How to Be a Lawyer - The Path From Law School to Success

Transform your legal education into a successful and fulfilling legal career
 
In How to Be a Lawyer: The Path from Law School to Success, a team of veteran lawyers and entrepreneurs delivers an eye-opening discussion of how to translate your years of training and education into a running start in the world of practice. The book bridges the gap between law school and practice, whether you hope to be a big firm transactional attorney, a solo criminal lawyer, work for the government or any other legal profession. You'll discover how you can use what you learned in law school and how you can develop the real skills you'll need as you deal with clients and colleagues.
 
The authors explain what your professors won't tell you in law school and what employers and clients will actually expect from you. You'll also find:
* Case studies and guest chapters describing the transition to major areas of law and how it can and should affect your law school decision making
* Expert advice on making your first job a successful one
* Guidance on how to avoid the most common career pitfalls and client mistakes
* Unfiltered opinions from clients about what they really think about lawyers
 
An ideal resource for aspiring and current law students and early career lawyers, How to Be a Lawyer is the practical blueprint you need to build your legal career from scratch.

List of contents

About the Authors xv
 
Acknowledgmentsxiii xv
 
Why We Wrote This Book 1
 
Chapter 1 The Divide Between Law School and Lawyering 5
 
Chapter 2 The Core Concepts of Lawyering 11
 
Empathy 12
 
Listen First, Talk Second 16
 
Ask Questions 17
 
Always (Usually) Give Advice 18
 
Chapter 3 Understanding the Importance of Law School Rankings on Your Future 23
 
Chapter 4 Classic Coursework (What Is It Good For?) 27
 
Torts 28
 
Contracts 28
 
Civil Procedure 33
 
Property 33
 
Criminal Law 34
 
Constitutional Law 34
 
Legal Methods/Writing/Research 35
 
Evidence 36
 
Ethics and Professional Responsibility 36
 
Chapter 5 Choosing Proper Electives 39
 
Chapter 6 What Should You Get Out of Law School? 43
 
Chapter 7 Be a Fiduciary 45
 
Principle 1: Know If You're Acting as a Fiduciary and on Whose Behalf 46
 
Principle 2: Slow Down 49
 
Principle 3: Seek Advice and Help 50
 
Principle 4: Always Put Your Clients' Interests Ahead of Your Own 50
 
Chapter 8 A Short Primer on Negotiations 53
 
Negotiation Tactics 54
 
What Really Matters? 54
 
Preparing for the Negotiation 55
 
A Brief Introduction to Game Theory 57
 
Negotiating Win- Win Agreements 59
 
Negotiating Other Games 60
 
Negotiating Styles and Approaches 61
 
Collaborative Negotiation Versus Walk- Away Threats 65
 
Building Leverage and Getting to Yes 66
 
Chapter 9 Preparing for the Job Hunt 69
 
You on Paper 69
 
Social Media 70
 
Telling the Story 71
 
Networking into Employers 71
 
Mindset 72
 
Career Placement Services 72
 
Chapter 10 The Bar Exam 73
 
Chapter 11 You Got the Job-- There Is No Time for Rest 75
 
Chapter 12 The Fourteen Commandments for New Lawyers (Okay, How about "Strong Suggestions"?)7
 
1: Have a Learning Mindset 77
 
2: Rely On but Mistrust Forms 78
 
3: Beware of the Foggy Project Trap 79
 
4: Never Consider Anything That Goes to a Senior Colleague or Client to Be a "Draft" 79
 
5: Be More Organized Than Others 80
 
6: Take Ownership Without Request 81
 
7: Invest in Your Management Skills 81
 
8: Have a Three- to Five-Year Horizon 82
 
9: Plan to Develop Near- Term and Long- Term Advantages 83
 
10: Understand How to Best Use and Foster Mentor Relationships 85
 
11: Flatten Hierarchies 86
 
12: Own Your Mistakes 88
 
13: Know What a Junior Lawyer's Value Is 88
 
14: Keep Your Own List 88
 
Bonus Commandment for Those Working with Contracts! 88
 
Chapter 13 Common Mistakes New Lawyers Make That Limit Careers and Anger Clients 89
 
Chapter 14 Relationships, Difficult Personalities, and Being the Calmest Person in the Room 95
 
Forgetting You Are in the Services Industry 89
 
Getting Frustrated and Thinking People Are Idiots 89
 
Having Loose Lips 90
 
Assuming Each State Has the Same Laws 90
 
Treating Administrative Staff Poorly 90
 
Having a Sexual Relationship at Work 91
 
Being Inconsiderate of Others' Calendars 91
 
Forgetting You Are the Leverage 91
 
Forgetting Who the Client Is 92
 
Assuming Other Lawyers Are Good People 92
 
Shortchanging Research 93
 
Failing to Understand Basic Intellectual Property Law 93
 
Talking to Another Attorney's Client Without the Attorney 93
 
Screwing Up Billing (If You Bill Clients b

About the author

JASON MENDELSON, JD, is a lawyer, entrepreneur, startup founder, venture capitalist, software engineer, criminal justice reformer and musician. He was an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Law School for over a decade.
ALEX PAUL, JD, is a lawyer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He co-founded Giving Place, an online philanthropy platform, as well as Wealthgate Trust Company and Family Office.

Summary

Transform your legal education into a successful and fulfilling legal career

In How to Be a Lawyer: The Path from Law School to Success, a team of veteran lawyers and entrepreneurs delivers an eye-opening discussion of how to translate your years of training and education into a running start in the world of practice. The book bridges the gap between law school and practice, whether you hope to be a big firm transactional attorney, a solo criminal lawyer, work for the government or any other legal profession. You'll discover how you can use what you learned in law school and how you can develop the real skills you'll need as you deal with clients and colleagues.

The authors explain what your professors won't tell you in law school and what employers and clients will actually expect from you. You'll also find:
* Case studies and guest chapters describing the transition to major areas of law and how it can and should affect your law school decision making
* Expert advice on making your first job a successful one
* Guidance on how to avoid the most common career pitfalls and client mistakes
* Unfiltered opinions from clients about what they really think about lawyers

An ideal resource for aspiring and current law students and early career lawyers, How to Be a Lawyer is the practical blueprint you need to build your legal career from scratch.

Product details

• Authors: J Mendelson, Jason Mendelson, Jason Paul Mendelson, Mendelson Jason, Alex Paul
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.06.2022
• EAN: 9781119835813
• ISBN: 978-1-119-83581-3
• No. of pages: 336
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Law > General, dictionaries; Rechtsanwalt, Jurist, Finance & Investments, Finanz- u. Anlagewesen, Spezialthemen Finanz- u. Anlagewesen, Finance & Investments Special Topics