Tips For Young Lawyers

Becoming the Go-To Lawyer
By: Jennifer Evans Morris

It’s a late night. The partner rubs her eyes and tries to think if there is some way around the problem she is facing. She remembers these issues vaguely, but she learned them so long ago. All she is left with are vague strings tugging at the back of her mind. Just then, she remembers seeing a note in the firm bulletin a few months back that might apply. She digs through her office, and sure enough, under a stack of pleadings tucked in the corner, she finds the bulletin. She scans the contents, and finds the blurb she is looking for. After a quick read, she thinks to herself, “It’s not what I am looking for, but it’s close. Who wrote this?” She glances at the associate’s name and remembers one of her partners mentioning how skilled the associate had become at this one niche in the law. With a smile, she begins drafting an email. This “Go-To” young lawyer may save her and her client a tremendous amount of time and effort. She relaxes back in her chair feeling a small amount of relief. One small hurdle may be solved. She leans forward and begins working on the next one.

Being a young lawyer has always been difficult but the current economy has upped the ante for us all. Young lawyers have even more pressure to distinguish themselves and to become experts in a specific field – all while learning their craft and attempting to develop business. Looking around at the more senior lawyers with established reputations both inside and outside of their firms can be overwhelming. It is easy to question whether you will ever achieve the type of knowledge-base these veterans possess. I am frequently reminded of the phrase, “she has forgotten more than you will ever learn.” And yet, young lawyers continue to be sought after at law schools, continue to obtain jobs in the market, and continue to be entrusted with important legal work. So, what can you do to be viable in this economy? The answer is simple - become the Go-To Lawyer.

Becoming a Go-To Lawyer does not mean becoming a nationally renowned expert in the intricacies of securities or some other equally fascinating area of the law. Although, that will be nice at some point. Instead, a young lawyer can become an expert within a firm by becoming the person in the firm to know the most about a certain topic, motion practice, or statutes – no matter how mundane. In fact, this strategy is particularly successful in areas of the law that are more detailed or less interesting to other lawyers. For example, understanding choice of law or jurisdictional issues backwards and forwards can make you a Go-To Lawyer for any number of cases. Being the person in your firm or circle of colleagues who is most familiar with a new statute or regulation, such as the proposed amendments to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, can make you a Go-To Lawyer.

This brings us to how best to become a Go-To lawyer. There are several steps you can take to become a Go-To lawyer. First, become the expert by being right, every time. You can do this by seeking out others in the firm who have worked on your issue and consolidating their knowledge for yourself. You can also keep up to date with current law by reviewing leading journals addressing a particular topic and by following new cases on the topic. You should also attend relevant CLEs. Once you have the knowledge base, your next step in becoming a Go-To Lawyer should be to develop and expand your reputation both inside and outside of the firm. You can start by sending case updates to members of your firm. You can volunteer to write a piece for your internal bulletin or client newsletters. Ideally, you should write an article about the topic. You might also seek opportunities to speak about the topic – either internally or at CLEs where you can educate other young lawyers about the topic. Finally, once you become the expert and develop your reputation as someone with knowledge on a particular topic, be ready for that call for help. Be responsive, timely, and anticipate other relevant issues even if you are not asked about them.

There is not a lot we can do to improve the economy or to change how it is affecting our careers. Becoming a Go-To Lawyer is something we can do now to ensure future success when that tired partner highlighted above is forced to make difficult decisions.