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in your experience, what are the qualities that make a good summer associate, junior associate, mid-level associate, senior associate, and partner? Is it true that there is a weak correlation between academic performance in law school and professional performance? Are there certain skill sets or practices that a student can hone in a law school environment?

High pain tolerance

You’re going to get a lot of joke responses asking a question like this on this site, but I’ll try to offer a couple pieces of actual advice.

First, there is not a whole lot you can do in law school. Take the classes relevant to your practice area if you can. You’ll likely forget much of the material before you start, but at least you’ll have some vague memory to go off of. Even clinics are not THAT helpful. I enjoyed mine but it really does not relate to my day to day.

The best advice I got when I was starting out as a junior associate was to learn what resources and staff the firm offers, and utilize them effectively. Word processing, paralegals, library staff, staff attorneys, etc. can be invaluable resources if you learn how to delegate properly.

Time management, organizational skills, communication skills, and emotional compartmentalization. Also, basic logical thinking helps, too.

Lol at good lawyer equalling big law associate.

Op here, thanks for the advice. Yes, I know it was not the most elegant question.I am simply curious as to what skill sets are emphasized at different career stages. I don’t come from a family of lawyers. Any insight was appreciated so thank you again for restraining yourselves on the snark.

Writing ability, reading ability, close attention to detail, and work ethic are all pretty important skills to have at most stages of being a lawyer -- at least in litigation. If you want to ever become partner, connections to wealthy folks and/or excellent social skills are also quasi-required.

I would also add

Availability
Ability to stay calm in pressured and difficult situations
Showing and keeping enthusiasm
Active listener
Good judgment
Ability to understand what is important and/or urgent and what is not
Ability to verbally convey complex problems in simple terms
Have common sense
Ability to relate and get along with different and sometimes difficult personalities
Self-awareness
Efficient
Thick skin

I remember reading The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law by Mark Herrmann and thought it was good and relevant to this topic.

ronaldo09 wrote:I would also add

Availability
Ability to stay calm in pressured and difficult situations
Showing and keeping enthusiasm
Active listener
Good judgment
Ability to understand what is important and/or urgent and what is not
Ability to verbally convey complex problems in simple terms
Have common sense
Ability to relate and get along with different and sometimes difficult personalities
Self-awareness
Efficient
Thick skin

This list is spot-on. For juniors I'd say there is a premium on availability, common sense, (relatedly) good judgment, thick skin and curiosity/engagement (related to enthusiasm). Some of the other stuff comes more with time.