You’ve finally survived what seems like an endless college education, you’ve passed your bar exam and you landed a job at a prestigious law firm. You’re walking into your first day of work with your head held high and your new, polished work clothes. This is your time.
You want to be the best lawyer your firm has ever seen, and maybe even open your own law firm one day. But, how will you ever set yourself apart from the sea of lawyers trying to survive the rate race? Do you know how to be a good lawyer?
With over 1.34 million lawyers in the United States, becoming the best in your industry can be a tricky task to tackle.
But, these tips and tricks will teach you how to be a good lawyer and surpass your market’s intense competition in no time.
1. Find Your Niche
With so many it’s important to find your specialty, or niche, to make you stand out from the sea of others. For example, focus on a targeted area of real estate, entertainment law or even become a DWI lawyer.
Whatever your niche may be, it may take some time to find- especially if you’re just starting to dip your toes in the water of a law firm. But, by keeping this tip in mind, you’ll be able to find your niche by realizing what cases you are best at and what cases you enjoy tackling the most.
Having a niche will make you much more valuable to both your law firm and your clients. Plus, you’ll be able to to a targeted audience and start raking in some serious dollar signs.
2. Have Impeccable Organizational Skills
You might have entered this field to argue in court and for rewarding moments of winning a ground-breaking case. But the reality is, most of the time, you’ll be stuck in an office doing a lot of leg work. This can include paperwork, research and juggling multiple cases at once.
A good lawyer has impeccable organizational skills so they can be successful both on and off the field.
3. Be Humble, Sit Down
Now, it’s honesty time. Even though you might’ve graduated with a 4.0 GPA and completed multiple internships during college, you still don’t know everything there is about the legal field- yet.
A good lawyer is made of equal parts confidence and humility. So, take a step back so you can realize there’s so much for you to learn before you make it to the top of the food chain.
4. Details, Details, Details
Just like any profession, you’re probably going to be assigned tasks that no one else wants to do. While you can complain that these tasks are a waste of time, instead, use these opportunities to convey your dedication to your firm.
So, if you’re going to do something, do it well and do it the best by focusing on the details. Put in extra hours of research. Read similar court cases. Double and triple check all of your facts.
This work won’t go unnoticed, and it’s a great way to get recognized amidst the sea of law grads.
5. Ask Questions
This tip relates back to number three on this list. Don’t be afraid to ask other lawyers questions about, well, anything. Chances are, other lawyers have struggled with your exact dilemma, and they more than likely have a profound answer for you.
Plus, it’s much better to ask a question and be wrong in front of a colleague than to be wrong in front of a judge or client.
How To Be A Good Lawyer
There’s more to being an excellent lawyer than what you learned in college. Now, it’s time to take your skills, experience, and knowledge and combine it with these tips so you can become the best of the best.
Soon, you’ll be the one answering the question on how to be a good lawyer.
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