25 Things all Young Lawyers Need to Know (ATL) Forum

[yossarian]

Above The Law posted this article recently with early career advice. Thought I'd throw it into the waters for general consideration. I've included the link and repeated the list.

http://abovethelaw.com/2014/02/25-thing ... l-careers/

1. 2nd and 3rd year grades do count
2. check bar requirements in advance
3. do federal clerkships for litigation not corporate
4. firm prestige matters
5. pick practice area based on personality
6. pick practice area based on academic background
7. pick practice area based on preferred geography
8. pick practice area based on market considerations
9. pick practice area based on beyond-practice goals
10. understand the structures of law firms
11. manage your own professional development
12. constantly think toward the next step
13. keep up with firm/industry news
14. learn the business side of the legal industry
15. keep your resume up-to-date
16. gain deal experience
17. use career resources at your law school
18. do not give notice at a job until employment is secured
19. understand the lateral market
20. know your shelf life
21. it's okay to drop a class year
22. do not overemphasize prestige when lateraling
23. learn recruiters' backgrounds
24. be nice to recruiters
25. be nice to everyone

Obviously much of this advice is trite and needs little debate. We all know to be nice and keep our resumes up-to-date. However, I'd thought I'd throw it out for general discussion. Are there points that are over-emphasized, need more nuance, wrong?

[mirroroferised7]

Above The Law posted this article recently with early career advice. Thought I'd throw it into the waters for general consideration. I've included the link and repeated the list.

http://abovethelaw.com/2014/02/25-thing ... l-careers/

3. do federal clerkships for litigation not corporate

I'm a 0L... what does #3 mean?

[yossarian]

Above The Law posted this article recently with early career advice. Thought I'd throw it into the waters for general consideration. I've included the link and repeated the list.

http://abovethelaw.com/2014/02/25-thing ... l-careers/

3. do federal clerkships for litigation not corporate

I'm a 0L... what does #3 mean?

The article is arguing: If you want to be a litigator (actual suits whether settling or trial), then federal clerkships could help your career, but firms won't really care about your clerkships if you are on the transactional/corporate (non-law suit: like mergers and acquisitions) side of the firm

[mirroroferised7]

Above The Law posted this article recently with early career advice. Thought I'd throw it into the waters for general consideration. I've included the link and repeated the list.

http://abovethelaw.com/2014/02/25-thing ... l-careers/

3. do federal clerkships for litigation not corporate

I'm a 0L... what does #3 mean?

The article is arguing: If you want to be a litigator (actual suits whether settling or trial), then federal clerkships could help your career, but firms won't really care about your clerkships if you are on the transactional/corporate (non-law suit: like mergers and acquisitions) side of the firm

Cool! Thanks! I did read the article, and understand all the points now except #21. What does it mean to drop a Class Year?

[yossarian]

Above The Law posted this article recently with early career advice. Thought I'd throw it into the waters for general consideration. I've included the link and repeated the list.

http://abovethelaw.com/2014/02/25-thing ... l-careers/

3. do federal clerkships for litigation not corporate

I'm a 0L... what does #3 mean?

The article is arguing: If you want to be a litigator (actual suits whether settling or trial), then federal clerkships could help your career, but firms won't really care about your clerkships if you are on the transactional/corporate (non-law suit: like mergers and acquisitions) side of the firm

Cool! Thanks! I did read the article, and understand all the points now except #21. What does it mean to drop a Class Year?

Firms that pay lock-step pay guaranteed salaries based on the year you graduated law school. Your raises are predictable and have little to do with performance (that's where bonuses come in). When lateraling, a firm may ask you to drop a class (say from 12 to 13), so they can pay you less. Essentially, it's losing a year of experience in terms of pay.

[patogordo]

1. don't
2. go
3. to
4. law
5. school
6. but
7. if
8. you
9. absolutely
10. positively
11. believe
12. that
13. you
14. have
15. to
16. go
17. to
18. law
19. school
20. just
21. remember
22. that
23. you
24. don't
25. hth

[yossarian]

1. don't
2. go
3. to
4. law
5. school
6. but
7. if
8. you
9. absolutely
10. positively
11. believe
12. that
13. you
14. have
15. to
16. go
17. to
18. law
19. school
20. just
21. remember
22. that
23. you
24. don't
25. hth

Immensely, thanks!

[FinanceStudent28]

1. don't
2. go
3. to
4. law
5. school
6. but
7. if
8. you
9. absolutely
10. positively
11. believe
12. that
13. you
14. have
15. to
16. go
17. to
18. law
19. school
20. just
21. remember
22. that
23. you
24. don't
25. hth

hth?

[osubucknut]

1. don't
2. go
3. to
4. law
5. school
6. but
7. if
8. you
9. absolutely
10. positively
11. believe
12. that
13. you
14. have
15. to
16. go
17. to
18. law
19. school
20. just
21. remember
22. that
23. you
24. don't
25. hth

Thank god I read this. Can't believe I was on the verge of going to law school!