Tag: lawstudents

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Law Students and Young Lawyers

Understanding Crazy

Man lying down, fully dressed.
Photo by Cottonbro Studio at Pexels.

According to the fictional Professor Kingsfield in the movie “The Paper Chase,” law students “come in … (to law school) … with a skull full of mush and … leave thinking like a lawyer.”

I have often wondered whether I would have been better off keeping my mushy mind so that I could think like a normal person, but that is a question for another day.

Although law schools teach students to understand and apply legal principles, there is plenty of stuff that they never mention, including the importance of having a rudimentary understanding of psychology.

read more about why lawyers should learn some psychology “Understanding Crazy”
Categories
Firm Culture

Chasing Unicorns: Changing Law Firm Culture

Champagne being poured into glasses.
Photo by Cottonbro Studio at Pexels.

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”  

        Peter Drucker

Back when I was a Managing Partner in a law firm, I did not think  nearly enough about law firm culture. I really should have, but not only because it is the secret to business success. No, I should have thought more about firm culture because it is a crucial factor in whether or not lawyers are happy in their jobs, and as we all know, many of them are not very happy.

read more about changing law firm culture “Chasing Unicorns: Changing Law Firm Culture”
Categories
Mentoring

When Mentoring Disappears

A blackboard with the letters "ABC" on it, and books and chalk on a desk.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels

Many new lawyers start their own practices soon after graduation or join firms that offer little mentoring or training.  I attribute this to a number of factors, including the law firm model falling into disfavour over issues of work/life balance and mental health, and prejudice encountered by internationally trained lawyers.

read more about what frightens me about some new lawyers “When Mentoring Disappears”
Categories
Work/Life Balance

The Simple Yet Unacceptable Answer to the Mental Health Crisis in the Legal Profession

Various currency, including U.S. Dollars and Euros.

By the time that I figured out that I could no longer cope with the pressures of the legal profession and that something had to give, I had been practicing business law for thirty-three years. What can I say… I am a slow learner. It took me almost another seven years to get out. I escaped with my health intact, but just barely.

read more about the simple solution to the mental health problem in the legal profession “The Simple Yet Unacceptable Answer to the Mental Health Crisis in the Legal Profession”
Categories
Law Students and Young Lawyers

Keep it Simple, Start With the Statute, Stupid

Ancient cave.
Photo by Caleb Owens at Pexels.

You may be familiar with the “KISS Principle” attributed to one Kelly Johnson,  a renowned aeronautical engineer at Lockheed Martin.

It turns out that the concept of “Keep It Simple, Stupid” applies whether you are designing aircraft or solving legal issues.

read more about how kiss applies to legal research “Keep it Simple, Start With the Statute, Stupid”
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Law Students and Young Lawyers

I’ll Tell You What He Didn’t Do

The author standing next to his pickup truck.

Those of you who read my stuff from time to time know that when I retired, I moved to the country, bought a pick-up truck, and started listening to country music. One song I like is by Carly Pearce, and it has the following lyrics:

read more about what some partners don’t do for their associates “I’ll Tell You What He Didn’t Do”
Categories
Law Students and Young Lawyers

Career Quiz for Law Students and Young Lawyers

A crowd of people on a street, seen from behind.
Photos by Ingo Joseph at Pexels.

So you went to Law School and participated in the legal clinic at the Fasken Building at University of Toronto or won a scholarship from Davies at Osgoode Hall.  Somehow you were given the impression by your Law School experience that if you did not get yourself hired by a Big Law firm (“BL”), you  would be a second-rate lawyer.

Although critical thinkers at Law School should have warned you about the Golden Rule, (“he who has the gold makes the rules”) and its corollary (“follow the money to find the guilty,”) you may have missed that lesson and ended up believing that bigger is better.

read more about whether Bigger Is Better for you “Career Quiz for Law Students and Young Lawyers”
Categories
Work/Life Balance

To All the Law Students Who I have Loved (or Just Liked a Bit)

Pregnant woman, man, and two children.
Photo by Luana Freitas at Pexels.

I write a lot about work/life balance, mental health, and the pursuit of things other than money in the legal profession.

My wife (and lawyer) Maureen McKay has laughed at me about this (among other things.) She has said, “Murray, if any of the young people who you counsel to pursue a balanced lifestyle were to have applied to your firm back when you were hiring Associates and talked about working reasonable hours and reserving evenings and weekends for their families, you would not have hired them.”

She’s right. But, in my defense, it’s complicated.

Read more about why it is complicated “To All the Law Students Who I have Loved (or Just Liked a Bit)”
Categories
The Practice of Law

Reflections on M&A, Musical Chairs, and Mental Health

Children playing with balls.
Photo by Yan Krukau at Pexels.

People of my vintage remember playing musical chairs at birthday parties, back before the days when money was so plentiful that it seemed to be important to impress the neighbours by hiring clowns and musicians or renting bouncy castles to entertain five-year-olds.

For those of you who did not have the pleasure of being pushed off of a chair by some mean kid who had fifty pounds on you, the idea was that music would be played while the children would circle a number of chairs that was always one fewer than the number of kids marching around them.

read more about the game of Mergers and Acquisitions “Reflections on M&A, Musical Chairs, and Mental Health”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Gratitude and The Appreciation Deficit

Cup of Coffee with "Thank You" spelled out in the foam.
Photo by Wewe Yang at Pexels.

“I am happy because I’m grateful. I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.”

~ Will Arnett

The other day I received a private message from a lawyer who I have never met in person. She expressed her appreciation for my contributions to the profession in my retirement and did so in a manner that was warm and sincere. I practically blushed when I read it.  She made my day.

read more about the Appreciation deficit in the legal profession “Gratitude and The Appreciation Deficit”