Category: Law Students and Young Lawyers

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Law Students and Young Lawyers

What Danger Lurks in the Shadow of Brilliance?

Yellow Dead End sign.
Photo by Dustin Tray at Pexels.

Now that I have been retired for a few years, I sometimes wonder whether my experience as to how law firms work remains valid. Also, since I spent my days with medium-sized firms and not in Big Law, I occasionally worry that my view of what goes on in Big Law is not correct.

But then I speak to lawyers working in Big Law and they invariably confirm that Big Law is exactly what I always thought it was (which is just Medium Law on steroids, with worse side effects), and nothing has changed, and likely never will.

read more about the danger of working in the shadow of brilliance “What Danger Lurks in the Shadow of Brilliance?”
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Law Students and Young Lawyers

A Good Day at the Office

Aerial photograph of a maze made of bushes.
Photo by Tom Fisk at Pexels.

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up somewhere else.” 

Yogi Berra.

I was speaking to an unhappy lawyer the other day, which is typically the only type of lawyer that calls me.

This particular fellow has been practicing law quite a long time and makes decent money. His unhappiness stems from his insecurity, that so many of us share, about whether the clients will continue to come, and the fact that his work is too easy. He needs to develop his reputation so that he is in demand. He must also attract some more complicated stuff to sink his teeth into so that he is intellectually challenged and feels that he is doing something valuable for his clients.

read more about planning your career “A Good Day at the Office”
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Law Students and Young Lawyers

Look Before You Leap

Man stepping off a cliff.
Photo by João Gabrie at Pexels.

In the early 1980’s, just about the time that I was looking for my first permanent job in the legal profession, someone had called a recession and everyone had shown up. The pickings were slim for first year lawyers. Luckily for me, there was Don, a lawyer with over 25 years’ experience in the profession, who was being let go by the firm that hired me. 

read more about why you should look before you leap “Look Before You Leap”
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Law Students and Young Lawyers

Don’t Be Just One More Corporate Lawyer

Thai dancers in traditional costumes.

I went to high school so long ago that personal computers were not yet a thing. All of the students were required to take typing, which did not sit well with Gerry. He announced on the first day of class that since, as a man, he was never going to be a secretary, he did not need to learn how to type. He then skipped all of the typing classes for the entire semester.

read more about choosing a career path for success in the legal profession “Don’t Be Just One More Corporate Lawyer”
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Law Students and Young Lawyers

The View From Under The Bus

Large Bus.
Photo by Tim Compound at Pexels.

So, here is the situation. I am closing a deal with a senior partner from one of Canada’s largest law firms. Let’s call him “Big Law Guy.”    

I am a senior partner myself, but with a medium-sized suburban law firm. By definition, he is supposed to be smarter than I am and his junior is supposed to be fortunate to be working for him instead of working with me.

read more about working for the wrong partner “The View From Under The Bus”
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Law Students and Young Lawyers

Write About What You Don’t Know

Typewriter with paper and the words "only a writer knows"
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood

We have all heard the expression, “write about what you know,” usually attributed to Mark Twain, who knew a thing or two about writing.

I don’t do that.

read more about achieving traditional success in the legal profession “Write About What You Don’t Know”
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Law Students and Young Lawyers

Emboldened Articling Students

Man sitting behind desk apparently interviewing a young woman.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko at Pexels

Warning

This article has three parts. Do not act on the suggestions in the first part until you consider the advice in the second part and the rebuttal in the third part. 

Part One: Murray’s Recommendations

Murray strongly recommends that articling students ask these probing questions and many similar ones before accepting a position:

read more about interviewing for articling positions “Emboldened Articling Students”
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Law Students and Young Lawyers

A Feminist Perspective on Carbon Taxes

Spreadsheet, pen and calculator.
Photo by Pixabay at Pexels.

With this post I venture onto dangerous ground, but what the hell.

Some years ago I came across a Canadian law school which was offering a course on “A Feminist Perspective on Corporate Tax.” More recently, I came across a law school course on “A Feminist Perspective on Carbon Taxes.” It all struck me as kind of stupid.

read more about law school courses “A Feminist Perspective on Carbon Taxes”
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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”
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Law Students and Young Lawyers

The Tip of the Articling Iceberg

Iceberg.
Photo by Jean-Christophe André at Pexels.

There is a fair amount of talk right now about whether law firms should be required to pay articling students a minimum wage.

But isn’t this so-called ‘debate’ about whether the Law Society should legislate a minimum wage for articling students just the tip of the iceberg? What about the institutionalized discrimination created by the Employment Standards Act (Ontario) against lawyers and articling students (together with architects, accountants, engineers, teachers, surveyors, and others)?

read more about legislative discrimination against lawyers and articling students “The Tip of the Articling Iceberg”