Law is a profession of passed down wisdom. But that wisdom is often siloed to a golden few. The internet offers an opportunity to share this knowledge asynchronously & at scale.
So in 2021 I interviewed 50 lawyers on the #HowILawyer podcast.
Here are 20 lessons I learned 𧡠π
1. Career Paths Only Look Straight When You Look Backwards.
When you read LinkedIn bios top to bottom career trajectories can seem obvious. But the truth is that they are often unplanned, serendipitous, and the product of chance and risk taking.
twitter.com/JonahPerlin/status/1466789842688389122?s=20
2. Find Champions, Not Just Mentors.
A mentor helps you find your way. A champion helps you pave the way and get across the finish line.
Having a champion is a key to success. Being a champion is perhaps the greatest value you can add to our profession.
CC: @cseguin03
3. Build a Community Not Just a Network.
Networking gets a bad rap. Bad π·, awkward convos, privilege.
But that is not the only way. Networking can be non-legal one-to-one community building. Just keep in touch. Have a Zoom. Get β.
CC: @CecereCarl twitter.com/CecereCarl/status/1444033571967143936?s=20
4. One Moment or Conversation Can Change Your Career. Be Ready.
Every guest had an "aha" moment, connection, or "break" that changed their career.
Be ready for your big break. Do the things you need to do to be open to take that chance or next step.
cc: @megan_siddall
5. Take Small Bets.
Relatedly, the most successful lawyers are the ones who make small bets. Try a new practice. Meet a new person. Do something out of your comfort zone.
You can't increase your success numerator. You can increase the denominator of chances to make it happen.
6. Experience is the Greatest Teacher.
We may not have formal apprenticeships in US law, but so much of being a lawyer is learning by doing and learning by watching.
Early in your career you won't have the experience. That's OK! Go out and get some.
twitter.com/JonahPerlin/status/1354510190964572160?s=20
7. Good Writers Stand Out.
I often tell my @GeorgetownLaw students that they may not have realized it but lawyers are professional writers.
My guests have told me that the junior lawyers who are the best legal writers are the ones that stand out.
cc: @KannonShanmugam
8. Lawyers Can Actually Like or Even β€οΈ What They Do.
They call it work for a reason. Not everyone loves their job. But a JD opens lots of πͺ to different things. Finding something that you enjoy may takes trial and error, financial sacrifice, and time. But it is possible.
9. Do What You are Good At.
Common advice is do what you love. But what my guests reminded me is that you should do what you are good at (and it might not be specifically legal).
E.g. @heyitsalexsu learned he was great at cold calling which opened up a career in #legaltech
10. Find Your Personal Monopoly.
Everyone has skills and experience. But what are the *combination* of skills and experience that only you have. Knowing that and working there is a superpower.
H/t @david_perell.
Discussed more on @TexAppLawPod
π§ π twitter.com/jodyssanders/status/1458798835749244935?s=20
11. Mistakes Happen.
I always ask guests for advice. Several reminded me that "mistakes happen." We are not judged for making them but rather how we respond.
Don't hide. Don't ignore. Don't try to duct tape it. Tell the supervisor or client and work together to solve it.
12. Embrace Breadth, Then Specialize.
Lawyers can do many different things but too often they only do what they know or what they *think* lawyers do. The pod features TONS of different types of lawyers. Learn first. Specialize second.
Check out howilawyer.com
13. Build an Audience.
The sheer size of the internet is hard to grasp. Even a very niche interest or practice can be quite large globally. Start building an audience now and connecting to others in your sphere. And do it by helping, not yelling.
CC: @davidlat, @mjs_DC
14. Social Media is a Professional Tool.
Lawyers function in community with other lawyers (see above) and social media is a powerful tool for finding that connection. It can be fun too.
CC: Dean @RMFifthCircuit, #appellatetwitter
15. Own The Case.
This one is for junior lawyers.
You may not have the expertise yet but you be the world's greatest expert on a particular document or concept.
Don't just do the task, think about how it fits. That is the way to stand out.
CC: @nicholasjboyle, @BrantMartin5
16. The Job You Have in Ten Years May Not Exist Today
One of the fascinating parts of law is that it responds to the needs of TODAY. As things change so does law. Gain skills, keep learning, and be ready for what is to come.
CC: @iampaulgrewal, @MHBlumenstein, @GTeninbaum
17. The Best Lawyers are Translators.
So much of being an effective lawyer is interacting with non-lawyers or lawyers in other practice areas. Being able to translate (without always saying NO) is an essential skill.
CC: @StaggAndrea, @SuchiPahi, @avtrask
18. Be Curious.
One of the unforgotten superpowers of the practice of law is curiosity. Each client, each case, and each task are a learning opportunity and the more open you are to really learn it, the more successful you can be.
cc: @ejleelaw
19. Lawyers Can Be Change Makers.
So much of law school is about skill and knowledge acquisition. In that process it is easy to forget that lawyers can be some of the world's most powerful change makers. Don't forget it.
CC: @MooreWright05, @AppellateProj, @DCJusticeLab
20. Learn from Others, But Their Path Need Not Be Yours.
Lawyers love to tell their story. The risk of e-mailing a senior lawyer to chat is ZERO. Make connections!
CC: @BrianHPotts
But their advice is based on their experience. Listen but take your own path.
CC: @piaowens
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