Thompson: Advice to myself when I was a young lawyer

By Chasity Thompson

Thompson

This year, we celebrate 30 years of “Back to the Future,” a classic film that accounts the exploration of a young man who eventually travels a span of 130 years using Dr. Brown’s DeLorean time-travel machine. After a spirited conversation with colleagues about the opportunity to time travel, I posed the discussion topic, “If you had the opportunity to travel back in time and talk with your younger self as a new attorney, what advice would you share about life as a lawyer?” Although I’ve not experienced time travel to share this info with my younger self, I can share these nuggets of knowledge with present young lawyers about lessons learned.

Resilience. At times, we can apply our best effort, yet a mistake or even a failure might ensue. What’s more important is how we respond to the failure or mistake. Oftentimes, we are defined by the character that we exhibit during challenging times. Michelle Obama once wrote, “You can’t make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what may happen.” Being resilient is key to survival and advancement. If you had a less-than-favorable experience with a client, case, colleague, opposing counsel or judge, complete the task, acknowledge lessons learned and think of ways to improve upon the experience, should you encounter it, or a similar situation, in the future. There is strength in the lesson. How you handle a situation can help to chart your course for future endeavors.

Expand your connections outside of your comfort zone. Building your connections starts now. Every interaction is an opportunity for further action and connection. As you meet people, think of ways you can help them. Perhaps you can be a resource to them or serve as a connector to link them to another colleague or community initiative in which you are involved. You do not have to meet everyone in one setting. Building your connections gradually allows you to manage the growth and establish meaningful relationships. For some, meeting people is second nature. But, for others, the idea of meeting a lot of people can be quite daunting. Create a connection plan and push yourself to meet at least one new person per week, if not more. As you become more comfortable with the idea, you can increase your contacts. Approach the interaction as an opportunity to get to know more about someone rather than always expecting something from the person. You would be surprised at what you can learn and the connections that you can make just by talking with someone. Look for organic ways to connect. Bar functions, alumni gatherings and meeting people during CLEs and informal coffees or non-law functions are great starts. Then, be sure follow up with the contact periodically. You never know when you can be of service to that person, or in what way they can help you grow – personally and professionally.

Understand and appreciate multigenerational differences and communication styles. We are in a workforce where four generations work side by side. The communication style of the millennial may be quite different from that of the supervising attorney, senior associate, client, opposing counsel or judge. Understand and appreciate those differences and adjust communication styles, in particular, to maximize interaction and effectiveness. Learn the styles of those for whom and with whom you interact to better promote engagement and connection among one another.

Mentors matter. In the profession, you do not have to have all of the answers. There are many attorneys who have experienced what you are experiencing currently. Formal and informal mentors can help you with resources, calm your nerves when you have new projects to tackle, and help you with professional and personal development plans. Surprisingly, when I talk with many seasoned attorneys, they tell me that they wished more younger attorneys would connect with them. They have so much insight to share. It’s a great idea to have at least two mentors who have achieved some of the goals that you have set for yourself, and one to two mentors who are a few years advanced in their professional careers so that they may help you navigate potential professional landmines. Each person can be an accountability partner in helping you achieve goals and advance.

The practice of law is just that – practice. No one expects you to have all of the answers as soon as you graduate. Continue to hone your skills and always be open to learning more. There are many continuing legal education options that are offered by law schools, bar associations and commercial entities with varying price points that can help you with further developing skills and exposing you to resources. Many offer scholarships for new lawyers.

Protect your profile. While it takes a long time to build a reputation, it can be tainted easily by a lapse in judgment. In this constantly connected world, the lines between personal and professional can blur easily because of social media. While posting thoughts can be therapeutic, be careful about spewing notions of disdain for clients, colleagues, judges and supervisors/management. Even posting accounts of funny moments experienced in court or during a client consultation may damage your credibility and cause concern about judgment.

Pay it forward. Give of your time, talent and treasure to help others. Oftentimes, I paraphrase a quote by R. Sargent Shriver that reads, I owe a portion of my time to service. As lawyers, we have worked hard to complete the rigors of law school, study for and pass the bar exam and professional responsibility exam, and pass character fitness requirements to obtain our attorney status. Further, we work harder to maintain our professional license. Uphold the profession and give back through pro bono and community involvement. Find an area where you are passionate, and use your critical thinking skills to help solve community issues. As a lawyer, we can help to make the world a better place. Remember to give back and share advice with law students as they discover their personal path in our profession.

Nurture your non-legal support network. Do not forget your relationships with friends and family. The practice of law can be very demanding. Be intentional about keeping family commitments and checking in with friends periodically.

Invest in yourself. Take time to invest in yourself. Professional development never stops. Know that you can add value at any stage in your career, and never stop the thirst to learn more. Also, take time for self and remember to do the “little things” that matter to you to help sustain your health and sanity. Be good to yourself so that you might be able to help others.

Defend the profession. Active engagement in the bar (national, state, local, and/or specialty) is imperative. Do good work at a fair price, and always treat your clients and colleagues with respect. Model the behaviors and respect that you would like to receive when interacting with others. A career in the law can be a highly rewarding opportunity. You add to the profession. Defend it with character, kindness and camaraderie. Aspire to be great!•

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Chasity Q. Thompson is a 2002 graduate of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, where she is assistant dean of the Office of Professional Development. The opinions expressed are those of the author.