Making the transition from law student and law clerk to a practicing attorney isn’t always easy.
Past NJSBA President Karol Corbin Walker, who is also chair of the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law, shared pearls of wisdom for making a successful pivot Wednesday at the 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting program “Transitioning from law clerk to associate: Professional tips to make it a success for young lawyers and those who hire them.”
Above all, said Walker, be nice.
“It’s important to remember the things we learned when we were very young, they still apply at your law firm,” she said. “Be nice. You should be nice to everyone, not just the partners, but the associates, the paralegals, the mailroom employees and the security guards.”
Here are more tips:
- Do not badmouth other people at your job. Think about how you can become part of the team.
- Remember you are being paid to advocate on behalf of a client.
- Become familiar with the Rules of Professional Conduct, especially as they pertain to confidentiality of client information. Be very careful and thoughtful when discussing client information.
- It’s ok to ask questions. It’s critical that you understand the parameters of the assignment. Try to be comprehensive about the questions you ask about assignments.
- Make sure you know the deadlines for assignments and what assignments take priority over others.
- Maintain relationships because they could lead to opportunities in the future. And network with peers and others, such as through bar associations, inns of court, and community activities.
- Firm and client functions are totally different than hanging out with friends: Maintain decorum.
- Be observant and a careful student of the firm’s practices: How do people refer to each other? What is the dress code?
- Ask for help. People are almost always willing to help you. There is so much you can use to hone your skills.
The panel also included commission members: retired Assignment Judge Georgia M. Curio; retired Assignment Judge Linda R. Feinberg; and James J. Uliano.