LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON Associate Training April 30, 2009
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Tips for Success There is no easy road to success There is no single road to success
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Commitment Not 9 to 5, Monday through Friday We are relying on you Seize the moment Take advantage of opportunities Make yourself a valuable member of the team
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Time Management Be aware of the schedule of the senior attorneys with whom you work Be aware of the case schedule –When working on a project with tight deadlines, check and voice mail frequently on weekends, evenings and while traveling Be aware of project expectations –Use your judgment Work accurately but efficiently –Achieve the best results in the fewest hours
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Time Sheets Know client billing guidelines and expectations Must be accurate Show the value of your work –Details –Progression –Balance between too little and too much Submit timesheets on time
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Time Sheets - Example Legal research Legal research regarding brief Legal research to support argument in motion to dismiss that plaintiffs failed to adequately allege an injury to competition
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Time Sheets - Example Telephone conference Telephone conference with client Telephone conference with client regarding discovery Telephone conference with J. Clements regarding collection of documents to respond to plaintiffs’ second set of document requests
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Project Management Ownership — it is your project Follow-up –Until the project is completed –After the project is completed Master the area of law/issue Your opinion and insight are important –Speak up if you disagree Do not be afraid to ask for help
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Understand the Assignments Ask questions –Repeat it to the senior attorney, if necessary Understand what work product is expected Be prepared to adjust course –Follow the “leads” –You may end at a place you did not start
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Understand the Schedule Internal deadlines (e.g., draft to the client) External deadlines (e.g., filing date) Do not commit to a deadline that you cannot meet
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Communication - Internal Ask how senior attorney prefers to communicate –Know when to communicate in writing/in person –Use judgment when communicating in writing Be responsive –Acknowledge and voice mail messages, even if you do not have a substantive answer –Provide frequent updates “Bad news” doesn’t get better with time –Difficulties meeting the schedule –Difficulties in completing the project (e.g., case on point)
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Communication - External We are in a client service business Same rules apply - but bar is higher –Understand how the client prefers to communicate –Know when to communicate in writing/in person –Use judgment when communicating in writing –Be responsive –“Bad news” Submit communications to senior attorney for review Copy senior attorneys on all significant external communications
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC The Standard is Excellence Attention to detail Error free –Proofread –Typos, Blue Booking, internal consistency Proper grammar and syntax –Colloquialisms –Informality Filling in the “blanks” Your first draft should not be the “first draft” submitted to the senior attorney
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC The Standard is Excellence No project is too small We are in the problem-solving business Make the senior attorney and client look good Make a project or task “easy” for the senior attorney and client
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Managing Work Flow You need an “inventory” of work –Do not work “assignment to assignment” –Do not wait until you are out of work You need multiple “pipelines” for work –Work with multiple senior attorneys –Clear with your reporting partner(s) Become involved in “cases” or “matters” Keep track of your YTD hours
ATLANTA AUSTIN BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON DC Outward Focus Get involved –Bar associations –Industry events –Business groups –Law school It is never too soon to start –Professional development –Business development Over time, develop a plan