents can easily take vacation when their kids are out of school. I enjoy a supportive working environment where we are treated like human beings instead of billable hour machines. It is widely known, understood and respected that we have families and lives outside of work.
3. The career path is not a straight line. Embrace the crooked road. I am very fortunate to be in a great practice area at a great firm. However, I did not waltz into this job directly out of law school, and young lawyers should not expect to obtain their dream job right out of school either. For most of us, the career path is not a straight line. The good news is that you can end up where you want to be if you work hard, persevere and intentionally move towards your preferred practice area. Embrace whatever road you travel and know that every bump is a learning experience.
4. Be tough. Though it may be difficult to believe, you may experience some gender inequality in your practice. You may feel like opposing counsel is condescending or judges do not respect you as much as the male attorneys. Be tough and get over it. It is not about you. We have a job to do and clients to protect.
Exude confidence. As new attorneys, we usually do not feel confident because we may not know what we are doing most of the time. Exude confidence anyway. This is particularly important for new women attorneys dealing with some of the issues identified in #4. Exuding confidence will reassure your client, create respect, and actually make you feel more at ease.
Find your own trick to help you put forth confidence and use it to your advantage. I am over 5'10" and I always wear high heels when interacting with
opposing counsel. I know my height has an effect because almost every attorney I have ever opposed has asked me about my height. I always smile to myself and stand a little taller when I respond.
5. Do not worry about what others can do for you. Do things for others first. As young lawyers, we have to worry about building a practice (meaning a client base) and building a professional reputation (in the community, at the courthouse, and among other attorneys). Doing things for others will help you in both areas by building a network of relationships. Develop a reputation for being available, responsive and invested in your firm and your community.
The corollary to this rule is: do not keep score. With all this "doing for others," it is very tempting to keep score and expect something in return. Do not do that. Keep doing what you know is right by helping others, even if you do not immediately receive anything in return.
6. Build as many relationships as possible. Many times events and mixers can be intimidating, particularly when you are first starting out and do not know anyone. This is not high school. Say hi to everyone. Get to know everyone. If this is difficult for you, volunteer for a project or a position that will force you to work with and get to know others. It will get easier with time and practice. When your contacts call on you, always respond quickly and positively.
7. Gain as much experience as you can. I recall, shortly after passing the bar, telling a partner of my law firm that I was "barely" a lawyer. He responded that I was as much of a lawyer at that moment as I would ever be. (This is also the partner who brought me the line, "You are a fish. You have to swim.") Even though we are new, we better act like the licensed attorneys that we are. Do not cower in your back office researching all day. Talk to the partners and other associates. Volunteer for assignments. Come up with assignments to move cases forward and discuss them with the partners. Take the initiative and show that you are willing to step outside your comfort zone. Almost everything is going to be uncomfortable at first, but you will be better for it.
8. Never burn bridges. New lawyers commonly switch firms. If you switch firms, do not burn bridges with your former bosses or co-workers. You do not need to disclose every little hurt on your way out the door. Be grateful for your time at that firm, the experience you gained, the
opportunities you had, and move on. Even if you are not treated completely professionally when you leave a firm, stay on the high road. You never know when or where you might run into a former co-worker or boss.
9. The state bar requires substance abuse training for a reason. Stay healthy. I remember laughing during law school about a flyer for a lunchtime presentation reading "Which bar is life leading you to?" with pictures of the justice scales and beer bottles. After practicing for a few years, that flyer is less funny. Being an attorney, and especially being a new attorney, can be incredibly stressful. Undoubtedly things are not always going to go your way. Get used to it. If you want to make this career last, you need to find healthy ways to deal with stress. Pretending that you are not stressed is not a solution.
All of my lessons have something in common: they contemplate the long game. As lawyers, we commonly have to think of the long-term consequences of short-term actions. We should treat our careers with the same careful consideration. Although my suggestions might not always be the most fun or the easiest to accomplish, you will not regret that you engaged in any of them. At our early stage, we need to open as many doors as possible. Play the long game because we are in it for the long haul.
Ashleigh Rollins is an associate in the San Diego office of Lozano Smith. She represents school districts in the areas of labor and employment, students, special education and charter schools.
Originally published in the Fall 2013 American Bar Association, Women in the Profession Newsletter.
I started to write this article a couple different times. I tried to come up with arguments and give overarching sage advice. I realized during my attempts that I was fraudulently making conclusions that could not be fully supported at this relatively early stage of my career. I do not pretend to know all the answers in just my fourth year of practice. After scrapping my previous attempts, I decided to do what I do best (no, not lawyering): be honest. Here are some lessons I have learned since I began practicing that will hopefully serve you well:
1. Do not be short-sighted. This is a career, not a job. We all did the extra work to finish school and pass the bar. It would have been a lot easier to get a job and shut it off at 5:00 p.m. everyday not to return until 9:00 a.m. the next morning. That is not what you chose. You chose a way of thinking and a way of life. Your legal career demands more of you; act accordingly. Invest in your career, and it will pay dividends.
2. Be intentional and choose your practice area wisely. Some newer attorneys might have laughed at this heading and the idea that any of us have the privilege of "choosing" a practice area. When I passed the bar at the end of 2009, it was not exactly a recent-admittee's job market. However, as you gain experience, you will have more opportunities. Think about where you want to go and how you can get there. Think about what you want out of a practice area and research different practice areas by reaching out to more experienced attorneys. That is a great way to learn new things, make contacts and perhaps eventually make a move. If economic realities require you to take a "job" that is not your chosen practice area, embrace your current situation, learn as much as you can and build relationships with colleagues and mentors. Identify transferable skills that you can develop and use in the future.
My current law firm principally represents school districts. I have found education law to be an amazing practice area, particularly for women attorneys. My firm actually has a slight majority of women. My firm's slow and busy seasons correspond with the school year, so many attorneys who are parents can easily take vacation when their kids are out of school. I enjoy a supportive working environment where we are treated like human beings instead of billable hour machines. It is widely known, understood and respected that we have families and lives outside of work.
3. The career path is not a straight line. Embrace the crooked road. I am very fortunate to be in a great practice area at a great firm. However, I did not waltz into this job directly out of law school, and young lawyers should not expect to obtain their dream job right out of school either. For most of us, the career path is not a straight line. The good news is that you can end up where you want to be if you work hard, persevere and intentionally move towards your preferred practice area. Embrace whatever road you travel and know that every bump is a learning experience.
4. Be tough. Though it may be difficult to believe, you may experience some gender inequality in your practice. You may feel like opposing counsel is condescending or judges do not respect you as much as the male attorneys. Be tough and get over it. It is not about you. We have a job to do and clients to protect.
Exude confidence. As new attorneys, we usually do not feel confident because we may not know what we are doing most of the time. Exude confidence anyway. This is particularly important for new women attorneys dealing with some of the issues identified in #4. Exuding confidence will reassure your client, create respect, and actually make you feel more at ease.
Find your own trick to help you put forth confidence and use it to your advantage. I am over 5'10" and I always wear high heels when interacting with
opposing counsel. I know my height has an effect because almost every attorney I have ever opposed has asked me about my height. I always smile to myself and stand a little taller when I respond.
5. Do not worry about what others can do for you. Do things for others first. As young lawyers, we have to worry about building a practice (meaning a client base) and building a professional reputation (in the community, at the courthouse, and among other attorneys). Doing things for others will help you in both areas by building a network of relationships. Develop a reputation for being available, responsive and invested in your firm and your community.
The corollary to this rule is: do not keep score. With all this "doing for others," it is very tempting to keep score and expect something in return. Do not do that. Keep doing what you know is right by helping others, even if you do not immediately receive anything in return.
6. Build as many relationships as possible. Many times events and mixers can be intimidating, particularly when you are first starting out and do not know anyone. This is not high school. Say hi to everyone. Get to know everyone. If this is difficult for you, volunteer for a project or a position that will force you to work with and get to know others. It will get easier with time and practice. When your contacts call on you, always respond quickly and positively.
7. Gain as much experience as you can. I recall, shortly after passing the bar, telling a partner of my law firm that I was "barely" a lawyer. He responded that I was as much of a lawyer at that moment as I would ever be. (This is also the partner who brought me the line, "You are a fish. You have to swim.") Even though we are new, we better act like the licensed attorneys that we are. Do not cower in your back office researching all day. Talk to the partners and other associates. Volunteer for assignments. Come up with assignments to move cases forward and discuss them with the partners. Take the initiative and show that you are willing to step outside your comfort zone. Almost everything is going to be uncomfortable at first, but you will be better for it.
8. Never burn bridges. New lawyers commonly switch firms. If you switch firms, do not burn bridges with your former bosses or co-workers. You do not need to disclose every little hurt on your way out the door. Be grateful for your time at that firm, the experience you gained, the
opportunities you had, and move on. Even if you are not treated completely professionally when you leave a firm, stay on the high road. You never know when or where you might run into a former co-worker or boss.
9. The state bar requires substance abuse training for a reason. Stay healthy. I remember laughing during law school about a flyer for a lunchtime presentation reading "Which bar is life leading you to?" with pictures of the justice scales and beer bottles. After practicing for a few years, that flyer is less funny. Being an attorney, and especially being a new attorney, can be incredibly stressful. Undoubtedly things are not always going to go your way. Get used to it. If you want to make this career last, you need to find healthy ways to deal with stress. Pretending that you are not stressed is not a solution.
All of my lessons have something in common: they contemplate the long game. As lawyers, we commonly have to think of the long-term consequences of short-term actions. We should treat our careers with the same careful consideration. Although my suggestions might not always be the most fun or the easiest to accomplish, you will not regret that you engaged in any of them. At our early stage, we need to open as many doors as possible. Play the long game because we are in it for the long haul.