Tag: mentoring

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Firm Culture

How Quickly My Good Idea Becomes Your Great Idea

Woman holding up a picture of a light bulb against a background of a wall-board full of diagrams.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels.

Now and then I will tell a story about something that I did back in the day when my wife Maureen and I practiced at the same law firm. Typically my story involves a brilliant legal strategy that I developed, a big win, and a grateful client.

Occasionally Maureen will observe, “how quickly my good idea becomes your great idea.” Her point, I guess, is that she was the brilliant one and I just took her idea and ran with it. It could have happened that way. It was a long time ago and it really is not in my interest to remember the details that clearly.

read more about rainmakers and their impact on firm culture “How Quickly My Good Idea Becomes Your Great Idea”
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People I Met Practicing Law

Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Seven: The Supervising Lawyer

A lawyer looking at a book while standing over another lawyer who is seated at his desk.
Photo by Sora Shimazak at Pexels.

This is the last in a series about the questions which Articling Students and new Associates should figure out about their firms when deciding whether to stay there over the long-term.

This time, I will speak about supervising lawyers (“SL”).

read more about your supervisor – the key to whether you love or hate your job “Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Seven: The Supervising Lawyer”
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People I Met Practicing Law

Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Six: The Law Clerks

Professional looking woman working on a laptop.
Photo by Anna Shvets at Pexels.

This is the sixth in a series about information that Articling Students and new Associates should have before deciding to stay at a firm for the long-term.

Today it is about some of my favourite people in law firms – the Law Clerks (“LC”) (aka Paralegals).

read more about law clerks (Paralegals) “Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Six: The Law Clerks”
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People I Met Practicing Law

Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Five: The Chief Financial Officer

Man sitting at desk working with a laptop and a calculator.
Photo by RDNE Stock project at Pexels.

This is the fifth in a series about questions that Articling Students and new Associates should consider when trying to size up their new firm.

This time I will address the most senior person in charge of the money. In your firm, this person could be called any of the following:  Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), Controller, Accounting Manager, Accountant or Bookkeeper.

read more about the people watching the money in law firms “Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Five: The Chief Financial Officer”
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People I Met Practicing Law

Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Four: The Chief Technology Officer

The computers used to launch the first manned space flights at Cape Canaveral

This is the fourth in a series about questions that Articling Students and new Associates should ponder while trying to determine whether they have landed in the right place.

This time I will address the Chief Technology Officer (the “CTO”).  Of course, being lawyers we need a definition, so let’s use this one from Alexander Gillis and others at techtarget.com:

read more about technology in Law Firms “Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Four: The Chief Technology Officer”
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People I Met Practicing Law

Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Three: The Chief Operating Officer

A business woman in her office.
Photo by August de Richelieu at Pexels.

In Parts One and Two, I set out some questions that articling students and young lawyers should ask about their firm’s Managing Partner and Practice Group Leader.

Today I will tackle the much trickier issue of the Chief Operating Officer (the “COO”).

read more about whether your firm has a coo “Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Three: The Chief Operating Officer”
Categories
People I Met Practicing Law

Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Two: The Practice Group Leader

Woman wearing a pink jacket and looking confident and professional.
Photo by Edmond Dantès at Pexels.

In Part One, I set out some questions that articling students and young lawyers should ask about the Managing Partner. This time let’s talk about your Practice Group Leader (the “PGL”).

read more about how to figure out if you should love your practice group leader “Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Two: The Practice Group Leader”
Categories
Law Students and Young Lawyers

Bad and Worse Advice for Law Firm Associates

An older professional woman speaking to a younger woman who appears to be frustrated with what she is being told.
Photo by Cottonbro Studio at Pexels.

“Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time.” Chinese proverb

The Chinese were on to something. We all make the mistake of teaching things to younger generations based on our own experience. Here is some of the bad advice that I gave to my Associates:

read more about the bad advice that i gave associates “Bad and Worse Advice for Law Firm Associates”
Categories
The Practice of Law

On the Outside Looking In

Woman staring into window.
Photo by Leonardo Cardozo Galves at Pexels.

Susan and Bob are unhappy spouses who own and operate a business. Sue enacts some resolutions to remove her husband as a director and officer of the corporation. Then she goes to the office before business hours, changes the locks, tells Bob that he is fired, and hires a security guard.

Bob shows up for work and is refused entry. He calls the police. The cops come and tell him that they are just there to keep the peace, which they will do by preserving the status quo.  Since Sue is on the inside, she gets to stay there. As Bob is on the outside, he has to stay there.  

read more about possession being 9/10 of the law “On the Outside Looking In”
Categories
Mental Health and Work/Life Balance

Slow Death by Normal Crazy

Marathon runners at the finish line.
Photo by Photo by RUN 4 FFWPU at Pexels.

There is currently a great deal of talk about mental health issues in the legal profession. It remains to be seen whether the profession will finally take mental health seriously, or whether the topic is simply the ‘flavour of the month’ and useful material for recruiting and marketing. 

read more about the real mental health issue in the legal profession “Slow Death by Normal Crazy”