Tag: mentoring

Categories
Law Students and Young Lawyers

Lies We Tell Our Associates

A Pinocchio puppet.
Photo by CARLOSCRUZ ARTEGRAFIA at Pexels

My wife says that I am pathologically honest. I even have trouble bringing myself to tell little white lies (except when writing on LinkedIn where I may fib about the identity of some of the characters, and that one time I forgot to mention to my ex-wife that I had fallen in love with my Associate.)

Being too honest can be a real problem sometimes, especially when you are running a law firm.

At my law firm, we were scrupulously honest. But my friend Martin tells me that at his firm it was sometimes necessary to lie to the Associates.

read more about the lies that we tell our asssociates “Lies We Tell Our Associates”
Categories
Murray The Wannabe Feminist

Does Gender Equality Die on the Shoals of Originating Credits?

Wrecked boat at golden hour.

Back when I was practicing law, now and then I would get a call from a client who needed a litigator. But not just any type of litigator. A male litigator. (Interestingly enough, every such call was from a man. I never did have a woman request a litigator of a particular gender.)

read more about taking a principled stand “Does Gender Equality Die on the Shoals of Originating Credits?”
Categories
Mentoring

Goldilocks and the Real Mentors of Beverly Hills

A woman standing next to a seated man and appearing to give him guidance in a business context.
Photo by RODNAE Productions at Pexels.

New lawyers need real mentors. Not the type of mentors who are assigned by the firm to be sure that you know what is expected of you in terms of docketed hours and evening and weekend work, but the type of mentors who care about your success and your progression in the profession.

Here are ten things that real mentors do:

read more about real mentors “Goldilocks and the Real Mentors of Beverly Hills”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

What is the Best Use of My Time Right Now?

A wall full of clocks.
Photo by Andrey Grushnikov at Pexels.

Some years ago my firm had a lawyer’s retreat. We invited a speaker who gave a philosophical presentation about being mindful about how you use your time. His theme was that you have to constantly ask yourself, “what is the best use of my time right now?”

read more about how to think about what you are doing in your career “What is the Best Use of My Time Right Now?”
Categories
Fluff

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions

A sad looking clown making a gesture as if shooting himself in the head.
Photo by Jhefferson Sandos at Pexels.

Here are some of the questions potential clients asked me back when I was practicing law and the answers that I wanted to give them, but never did:

Q. How much will it cost to draft a shareholder’s agreement?

A. If you are shopping for professional services based on price, I really do not want you for a client. I suggest that you find a lawyer who will draft the agreement for you for $750.00 and pray that you never have a dispute with your partner.

read more stupid questions and snappy answers “Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions”
Categories
Law Students and Young Lawyers

The View From The End of the Road: Part Two – The Later, Still Ignorant Days

In Part One of The View From The End of The Road, Old Murray (“OM”) went back in time to speak to Young Murray (“YM”) about the beginning of his journey in the legal profession and concluded that Young Murray just did not get it.  

Now, Old Murray is going to check in to see whether everything got better when Young Murray became a partner.  To read part Two, click here:

https://bit.ly/3VvZhX0

Categories
Mental Health and Work/Life Balance

Band-Aids For Burnout

Sea Planes lined up at the dock.

My partner Gordon used to travel to Florida each winter on vacation with his biggest client.

Gordon would pay for every meal for both families and submit for reimbursement from the firm.  When asked by the Managing Partner whether he had any friends who were not clients to vacation with, he answered rhetorically, “what better friend could there be than someone who helps me put bread on the table to feed my family?” 

read more about using vacations as a band-aid for a bigger problem “Band-Aids For Burnout”
Categories
Law Students and Young Lawyers

The View From The End of the Road: Part One – The Early, Ignorant Days

Young Murray

The thing about starting a new career is that we often do it when we are young and have little experience in life or in business. So, we look to those who came before us to show us the path to success. We assume that the older and wiser folks know what they are doing. That is our first mistake. 

Read about it here.

https://bit.ly/3HXqoHt

Categories
Legal Ethics

A Parable Dripping With Sarcasm

Yellow banner with black letters saying "Crime Scene. Do not cross."
Photo by Kat Wilcox at Pexels.

Early in my career, one of my clients was the owner of a chain of retail bakeries. One day I attended at one of the stores with the President of the corporation, whose name was Stewart. When we were ready to leave the store, Stewart remembered that he was out of bread, selected a loaf, and paid the employee behind the counter for it.

read more about situational ethics “A Parable Dripping With Sarcasm”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Nothing to See Here Folks

Two cartoonish police figurines.
Photo by Pixabay at Pexels.

My friend Martin called me the other day. He was a tad upset. Having been a partner in one law firm for most of his career, Martin had withdrawn as a partner and continued to work with the firm in his pre-retirement years as “Counsel.” As Counsel, he was an independent contractor and his agreement with his law firm provided that it could be terminated on six months’ notice.

read just a bit more about lawyers being lawyers “Nothing to See Here Folks”