Get Out of the Starting Blocks Quickly This School Year

 With the conclusion of the London 2012 Olympic Games, I now look back fondly at my favorite Olympic events  - the track events. For me, the excitement of watching these superior athletes coming off the blocks with such spectacular speed is an unparalleled thrill. I found it even more amazing that these track Olympic athletes often train for years – 24/7, day and night -- for an event that lasts in some cases less than ten seconds.  The dedication and discipline of these athletes is indeed exceptional.

As I sat watching the 100/200 meter dashes, I noted that the commentators talked of the “quick starts” of the runners. Some of the runners were able to blast out of the starting blocks and were never caught by the others as a result. Others, due to their sheer athletic skill, were able to overcome a slow start and burst to the front right at the tape (such a race is great to watch!). Then of course, there were the runners who, after years of training, simply did not perform as they had trained, getting off to a poor start and never able to recover.  

With the approaching commencement of the new law school year, I can’t help but see a few parallels between track runners and law school students. They both share that one thing in common that leads to success – the need to get off the blocks quickly and burst ahead.

Here are a few tips that I have for law students to get off when the “gun” sounds in this brand new school year:

·         Develop a routine as quickly as you can – that includes deciding whether you are a “study group type” or not (even in you do not like a formal student group environment, a law student still needs at least one “study partner” to periodically bounce ideas about. Law school is about discussing, analyzing, presenting and the student can only do this with someone else). Other decisions include: the hours and places where you will do the brunt of your studying;  which organizations to join (more importantly, should I join?… do I have the time to join?) and, for the upper-class students: whether part-time work, internship/externships during the year may be a viable option.

·         Set your goals for the year – One does not win Olympic “gold” in law school, but a law student is able to look at the finish line (the end of the semester and the year) to see what hurdles need to be cleared, i.e., courses that need to be taken, clinics, internships, externships that need to be taken, along with the networking and job strategies that need to be immediately engaged as the year begins;

·           Don’t fall behind – keep up with your reading and outlining and be prepared for each one of your classes. Proper preparation is what is expected of any trial lawyer worth his/her salt, so please conform with what is expected of you in and after law school;

·         Be Professional from the Get-Go: In everything you do, be mindful of timeliness, detail and process. Be meticulous in your work and in everything you research and draft. Finally – and most importantly for me --- be courteous to one and all. Remember that you are only a law student with many mountains to climb ahead of you, thence you have accomplished nothing yet. Humility and good manners to all are keys to a successful law career. Do not misinterpret all the talk of lawyers needing to be “tough” and “gritty.” These two terms do not mean that you get a pass on being courteous.

·         Know How To Adapt – Sensing he needed to adapt to succeed, U.S. Olympic hurdler, Aries Merritt, abandoned the more traditional eight-step approach to the first hurdle and joined the seven-step club in a bid for more consistency and speed.  He indicating that, at the outset, it took much determination to be able to make the changes that he needed to increase his speed. However, now he has mastered the seven-step approach and he is a better hurdler as a result.. .

. .. How does this translate for law students? . . Be flexible, introspective and self-analytic. If you are a returning student, work on those aspects of your skills and academic approach that you would like to improve on and put new routines in place (see, first bullet, above). If you are an anxious 1L, “know thyself” – your strengths and weaknesses and develop a routine for success that you know will work for you.

Go for the “gold” as you start out the year. Like a sprint race, the way you kick off usually determines the way you will end.

What's the End Goal?

 Amy Sanders is 3L at Vanderbilt Law School and a member of Law Review. I am happy to be one of her twitter followers (@Amy3LSanders) as her all around legal content is excellent.    She' s a great follow, if you are not already doing so!

 As the not-so-lazy days of a law student’s summer come to an end, we’re already knee-deep in emails from the registrar and Career Services. 2Ls face on-campus interviews; 3Ls fortunate enough to have landed at a firm nervously await an “offer.”

This is the time of the year when law school is most focused on the end result: a job. After my summer experience, I offer a few thoughts on how to keep this goal central throughout the rest of the year.

2Ls:

1. Do you have a sense of what kind of law you would like to practice? Chase jobs that will allow you to do that.
2. Take courses that fit with the position you land. If bankruptcy isn’t your thing but the firm you are working with has a strong bankruptcy practice, enroll in a bankruptcy course. Knowing the language of a practice area will help you to keep up with office talk and will boost your confidence.
3. Even if you don’t plan to litigate, consider enrolling in trial advocacy. Knowing the stages of a trial is useful, and you’ll learn how to say “motion in limine.”

Summer Tips:

1. When your mentor or other attorneys offer assistance, don’t be afraid to take them up on it.
2. You’re not going to learn everything in law school (it teaches you to “think like a lawyer”). Google (or the search engine of your choice) is a great supplement. Grasp basic concepts before diving into Lexis and Westlaw.
3. Make your interests known. For example, I chatted a bit about my interest in technology. Soon after, one of the associates revealed that he’s launching a blog, and sat down with me to talk about social media strategies. I then drafted an article for a daily business newspaper about how employers might want to change their policies in light of recent interpretations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

3Ls:

           

1. What classes to take? Ask! Talk to your mentor, ask during your exit interview, find out what will make you most useful to the firm.
2. A refrain I’ve heard time and time again: take business-related classes. A introduction to accounting, for example, will allow you to more easily understand a client’s business.
3. Lawyers write—a lot. Consider an upper-level legal writing class.

When making decisions, begin with the end in mind. The anchoring question: how will this increase my employability?

Everything In Law School Matters

David Feeder, Esquire

Dave is a former Biglaw attorney and colleague who will periodically be a guest blogger on "Law School: Success & Careers

 . . .Let’s start with the Admiral Stockdale questions: “Who am I? Why am I here?” [And if you aren’t familiar with that reference, it’s ok… I’ll wait a few minutes while you google it.] As to question 1, you should know this from the outset: I am not a blogger, and this is my first ever blog post, guest or otherwise. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

So who am I? Here is how my Twitter bio answers the question: “Colorado Attorney. Litigator. Trusted Advisor. Husband. Dad. Australian Shepherd Owner. Broncos/Rockies Fan. Not necessarily in that order.” A tip of the cap to Twitter is particularly apropos because it is also the answer to question 2.

To be entirely accurate, I am writing this piece because Phil Guzman asked me to, and I am always happy to help a friend. And the only reason I am fortunate enough to count Phil as a friend is because of Twitter. Shortly after I signed on to Twitter about two years ago I started following Phil. His tweets were interesting and engaging, and he writes as much about baseball as he does legal issues. Surprisingly, Phil did not block me, and he even followed me back. Shortly after we connected in cyberspace, we talked on the phone – yes, people still do that – and got to know each other a little better. Phil quickly became and has remained one of my favorite people on Twitter, despite the fact that he is a diehard Yankees fan.

So when Phil started his blog and sent an email asking whether I would consider writing a piece for it, I responded immediately and happily agreed. I then realized what I had just done, and called Phil and asked, “What exactly do you want me to write about?” Phil described his vision of creating and facilitating a dialogue regarding law school and the legal profession, and how he wanted to include post-law school perspectives in the discussion. Having attended and graduated from law school (the University of Minnesota) and practiced law for several years (at both national and local law firms), I appear to satisfy Phil’s baseline criteria (which I note did not include “interesting”).

So here I am. And here it goes:

EVERYTHING IN LAW SCHOOL MATTERS

After considering the assignment, I jotted down some initial thoughts that might be relevant to those in law school and preparing to enter the legal profession. The following topic/conclusion resulted: Everything in law school matters. More specifically, everything that you do during law school potentially impacts your ability to become an attorney (obtain a job in the legal profession).

And before going any further I will fully acknowledge that the current dynamics of the job market for entry level attorneys are very difficult, and different than when I was in law school (although it was tough then too). My opinions may be completely irrelevant. I am also not in any way suggesting that I have any secret knowledge or magic bullets that will allow aspiring attorneys to land legal jobs in this market.

THE BIG PICTURE: HIRING DETERMINATIONS & HARSH REALITIES

But regardless of market dynamics and global economics, the basic objective of most law students has remained and will remain constant: they want to earn a living practicing law. Except for those who become self-employed, achieving this objective will require convincing someone to hire them to work as an attorney. 

My experience is in the law firm context, but I believe that my observations apply fairly broadly. While there are myriad approaches, criteria and preferences utilized by personnel evaluators, the bottom line determination regarding hiring decisions for new attorneys typically focuses on the following questions:

1)      Does this person have the potential to become an effective attorney (in general and in the specific context of the employer’s practice/business), and

2)      Are they worth investing the time and resources required to get them to that point?

A necessary element in this determination is the risk that the new attorney may not develop the desired skills, or may not stay long enough to provide the employer the desired return on its investment.

A couple of side notes. First, the issues I have identified are essentially “business” considerations. They are not unique to attorneys, and attorneys are not immune from them and should be mindful of them (and I am not going to delve any further into the passionate issue of whether the practice of law is a “profession” or a “business” at this time).

Second, these issues acknowledge the sometimes harsh reality that the vast majority of law school graduates are nowhere near ready to practice law effectively and/or efficiently (see, e.g., “’Entry’ Fee: Surprise – Inexperienced Associates Cost More”: http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/entry_fee_surprise—inexperienced_associates_cost_more/), and require significant additional training, mentoring and practical experience to reach that point. This leads to the related harsh reality that not all new attorneys will “get there.” Indeed, all new law school graduates necessarily carry the disclaimer applied to all investments: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Practicing law is not easy, and many who obtain a license to do so will not be good at it (and many more will not enjoy it, but that is a topic for another day).

THE BIGGER PICTURE: WHAT INTERVIEWERS SHOULD LOOK FOR IN CANDIDATES

Accordingly, hiring decisions for new attorneys should, in my opinion, involve much more than simply interviewing candidates with good grades from good schools. While academic success and the quality of education are certainly relevant, the following characteristics of new attorneys are also important:

·           Are they smart? (can they correctly analyze the law and apply it to the relevant facts)

·         Are they passionate?

·         Do they work hard?

·         Can they write clearly, concisely and persuasively?

·         Can they speak clearly, concisely and persuasively?

·         Are they professional? (in appearance, actions, communications, etc.)

·         Can/do they exercise good judgment?

·         Are they disciplined? (able to follow rules and procedures)

·         Are they able to deal with and effectively manage stress?

[And again, this is one attorney’s personal perspective, and these characteristics should not be viewed as comprehensive, universally applicable, or attributable to any single source or entity.]

Obviously (or at least hopefully), every aspect of a law school curriculum is intended to provide some training relevant to competence in the practice of law. Good grades are at some level reflective of intelligence and work ethic. But there are many things beyond the formal law school curriculum that can provide support for the character traits set forth above, and help enhance the credibility/employability of new attorneys.

THE EVIDENTIARY PICTURE: THE HIRING PROCESS AND INTERVIEW AS A COURTROOM DRAMA

Similar to establishing evidence to support all of the required elements of a cause of action alleged in a complaint, new lawyers want to provide as much evidence as possible to support the conclusion that they possess these character traits. As in a court room, evidence in this context can take many forms. Direct evidence can be provided by witnesses (references, answering interview questions, etc.) or documents (cover letters, writing samples, transcripts, etc.). Circumstantial evidence can be provided by other activities and involvement, such as the following:

·          Participating in a competitive moot court provides evidence of the ability to speak and write persuasively.

·         Participating in a law clinic provides evidence of the ability to be professional and exercise good judgment.

·         Participating in an intramural basketball league (or yoga club, etc.) provides evidence of the ability to deal with and effectively manage stress.

·         Participating in student, bar association and/or volunteer organizations provides evidence of passion.

Your resume is your exhibit and witness list. Like preparing for trial, compiling and organizing your supporting evidence is crucial, and should have the objective of helping you make a credible and compelling case for employment. Note that I am not suggesting simply filling a resume with as many activities as possible (“resume padding”). As trial lawyers know, even though there are numerous pieces of evidence obtained during discovery in a lawsuit, not all of them should be included on the trial exhibit list. And while there may ultimately be dozens or even hundreds of exhibits on the list, the critical issues for most trials can (and should) be narrowed down to a much smaller number of key items. The same approach should be employed in the hiring context, and you should not lose focus of the objective of building a credible and compelling case.

So while grades are important, so is the entire experience. Partake of numerous and diverse activities, and do not ignore or downplay their ultimate evidentiary value.

Everything – literally, everything – in law school matters.

And assuming I can convince Phil to turn over the keys to this blog to me again at some point in the future, I will share some additional thoughts on why, after you obtain your first legal job, nothing in law school matters.  (To be continued….)

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David Feeder is licensed to practice law in Colorado and Missouri, and several federal courts. He can be found on twitter at @davidfeeder. He also hopes that everyone who reads this pauses for a moment and sends prayers, kind thoughts and/or positive energy to all of those who were impacted by the horrific theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado on July 20, 2012.

The Cover Letter: Splash Your Color Onto the Page

There is no one way to write “perfect” cover letter. In fact, career counselors and resume experts may differ in their approaches to writing the ideal letter.  My metaphor of choice in the writing of a cover letter is a driver moving erratically from lane to lane on an interstate highway. The lanes on the right should be for drivers who are travelling at lower speeds.  Lanes on the left are for automobiles that are travelling at, or in excess of, the speed limit. It often gets chaotic when a driver starts moving from lane to lane, swerving in and out – first, in the “fast lane,” then veering quickly into the slow lane with no apparent rhyme nor reason. This type of reckless driving is a recipe for disaster. . .

. . . Such is the cover letter that meanders from point to point, seemingly in no logical or coherent order. Law students often, in their haste to put all their positive qualities before the reader, simply spew out facts, details, ideas, and prior work experiences without attempting to put it all together in an orderly manner that concludes with the one coherent thought that the writer is trying to express:

            “I am the one that you need for this position!”

With this backdrop, let me provide my own formula for writing a cover letter that should generate interest from the reader:

First Paragraph (keep it short!) The initial paragraph should be nothing more than a brief introduction. . . “I am a second year law student at . . “ Then indicate the reason for your letter: “ I am very interested in applying for_(state name of postion)_________”  . . …. That’s it. Sweet and simple.

The only exception to this would be a networking connection. If someone had suggested that you write to this person, then mention it here in the first paragraph.  Such a mention will draw the reader’s attention – if for no other reason than the professional courtesy to read a letter forwarded at the behest of a colleague.  

Second Paragraph (Why?) In my view, this is the most important paragraph of the cover letter. It is the absolute crux of the matter. It takes diligence and hard work to write this paragraph skillfully. The writer needs to do research on the law firm or legal entity and completely know all the “ins and outs” and nuances of the legal work that will be involved with the position (and I don’t just mean the information on the firm’s website).  What about the firm’s culture? Why this firm and not the right across the street or right down the hallway? If a public service position, why this particular area of interest? What is it about your background that makes you suitable?  

You need to demonstrate to the reader that you are part of this culture and that you are “walking” the same legal walk as the person who is reading your letter.  This is also a good opportunity for the writer to include part of his/her “story.”  It provides for writer the opportunity to put a little of the “splash” of the color of life to the black and white resume that is enclosed.

Third Paragraph (my skill set matches!) In this paragraph, the writer builds on the foundation of the second paragraph. Not only do I have a passion for this particular job, but –better yet- I have the skill set to successfully do the job!  The writer first needs to review and virtually memorize the “qualifications” section of the job posting.  Next, the writer needs to review his/her resume and match all work (or classroom, volunteer) experiences with the skills and job descriptions listed in the posting as to say – been there, done that! A classic connector would have the writer stated.  . “As you see from my resume, I have already had extensive experience with ________”

Caveat: This is possibly easier for the 3L looking for an attorney position than for a law student looking for a summer associate or summer intern position as summer jobs are sometimes not spelled out with much specificity. However, I do believe that the principles hold in both settings

Fourth Paragraph (wrap it up, keep it short). Thank you for taking the time, please find enclosed. . here’s my best contact information. … No more, no less . . . done.
 The writer needs to write the letter in no more than a three-fourths to a full page. DON'T  let the letter spill over onto a second page. If it does, chances are that the writer is back on that highway I spoke about earlier -- moving recklessly from one lane to another.

In a world where every legal resume is “black and white,” your cover letter should be the “splash of color” that allows the reader a glimpse into the personality of the writer: Let the reader see your passion, commitment and desire for the position that the writer is applying for. Give ‘em a story! . . . a reason to think that the writer is indeed right for the position. Motivate the reader to pick up the phone, or send that email to lineup that all-important interview.  

PostScript

 Writing a successful cover letter is easier said, than done. In anticipation of the real thing, why not practice?  Consider a few “virtual” law firm or agency and write a cover letter. Then, go in to see someone like me to ask for feedback. . . Practice does indeed make perfect.  

“Make it so.”

 

Networking in Uncertain Times

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.." A tale of two cities,
Charles Dickens

I have personally experienced both sides of that quote during the last six years.  Last week, I attended a networking seminar given by Kelly Hoey, Co-Founder of Women Innovative Mobile, organized by Ms. J.D in New York.  Kelly's practical tips were a good reminder, on why we need to network. She even touched upon the subject of finances, the importance of a having a safety net. The evening really got me thinking about networking on a bigger scale. 

Given our economy there is a lot to be concerned about, but worrying about  circumstances that you have NO control over is not going to help. I now a lot of law students who are looking for jobs and are worried about their enormous loans.  This is where I find that very English attitude of "getting on with it," "doing the task at hand" comes in really handy and helps you focus on the things that you can do immediately. There is some magic in movement, I will leave that  subject for another blog post.

That may be as simple uping the ante with your networking efforts, which will become even more important for finding the right job. Have a look at those business cards you collected. Who do you still need to follow up. Fess up and follow up with them. Better late than never I say.

So what is this pesky business of networking? Simply its about building your relationship bank account. Its about  building communities of like minded people, those who share your individual and your business interests and activities -- people who will ultimately add value by becoming a customer, or acting as a resource or referral.

When attending events, make a strong, positive first impression by asking questions and listening. (Introverts are really good at this) We live in an extremely noisy world every one wants to be heard. So something as simple of being present and NOT checking everybody else will help.

Increasing your networking efforts could mean just meeting more people at an event rather than attending MORE functions. OR having meaningful conversations with one or two people rather than just collecting cards.

Try attending functions that you normally don't go to, especially those with fund-raisers, politicians, journalists and pr folks, these people are connected and they know other people.

Always remember it takes time to get to know, like and trust people. Don't expect immediate gains.

Finally, make your hard work pay. Do plan to keep in touch with your contact over time. The devil is definitely in the follow up. Send relevant blogs, articles or news their way. Add new contacts to your online social network like LinkedIn.  This will help develop lasting relationships.

Finally, there is nothing new in what I've said, but where the magic or results lie is not in the thinking about  it, but the business of doing it.

Paramjit L. Mahli works with lawyers to improve their profitability. You can visit her blog, e-mail her or telephone her at (646) 763-1407

Revise Your Resume, Then Take Another Look At It. . . Again, and Again, and Again. …..

          We here in the southeastern part of the United States are currently in the midst of a blistering heat wave. As uncomfortable as it is, I take solace in the fact that it will eventually pass. In fact, so will the entire summer and any subsequent heat wave(s). It seems that every year, I am always surprised when the “back to school” commercials start airing and the new law school year is upon us here in our Career Services Office.

            It will soon be time again for law students to either begin, or continue, their law school journey. Returning 2Ls and 3Ls will be reflecting on their summer associate or internship experiences. Hopefully, they will be dropping by their respective career service offices to discuss how best to revise their resumes to incorporate their summer experiences.

            For the entering 1Ls, the resume mission is different. Their resumes need to be immediately revised and updated to reflect this new chapter in the student’s life: law school.  Eventually, the law student will craft a resume that will be ready to pass to the entire world with the bold cry: “hire me. . and here’s why!”  

DO NOT TAKE THE ART OF PROOFREADING FOR GRANTED

Wait! Not so fast!  There remains one important and somewhat tedious task to accomplish: proofreading the resume ad nauseam. Before continuing further, one disclaimer – do as I say, not as I do! For the better part of my life, I have overlooked the importance of this vital review process. I have always been quick to submit and/or mail a resume or document – always thinking that once I had reviewed it once, the document must be perfect. As anecdotal proof,  I remember once proofreading a document painstakingly through the course of three days. When I thought that it was perfect, I passed it on to my wife for the final review. The document, of course, was “perfect” so I knew that I would not be wasting too much of her time. However, in less than two minutes, she was asking me why I had not placed a period at the end of  the  second sentence in the document (second sentence, mind you). In fact, I had looked at that very line and actually saw a period that was not there. But the mistakes didn’t end there, she soon discovered many other painfully obvious mistakes in the document when she returned it. . . I sheepishly returned to work having learned the most important lesson there is to learn about proofreading: Do not trust your own eyes during a critical document review. Make sure that you pass it on for further review!  

            Proofreading is not limited to your classroom and work writing assignments. The very first career application skill that the law student must master is the art of revision to perfection of one’s own resume. A resume not done to perfection, will immediately torpedo any and all  job applications. A resume with even one spelling or grammatical error will immediately cause your resume to be crumpled and thrown into a pile labeled “unfit to practice” by the reviewer (too harsh? Not at all.)

           

           

Here are five tips for proofreading success that have worked for me (when I finally “got it”):

·         Proof your finished product by reading through it at least three times in succession;

·         Put it down, and get back to it later in the day for another two reviews;

·         Satisfied? . .. then give it to at least two other people to review for errors;

·         On its return, put it away for a few days, and then review it again at least two more times;

·         DON’T JUST RELY ON A “SPELL CHECK” FUNCTION – THAT’S SHEER LAZINESS!

            If the student does not have the time to go through this process, then he/she needs to eliminate another problem – timeliness in completing a project. Write and re-write the resume in such a timeframe where  submission deadlines will not be problematic.  

            In summary, law student, never think that your job is complete after you have done the “technical” part of updating, and adding powerful “legal action” words to your resume. Always put the same intense effort into proofreading it as well-- each and every time-- that it is updated.  If you don’t, all your efforts to land that great job will for  nought*

*. . . yes, I know that this last word is misspelled. Good for you!. . . You are on your way as a proof reading maniac!  

The Law School Graduate's 5-Step Guide To Prosperity

This spring, I attended my sister’s medical school graduation.  The commencement speaker, a Holocaust survivor and great philanthropist, shared his incredible life story and some of the key lessons he learned along the way.

At the close of his presentation, he revealed a recipe for prosperity.  “Prosperity,” he said, “is the result of four things: patience, perseverance, positivity, and productivity.  And that’s it.” 

As he closed the commencement ceremony, and wished the medical students well on their journey into residency and their medical practice, I couldn’t help but think of this year’s law school graduates, and how this simple recipe would come in handy as these graduates transition from law school into legal practice. 

1.     Patience

Patience is a virtue, certainly.  But it’s more than that.  It’s a tool.  A coping mechanism.  Before anything is going our way, it is not.  Before things feel like they have fallen into place, they are out of place.  Patience is one of the key skills we can employ to help us move forward. 

Patience will serve you, above all, in the job search after law school.  It is nearly impossible to identify, in advance, your ideal job or career path.  We all have notions about what our ideal job might be, but we cannot be certain until we are in it.  In the interim, it is important to be patient and mindful about the process. 

Seek out and attend as many networking functions as possible.  Be open to every potential opportunity that is presented to you.  Never turn down a job interview, even if it is for a job you believe you do not want.  The more patient you are, the more avenues you pursue, the more likely you will be to find what you are looking for.  (And, once you do find a job, you will have to employ patience, as well.  Practicing law in any capacity presents myriad substantive and interpersonal challenges – there is an adjustment period, to be sure.  Stick with it.  Give it a chance.  Be open to the learning and networking opportunities that come from that first job, even if the job itself is ultimately not the perfect fit.)

2.     Perseverance

More than any of the other “P’s” on our list, your perseverance goes directly to who you are.  Your resolve and determination, in both trying times and in good times, will speak volumes about your character, and about the kind of practitioner you will be.  There is little more to say here, other than to encourage you to actively persevere.  To be dedicated.  To stick with things.  To follow through.  The last one standing typically gets what he or she set out for.    

3.     Positivity

Maintaining a positive attitude will always serve you.  During the job search, and in every stage thereafter, harboring negativity will only cause you to project negativity and attractive negative circumstances. 

As a rule, others choose to be around people who are positive, enthusiastic, and uplifting.  Potential employers and clients, specifically, will be more inspired to hire you and work with you if you are an upbeat, positive person.  If you are tempted by a negative or pessimistic attitude, shift your focus to specific things that are positive in your life.  Write those things down and think of ways to actively nurture them.  Take your mind off of what appears negative.  In time, you will see even those things in a positive light.     

4.     Productivity

Whether you presently have a job or not, whether you will eventually work in a law firm or as a government employee or in-house or otherwise, there is no substitute for dedicated hard work.  As an attorney, you will have to demonstrate to your colleagues and clients again and again that, when the circumstances call for it, you are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.  On top of your hard work, you will have to demonstrate that you do good quality work and that you get work done quickly.  The more productive you are in a legal practice environment, the more valuable you are and the more valued you will be.         

5.     Prosperity

Prosperity, according to the commencement ceremony speaker, is the end goal.  The pinnacle.  I can’t disagree.  We all want to prosper, to be prosperous.  But what is most important, here, I believe, is to think deeply about your own definition of prosperity.  What does prosperity look like to you?  What professional and personal milestones will you have to meet in order to feel prosperous?  How will you meet these?  When you can answer these questions, with patience, perseverance, positivity, and productivity at your back, no matter where you are in your life, you will be well on your way.

Desiree Moore is the President and founder of Greenhorn Legal, LLC. Greenhorn Legal offers practical skills training programs for law students and new lawyers as they transition from law school into their legal practices. Ms. Moore is also an adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and was an associate at the law firm of K&L Gates. She can be found on Twitter at @greenhornlegal.