Finding a Deeper Meaning in Estate Planning

Your reputation in the law is important to your future success.  We are sharing seven considerations for you when thinking about the type of reputation you are looking to build.

1. Establish your expertise.
2. As a new attorney it is your job to learn your chosen practice.  You are not going to be an expert in those early years but that is okay.  As you learn others around you will notice your dedication and diligence.  This will help you build that reputation for expertise as to expand your knowledge.
3. Maintain professionalism.
4. Professionalism is vital to your reputation and that applies to anyone you interact with professionally.  Most attorneys interact with some of the same people on a regular basis so keep that in mind.  Examples include being punctual and respectful of others' time.  Be courteous and do not talk down to others.  People pay attention to how you treat them, as well as those around you so consider this as you decide how you want to present yourself and interact with others.
5. Demonstrate your work ethic.
6. Be responsive to inquiries.  Return phone calls and emails promptly.  Be consistent in your work so that clients and colleagues know that you are dependable.  
7. Practice your communication skills.
8. Consider ways to highlight your stronger skills but do not be shy to work on those skills that you are not as comfortable with to become a well rounded professional.
9. Network.
10. Networking is one of the best ways to build a strong legal career and it is absolutely tied in with your professional reputation.  
11. Engage with your local community.
12. Many attorneys are well known for their civic engagement.  What kind of work, committee or organization can you join and devote time to?  A natural place to look is something that fits within your practice area.
13. Create and maintain your online presence.
14. Craft a thoughtful bio for your firm’s website.  You can then use this bio to create an engaging profile for LinkedIn. LinkedIn can be a great place to hone your professional reputation to a wider audience.

A strong professional reputation takes time and effort.  But with a thoughtful plan and a commitment to excellence your reputation will help you achieve your goals.

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

This week we are addressing a common summer question for those of you entering law school this fall - what do I need for law school???

Physical Items:

1. Tech - a lightweight laptop is a necessity.  Many law students also opt for tablets for note taking, scheduling, planning, and more.

2. Noise cancelling headphones - these are a must to help you concentrate and get through long study sessions.

3. Portable charger - this will ensure that no matter where you are sitting in the library you are charged and ready to go.

4. Traditional back-to-school essentials - sticky notes, pens, and highlighters are a classic law school staple.

5. School bag - you should get something study and comfortable to carry around all of your essentials.

6. Study templates from our Etsy shop!  Use code LWLPOD for 15% your entire purchase.  

Things to consider as you begin law school:

1. Familiarize yourself with the curriculum by reviewing the structure, schedule, assignments, and required reading.

2. Develop strong reading and analytical skills.

3. Understand the Socratic method.

4. Create a study schedule.

5. Utilize your school’s available resources.

6. Build a strong network.

7. Improve your legal writing skills.

8. Stay organized and manage stress intentionally.

9. Embrace a growth mindset.

10. Remember your goals.

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

We are gearing up for a summer filled with vacations, day trips, and time spent with family and friends.  So, of course, we are considering how we can actually disconnect when we are out of the office, whether that is for an afternoon or for a week.  

As an attorney, it takes more than just popping up your out of office response on your email. Especially in a smaller firm, there may be files or tasks that you are the point of contact, decision maker and advisor.  To be able to disconnect when you are at the office, and truly have a physical and mental break, you need to plan. 

Here are ten easy steps to help you plan to disconnect.

1. Plan ahead.  To the extent you can, schedule this time out of the office in advance so that your staff, clients, and colleagues know that you will be unavailable and you can prepare your files accordingly.

2. Review your files to organize and prioritize your open matters.

3. Delegate.  Now that you have organized and prioritized your open matters, go through the tasks and decide what you can delegate to other staff members to get done before you plan to be away, or to work on while you are away.  Provide clear direction and as much information as you can, including relevant contact information for other involved colleagues, so that your staff is equipped to accomplish the work you have delegated to them.

4. Set realistic boundaries.  After you have reviewed and organized your matters, you should have a realistic idea of what could occur while you are away.

5. Schedule and automate tasks.  If there are any tasks that you routinely handle, schedule these beforehand.

6. Clear your inbox.  Now, inbox zero is a scenario most only dream of, but prior to setting your out of office message, make sure you have gone through your email and responded to any outstanding inquiries.

7. Inform Staff, Colleagues and Clients.  Of course your staff should be advised of your out of office plans, but if you are actively working on a matter, a quick email to a colleague and client advising that you will be out of the office helps to set the expectation that you will not be available so that an outstanding matter can be dealt with prior to your leaving.

8. Keep detailed notes.  You should be doing this as we work on files, but particularly before time out of the office, make sure that you have kept detailed notes so that staff will have all the information they may need to work on a file.

9. Take care of personal matters.  Put your mail on hold.  Make sure your passport is up to date.  Schedule your transportation to and from the airport.  Book the pet sitter.  Make your dinner reservations. Take steps now so that your time can be as stress free as possible while you are away.

10. Mentally disconnect.  This is the hardest of all the steps.  By empowering your staff and partners, you can give yourself permission to mentally disconnect knowing that they can handle the everyday questions or matters that may come up in your absence.  

Preparation and communication is key to making your time out of the office truly disconnected. 

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

Congratulations to all of the 2023 law school graduates!

In honor of this huge milestone, we are sharing our tips to help you prepare and plan to study for the bar exam this summer.

Tip #1 - Celebrate your J.D.

Law school is a huge accomplishment all on its own.  Take some time to put the bar exam out of your mind, as well as wherever you are in your job search and just celebrate your J.D. You’ve worked hard.  You deserve to take the time to celebrate this major accomplishment before focusing on what will be your next accomplishment–passing the bar. 

Tip #2 - Make a plan for how you will study.

Whether you use a bar exam prep class or use a self-study method, you should begin with your study plan.  Doing the practice exams were probably our least favorite part of study but they were absolutely necessary.

Definitely schedule some time for practice exams.  Do your best to simulate what those actual testing conditions will be like.  Towards the end of your studying, take a full practice exam.  

While you can’t control everything around you, you can do your best to stick to your plan and minimize distractions.  At this point you should consider whether you can carve out time for events that will happen during your study period.  Will you be able to attend a friend’s wedding?  How will you do that?  What does your study time look like around that specific event?

If you are looking for some additions planning support for your bar exam planning, please check out our Bar Exam Study Planner on Etsy.  These eight templates will help you plan your entire study schedule, track your progress, and stay motivated to reach the finish line.

Tip #3 - Prepare your family and friends.

Unless they are lawyers themselves they will likely have no concept of what is before you or the work that needs to go into it.  It is definitely worth the time spent now to prepare them for what is ahead, rather than having to justify your time later when you are in the midst of studying.

Since you have already planned out your summer and prioritized obligations you are able, if you so choose, to give them an insight into what your study schedule looks like.  You can choose to share what the materials are you are studying and what the exam looks like.  Chances are these people closest to you will at least give you the benefit of the doubt, even if they don’t understand completely, that this is what you need to do to make it to the finish line.

Tip #4 - Make a plan for post-bar fun.

You will definitely deserve some down time after taking the bar.  It will be something to look forward to and you will be happy to have something fun after the bar.

Let us know how your study planning goes!

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner.  This usually means a different pace of our daily lives.  The summer is a great time to network at any stage of your career.  Because of unique summer opportunties, you can simplify your summer networking and enjoy yourself while you do it. 

If you are in law school you likely have a summer position.  Even if you are taking summer classes, the flow of a summer session is entirely different from the regular school year.  For those of you taking the bar this summer you have a very different season before you.  Even if you are out and in practice, the summer can mean a different work flow, perhaps some time to take a breath, and maybe even a vacation.

This interruption in your schedule to hopefully enjoy some beautiful weather means something else to us. This is the perfect opportunity for summer networking.  Because of the particular nature of summer, summer networking can look very different.  We always find that networking in the summer lends itself to more casual networking and in ways that you would not necessarily think to do it in other seasons.

But before you decide where and when you will network in the summer, you must first think about why.  The first place we will start is with our networking goals. As we always say, networking is not about attending every meet and greet or networking event you are invited to. Networking is about relationships. 

Strong networking relationships are mutually beneficial professional relationships. As you start to develop a plan that works for you and your practice area, keep the goal of developing relationships into mutually beneficial networking relationships at the forefront.  For many established lawyers the answer to this question may be very easy.  But even established lawyers may not be proficient networkers, in fact many are not.  

First determine why you are networking. That is, who are you seeking to connect with? Colleagues? Referral sources? Or prospective clients? Focusing your attention on your goals and then developing a plan for how you will reach that goal will save you time and energy because you will be able focus on actions that will serve you rather than simply trying to cast a wide net and see what happens.

If you are a law student that is unsure about your path and you have a summer position then we have a very simple networking plan for you this summer.  Focus on networking at work.  The summer is the perfect stretch of time to focus on developing those relationships within your summer position.  

Now it is time to consider how you will take advantage of all of the unique summer networking opportunities.  And remember you are not confined to networking at formal organized events.  The summer is a perfect time to reconnect with colleagues over a longer lunch at an outdoor cafe or making time for a round of golf during a slower week this summer.

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

Professional networking groups are an effective way to generate new business, refer leads to others, and generally network with local professionals.  But they can be intimidating if you do not know much about them.  We are breaking down professional networking groups, how they work, what to expect, and how to tell if it is right for you.

What is a professional networking group?

A professional networking group is a curated group of professionals that meet on some regular basis with the set goal of networking, most often for referrals.  This group is often vetted by profession and requires membership fees.  There will also usually be a regular meeting schedule.  A professional networking group may be a local group or may be a chapter of larger national or international professional networking group.

How do professional networking groups work?

Typically the president (or otherwise designated person) will open the meeting with any new business and introduce any visitors.  Then you go around and do a brief 30-second elevator pitch style introduction of who you are, what you do, and what is an ideal referral for you.  

Next, you are given the chance to pass your tips.  Then one member has a chance to give a presentation about their business.  This helps the other members of the group learn more about them and what types of referrals they might be looking for.

How do I know if a professional networking group is right for me?

First, look at how much your fees are and how much one warm lead could earn you.  For most attorneys, this would be one or two referrals.  But if you are in an industry where it is going to take a lot of referrals to just break even, you want to be certain that joining a group makes financial sense.  

Second, make sure you visit a few different groups and that they are made up of professionals that would likely refer work to you and that you can refer work to.  For an attorney, some of our best referrals come from attorneys in other practice areas.

Benefits of Professional Networking Groups:

• Regularly scheduled networking with the intent being business generation.  
• Collaboration with other professionals.
• Professional development opportunities, such a speaking engagements.
• Enhance your networking skills.

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

For law students and lawyers new to practice, your resume will not be filled with legal experience.  This can leave you feeling anxious and frustrated with the job search process.  

We are sharing resume green flags that we look for in our firms and how you can showcase these in your resume.

Resume Green Flag #1 - Extracurricular Activities

Involvement in activities, groups, or organizations outside of your class requirements can showcase a lot about your personality.  First, it can show the person looking at your resume that you can balance responsibilities and that you are a team player.  These extracurricular activities may also be a connection point with the person reviewing your resume.  

A leadership role can also help you highlight your dedication to your commitments and leadership skills.

Resume Green Flag #2 - Work History (non-law)

The ability to obtain, maintain, and thrive in employment is something that potential employers absolutely look for - even if the specific experience is unrelated to the position you are applying for.

If you had a role that was for a set period of time, clarifying that on your resume can also show that you fulfill obligations.

Resume Green Flag #3 - Interests

Interests may spark connection points between an interviewer and interviewee with the same interest.  Even without that connection point, the interviewer is able to learn more about you, which can spark more genuine and illuminating conversation.

What green flags do you have on your resume?

Have a great day!

Haley and Amy

P.S. - Looking for a way to organize applications, interviews, and more for your job search?  Check out our Law Student Job Search Bundle on Etsy!  Use code LWLPOD for %15 off any purchase from our shop, including all of our amazing law school success bundles.

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

Mentor relationships (much like networking) is something that we all know we should be pursuing for professional success, but can often be anxiety inducing.  However so many of the same networking principles that we utilize can also apply to the search for your next mentor.

But how to get started?  The first place to look is at your current professional network.  Is there anyone in your network with whom you would be interested in pursuing a mentor relationship?  No matter who you are you have a network.  You have friends and family, friends of people in your family.  You have had employers, coworkers, teachers, and professors.  These are easy places to look for a prospective mentor.

What if you do not think that anyone you already know fits the bill?  Try looking one step out from your direct network.  Is there anyone in your school, ideal practice area, or general profession that you are aware of but maybe do not know?  If so, then look for a connection point.  Is there someone you know who could make an introduction?  Are they presenting at a conference that you are going to attend?  Is there a way that you could meet them in a professional setting to begin to develop that relationship?

But maybe you are not sure who you would like to develop a mentor relationship with because you do not know what you are looking for.  Here are three simple ways to brainstorm to find your ideal mentor:

1. Make a list.

A simple list of qualities or attributes in your ideal mentor is a simply place to begin.  As you work it is likely that the person you are looking for will come into focus.

2. Vision board.

A vision board can be a great brainstorming tool to help you break through a barrier.  Whether with actual paper or digitally, a vision board can help you identify who you are truly seeking.

3. Nurture your existing network.

Select two or three people in your existing network.  For whatever reason you may not think they are candidate for your mentor.  But, developing your relationship with them may either change your view or help you learn more about them so you can connect to a prospective mentor in their network.

As you grow, if you have the opportunity to become a mentor for someone else - take it!

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

When we think of networking we often think of events filled with eager networkers or exclusive networking groups.  These are great places to network.  But they are not the only way to network.

Let’s take a step back and simplify the process.  Here are three steps you can take this week to jumpstart your professional networking.

Step #1 - Make a list.

Make a quick list of at least nine people.  These should be people whom you already know a little bit - not strangers and not your best friend.  Do not overthink the list.  The ideal person is someone you have met but what to connect with more professionally.

Step #2 - Identify three people.

Again, do not overthink this.  Just commit to three names.  You will then write how you will connect with them next to their name.

Some easy examples are:  reaching out about a milestone or celebration; scheduling time for a call, coffee, or lunch; see if they want to attend a CLE or other bar function with you; or interact with their professional online content.

Step #3 - Connect.

Decide when you will make the connection and DO IT!  Repeat each week until you are finished with your list.

These three steps are such an easy way to make connections without spending a lot of time or thought worrying about the process.  You can use these three steps over and over again to reinvigorate your networking routine anytime that works for you.

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

Practical legal experience is a coveted resume builder for law students and recent law school graduates.  This week we are sharing a few opportunities for you to gain practical legal experience - all with a networking bonus.

1. Legal Clinic

Most law school have legal clinics associated with this schools.  This is a direct routine to experiences that you would not otherwise have in the classroom.  A clinic can also help you learn more about an area of law so you have a better idea of what you want to pursue after law school.

2.  Mock Trial

The opportunity to compete on a mock trial team cannot be replicated anywhere else in law school.  Getting on your feet and arguing before panels and judges will give you that experience and a big resume boost.

3.  Judicial Internship

While the most common way we think about law clerks in the courts is the year following law school, that is not the only path.  Many courts bring in interns for a year or a semester.  This is a front row seat to our justice system and will give you exposure like nothing else.

4.  Law Firm Clerkship

Whether you spend a summer in a law firm, or maybe longer, law firm clerkships are a classic way to gain experience as a student.  The variety of clerkships vary from firm to firm - there is no one size fits all approach.  Consider you interests and reach out to local firms to see whether you are just what they are looking for.

Networking Bonus:

All of these opportunities gives you the chance to expand your professional network and work on your networking skills.  Interested in networking, but unsure where to begin?  Check out The Law Student’s Guide to Networking - available on Amazon.

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.