Assistant Director for Professional Development
No matter where you are working, legal or non-legal, paid or unpaid, the more you make a winning impression, the more likely people will be to help you along your career path. Below are 10 rules for winning:
- Get to know everyone: You are likely nice to everyone, but go the extra mile to know the names of, and a little bit about, everyone at the office, including the receptionist, janitor, security guard, and even the fellow who parks cars in the garage. These people often know your superiors from years of interaction and can convey what a terrific person you are. And when you are working at the office late or on weekends, these people will help you out should something happen or you need a favor.
- Help your peers: No one ever got a promotion or became partner because another associate or coworker failed at something. When your colleague is under the gun or struggling, try to help them out. They'll do the same for you, and it will help you develop a trusting relationship with others in the office.
- Pitch in with mundane tasks: In an emergency or deadline situation, pitch in with all aspects of the project. Don't look at it as demeaning to run copies or collate documents. You'll be viewed as a team player who does what it takes to get things done.
- Learn all the equipment: If you know how things work, you can be efficient in meeting deadlines, helping peers and administrative staff, and also your superiors. Again, it will bolster your reputation of being a team player and one to get things done.
- Preserve your reputation at all costs: When asked for words of wisdom on practicing law, I have heard judges and attorneys consistently say over the years to preserve your reputation at all costs. Be professional and ethical at all times, even if a superior or client tells you to do otherwise. It is almost impossible in the legal community to fix a tarnished reputation.
- Be professionally courteous at all costs: Always extend a professional courtesy to other attorneys even if the client objects or the opposing counsel is a real piece of work. You will be known in the profession as being a player that everyone wants to deal with, and in turn, courtesies will be extended to you.
- Practice good telephone and email habits: This goes hand-in-hand with number 6 above. Don't make or take a call or send email when angry.
- Let your boss take the credit: It may be tempting to receive the adulation from the client when something goes well, but tell your boss first and let him or her take the credit. After all, this is the person who can get you promoted and pay you more. A good supervisor will let others know how you contributed.
- Keep quiet: Repeating rumors or gossip will only come back to bite you. And if told something confidentially, keep it that way. If you keep quiet in both regards you will be viewed as someone who can be trusted.
- Look and act like a lawyer: People want to promote someone who looks and acts like they were meant for the next position up. This doesn't mean that you have to lose all your individuality, but look for people higher up where you like their style and the way they behave, and emulate it.
