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R OW FE S N R P I E E T H Y T AW L

25 Tips for the New Lawyer This is not going to be easy. But you knew that well before you passed the bar (Congratulations, by the way!). There are a lot of lessons you will need to learn the hard way. Still. It would be nice, wouldnt it, to have a slight edge when starting out as a new lawyer? Perhaps an older, savvier friend to fill you in on subtler codes of conduct or to introduce you to the court clerk. Someone to grab you by the elbow and steer you away from trouble and toward better decisions. Or even a cranky old guy to teach you a thing or two. We think so, too. So consider this list of tips and truths your friendly kick to the shins under the conference table and, in some cases, a not-so-subtle kick in the pants. We compiled 25 Tips for the New Lawyer to help you get out of the blocks with the best start possible. Whether youre backed up by an army of support staff and senior partners or braving it solo, soak up some of this sound advice and see if it doesnt help the hard lessons come a little easier. (Pssssst. Youll find more than just 25 great tips herethere are also 50+ links to some of Attorney at Works most popular posts.)

Merrilyn Astin Tarlton

ATTORNEY AT WORK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

25 TIPS FOR THE NEW LAWYER

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Startup Advice from Women Lawyers The Importance of Being Trained

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What Can a Marketing Assistant Do for You? Stupid Mistakes Lawyers Make with Their Computers

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Be the Worlds Most Client Accessible Lawyer

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ay m . I t ot t s ue y n to ge d ur o ma But o y et ou it. v y ha pa ou. Y for o o e t th y dit ing t v ha nea cre go o g t is be take oure g. y y oin rk a g o ma tuff, ief b are he w ers r s h t ou cy es b t i Y em it. O lly ju els se oy e a nj e re eon e h m o t y so Related Links: t rr Managing Up ca
Youre Hired! Heres How to Stay That Way

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Four Things Your Assistant Can Do Better A Cynic's Guide to Pro Bono Work Wiser Words

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t ien l r c e. u yo k lik g. n sk o , a ill lo wro ork s w y be w l he cces bab t ing t su l pro n l gin wha You be or . re rvis ess u efo pe B tg u r s t jus Related Links: o n o Ask Yourself the Moneyball Question D
When You Lose a Client

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t s. . fac you e l th m to l g a the n tti ive e r g to g fo nt le a sib t w n po don res ple are peo u Related Links: Yo n if e 10 Ways to Avoid a Malpractice Claim Ev

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Surprise Your Client

Essential Cloud Apps for Lawyer

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25 TIPS FOR THE NEW LAWYER

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t. en m int It o pp m. one a an n the very E or r y f wa ant. l r ea d to ort bit hea imp le itt all a are al ,c ey st ate th u e j be l hink t. b ys ust ou t rtan a lw u m at y po A o h im f y ws t eel I f ho to Related Links: s es Curmudgeons Perspective: Late ... Again? lik

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25 TIPS FOR THE NEW LAWYER

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d an st fir with ure dle t big t pic fid cen big is to de e th n it ke a t k a s tha o ma loo ce ry t o e t rt e le pi hen i s ea litt nd t h uc t the es a . m s e ou piec them It r gu ittle ut of fi l o he ure Related Links: t ct Now for Something Completely Different pi
Organize Your Brain with Mindmapping

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25 TIPS FOR THE NEW LAWYER

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e on me rst o s e fi r g u h llin In t t yo f . te it. n g t le tood i e we atin ond, ers t be nic sec und e. e l nc mmu the as cyc e fer co . In nd w tire s a n dif nd a a ur lip ind the e s m r re ing yo he eth t eir e fo f T h m it le ed t sibl o , s r se nte spon a c e ,e ps are r Related Links: li u Dont Negotiate, Collaborate! Yo
Curmudgeons Perspective: What Did You Call Me?

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25 TIPS FOR THE NEW LAWYER

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t ou s b d a wyer ie orr er la in e w o t h u t i t m. b e ay p to abo th m o i ou nsh rried as t y nd latio wo ork h u . s aro in re ts i e w ays h n ple ate lie lue t . Alw o c e r t e p urly your e va lien l i Wh ir ho rm, to th our c fi e th our ship ike y y on l in i nk t i ela o th Related Links: r yt The Best Pricing Advice Ever Tr
First Figure Out Your Fee Getting the Fee You Deserve

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25 TIPS FOR THE NEW LAWYER

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t si a w ct , e a ren In f d e an uff. e th t t t. res nt s n los n e to rta oo um ant str ort impo will s . in f ur imp do you stuf yo in st as and ions tant a int lea ard cat por Ma s at rk h t va e im i c It o wo gle o th e d t is ou n y to Related Links: if y acit p Knockout Burnout ca
Take Charge of Your Destiny Choose One Thing Supercharge Your Brain by Going Offline

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t ne tha ill o he edge off w ou t is wl pay g y r we ckno erm elin e s an f. A g-t of fe com t es ht o lon ory ll b g wi e l e th hou t. Th ry g ople s i t a me lse cred ent t pe i h m . et e e m m on e e mo Brig gain h So e m ive t s th est. ou a t so g d rpas mar ith y an su e s w r h rk fa re t wo Related Links: we k to c Take It From the Wonder Pets ba
The Cost of Switching Law Firms

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e t sn t tak i er on tn ar he w nal p o ior e or essi n f se Sh r . pro o r or sso al or t en rofe on r, m ur p pers b. o vis r yo our ur jo r o pe er o or y su th sy f r t ou mo bility Tha Y . r i ou ons ent y p m es lop Related Links: r ve Can I Get a Little Help Here? de
Stop, Look and Listen

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, sk ot a a t re n ow r r o you w h te at that kno o a m ear tt e cl t n ple Be u wa m co ack. yo u yo edb ttery e. n he or fe r fla t tim W f x o sk ing f e ne a k v oo pro Related Links: l im Afraid to Talk? Overcoming Social Anxiety to

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25 TIPS FOR THE NEW LAWYER

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Buff Up Your Bio Shape Up Your Social Status Daily Todays To-Do: Promote Self

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Take Five Steps Up to Leadership Take a Risk: Trust Being Kind

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s ow h t s g is i nd yin a er, re sa mb y a e .) oo em t the r t ou ha wn. hile, s y e w do w elp liev ite in a h r . It u be to w nce s ote at yo ugh ye o n ke le th eno he e Ta p nt in t o pe orta em p h Related Links: im ok t o Say What? (L
Make Meetings Count Conference Call Etiquette Using the iPad in Meetings

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25 TIPS FOR THE NEW LAWYER

About Attorney at Work Attorney at Work is for the enterprising lawyer. Thought leaders, innovators and real-world practitionersthe best in the business from around the globe, actuallyserve up original ideas that will scratch the itch, smooth the rough edges, kick out the jams and point the shining way for you to create the life and career you just flat deserve. Visit our website at www.attorneyatwork.com (ALERT: Youll find a lot of really useful and entertaining stuff in that daily stream!) and then simply type your email address into the Subscribe box to receive a free dispatch every workday morning.

Merrilyn Astin Tarlton has been helping lawyers and law firms think differently about the business of practicing law since 1984. She was a founding member of the Legal Marketing Association, past Trustee and President of the College of Law Practice Management and recipient of the LMA Hall of Fame award. Merrilyn is Partner/Catalyst of Attorney at Work along with Joan Feldman, Partner/Editorial and Mark Feldman, Partner/Creative.