Coaching
Reentry Attorneys: Wanting Back In (and Bringing A Lot Too)
April 17, 2016
By Carroll Welch – There’s a huge, still largely untapped source of energy and talent available to legal employers right now, and with the recent increase in structured programs that recruit, vet, re-orient, and/or mentor these candidates, there’s never been a better time to include them in a workplace that prioritizes diversity: reentry attorneys. Opportunities such
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Talent People: Do Your Associates Know What Partners Want From Them?
August 4, 2015
By Courtney Dredden Carter – In interviews with more than two hundred high performing partners at AmLaw 200 law firms (through my work with the Diversity Lab), I have had the opportunity to glean what these partners value in terms of their colleagues – and particularly what they value in the associates with whom they work. While
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Changing Jobs Without Making a Move
April 21, 2015
By Valerie Fontaine – It’s possible to change jobs without leaving your desk. With today’s frenetic pace of partner moves, practice group divestitures and acquisitions, new firms spinning off, and law firm mergers, you might find yourself working for a progression of different employers without really changing jobs. This can impact your career advancement, however, as
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How to Diagnose the Four Most Common Writing Symptoms That Partners Report
March 30, 2015
By Ross Guberman – When partners report the symptoms of associates’ writing problems, they often sound like a patient who goes to the doctor and says, “I don’t feel so hot, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.” So below I reveal the four writing symptoms that BigLaw partners most often report. And then
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The “Modern” Lawyer Learner – Overwhelmed, Distracted & Impatient
March 9, 2015
By Steve Gluckman – Overwhelmed, Distracted and Impatient… Nope, I’m not talking about my 3 year-old son. (Well, actually I could be, but I’m not at the moment). Instead, I’m referring to, as Josh Bersin of Deloitte calls it, “The Modern Learner.” He states, “As training moves to more digital formats, it’s colliding with new
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Thinking Like a Lawyer Isn’t Enough
February 21, 2015
By Valerie Fontaine – Law school teaches you to think like a lawyer but, to succeed in today’s legal marketplace, you also must think like a businessperson. As the legal profession becomes increasingly business-oriented, successful lawyers need to know more than just law. Business and management skills are essential to advancement, whether you practice in a
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Confronting the Pain of Perpetual Underperformers
January 21, 2015
By Sue Manch – This is that all important time of year when it is finally possible to analyze 2014 financial performance in its entirety. Too many firms will find that their productivity numbers are trending downward based on the lack of productivity of a group of lawyers. Every firm has a list – hopefully
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New Year’s Resolution: Create a “Me File”
January 5, 2015
By Valerie Fontaine – Like most people, you probably made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, eat healthier, and exercise more. But did you make some resolutions to get your professional life in shape as well? January is a good time to take stock and plot some moves to advance your career. To thrive in good
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Maximizing Face Time
October 27, 2014
By Valerie Fontaine – Technological advances constantly improve connectivity, increasing the expectation of lawyers’ availability to work 24/7, while decreasing their need to spend time in the office to do so. A 2010 American Bar Association survey found that 71 percent of the respondents sometimes work remotely from hotels, cafés, their homes, and libraries. In the
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A Lawyer Advancement “Hot Button” That Should Not Be Ignored
August 24, 2014
By Lisa Horowitz – I was recently asked to speak with a group of law firm attorneys about navigating office politics. While I initially balked at the invitation (as dealing with office politics is hardly one of my favorite past-times), I ultimately faced my own demons and facilitated a robust discussion. All organizations, including (or dare
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