Lee Rudy, partner at Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, has been seeing a clear generational shift in the way younger lawyers think about careers in the legal profession. Law school graduates are saying they are seeking a sense of purpose in their work, driven by social awareness and a desire to make a difference in the world. This next generation of attorneys is going over to plaintiff-side work instead of jobs in corporate law firms.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check primarily represents investors and consumers harmed by corporate malfeasance. Rudy has seen this trend of more recent law school graduates gravitating toward plaintiff’s work. Factors such as culture and more opportunities on the plaintiff’s side seem to be driving the trend. Some advantages he sees for recent graduates to pursue plaintiff’s work include:

Train to think Like a Partner

Cases on the plaintiff’s side secure value and reforms for investors and consumers who have been wronged, which aligns with young attorneys’ values and satisfies their desire to work for the public good. Plaintiffs firms are also not tethered to the billable hour in the way that many Big Law firms are, instead working on a contingent-fee basis. That means less time spent on document review and more hands-on experience crafting case strategy and contributing to high-level work.

High-Stakes Matters

Junior attorneys \are given the opportunity to go up against the best litigators in the world. Litigating at this high level also ensures that associates work on challenging, cutting-edge legal issues, and have a real opportunity to drive positive change in constantly developing areas of the law.

While life at a plaintiff-side firm is demanding on junior lawyers, law school graduates looking to launch meaningful careers in the law might find it more appealing than corporate law. 

Are you interested in more advice about working at a plaintiff’s firm?  Read more in this law.com article.

It is not uncommon for junior transactional attorneys to often feel lost when they first land at a firm. Kenneth Ling is a transactional attorney at Greenberg Traurig, and is the first lawyer in his family. He writes that his previous understanding of the legal profession was shaped by law school, summer internships and television shows like “Law and Order.” The culture shock of his first firm job was a difficult transition since it felt so different from law school.

Through trial and error, Ling found his footing as a transactional attorney. He provides his “Cliff Notes” version of lessons he learned that would help ease the transition from law school to transactional law associate. 

Be Enthusiastic

The enthusiasm with which you interact with more senior members on your deal team can allow you to add instant value, as your enthusiasm is not only infectious but also indicates to others that you are willing to help lighten their workload. Asking questions and discussing transactions will get you familiar with the financial jargon, and ask senior attorneys if there is something you can do to assist them. It can be difficult to gauge how to be proactive, but asking them can help.

Stay Organized

You may be tasked with running checklists, preparing signature page packets, and other office duties. These tasks are critical to the successful closing of the transaction so don’t dismiss these duties. Keeping checklists up to date can have a major impact on the team and leave a good impression with senior attorneys. This also includes tracking and logging your time for billing, and a timer or timekeeping app might help. 

Are you interested in more advice about working as a transactional attorney?  Read more in this law.com article.

Transitioning to the new hybrid work model and balancing office work and remote work can lead to an environment that benefits law firms and its employees. Finding the right balance is vital to maintaining a happy work environment and morale among employees. The history of the legal industry’s transition to the hybrid work model has benefits and disadvantages for employees and firms. Here are some pros and cons of in-person work and remote work, and how it might affect a firm’s work environment and talent retention.

Advantages of Physical Presence

Fostering Mentorship and Training: Junior lawyers benefit immensely from observing senior attorneys, participating in impromptu discussions and gaining insights from real-time feedback, which can happen more organically in the office.

Building Professional Relationships: Face-to-face interactions often lead to stronger bonds, trust and understanding, which are pivotal in the client-centric legal industry.

Collaboration and Team Dynamics: In-person interactions can enhance teamwork and collaboration. 

Cultural Cohesion: A physical office helps establish and maintain a firm’s culture. 

Disadvantages of Physical Presence

Reduced Flexibility and Work-Life Balance: Commuting time and rigid schedules can contribute to employee stress and reduce overall job satisfaction.

Potential for Decreased Productivity: Distractions, interruptions and the inefficiencies of a structured office environment can hinder the ability to focus on complex legal tasks.

Limited Access to Diverse Talent: A strict in-office policy can limit a firm’s ability to attract and retain talent.

Striking a Balance

Hybrid Work Models: Implementing hybrid models where employees may work from the office or remotely can offer a middle ground.Technology Integration: Leveraging technology to facilitate remote mentorship, training and collaboration can help replicate the benefits of physical presence. 

Scheduled In-Office Days: Designating specific days for in-office work focused on activities that benefit most from physical presence.

Reimagining Office Spaces: Transforming office spaces more conducive to collaboration and social interaction than individual work can make in-office time more valuable. Regular Check-ins and Feedback: Regular check-ins and feedback sessions can help monitor the hybrid model’s effectiveness.

Are you interested in more about the hybrid work model?  Read more in this law.com article.

In the midst of corporate layoffs at profitable companies such as Citigroup, Amazon, and Google, Mike Evers of Evers Legal offers some advice for attorneys navigating their careers in this current landscape. Evers recruits attorneys for corporations across the country, and sees that layoffs are no longer associated with struggling companies. It’s now considered best practice to adjusting staffing needs to coincide with business needs and technological advances, which can boost a company’s bottom line.

To dodge being the sacrificial lamb in these layoffs, Evers suggests that attorneys play offense and never sit tight regardless of how secure the current position seems. Attorneys can put themselves quietly into the market to search for a better position while still employed so they can wait for the right opportunity without a lot of pressure.

Evers mentions that finding motivation to job hunt when you’re actually secure in your current job might be hard, but it isn’t as time consuming and stressful as searching for a job while unemployed. The only way to avoid playing defense is to play offense early and often throughout your career.

Are you interested in more recruiting advice from Mike Evers?  Read more in this law.com article.

Young attorneys starting out in the legal industry receive warnings about long hours, stressful work environments, and strict deadlines. Regardless of whether an attorney starts their career as a law firm associate, in-house counsel, as a government lawyer or in the public interest sector, the expectations and pressure to succeed in each environment remains high. Young attorneys struggling to juggle personal and professional responsibilities may wonder if they can “do it all” like the senior attorneys at their job seem to be able to do.

The Young Lawyer Editorial Board, composed of 21 attorneys in the legal community, gathered some tips and advice that can help fellow attorneys take care of themselves so that they can continue to take care of their family as well as their clients. 

Find the Time to Exercise

Young lawyers often feel intense pressure to be available and online at all times. Do not be afraid to take an hour out of your day to “unplug” from work and exercise. 

You Get Time Off … Take It!

While it is important that supervisors know that you are available to help with assignments, even on short notice, it is equally as important not to take your vacation and other time for granted. A well-deserved vacation will make you a better lawyer in the long run.

Get a Pet, Get a Hobby, Get Perspective

When working long hours, it is easy to become overwhelmed and lose sight of what is really important. A pet or a new hobby can provide perspective through companionship or escape from the pressures at work.

Do Not Be Afraid to Delegate

Learn to prioritize work and personal responsibilities and recognize the power of delegation. This is something more senior attorneys have mastered. Whether it is delegating specific work tasks or involving family members in household chores, distributing responsibilities helps avoid burn-out and feeling overburdened. 

Are you interested in more advice about navigating work/life balance from The Young Lawyer Editorial Board?  Read more in this law.com article.

Despite recent spikes in compensation and reduced billable hours, a recent International Bar Association survey reveals that 54% of lawyers under 40 consider leaving their jobs within five years, and 20% consider leaving the legal industry. Junior attorneys historically have reported job burnout and dissatisfaction and law firms have worked in recent years to improve work culture with more training and mentorship opportunities. But how does an attorney just starting their career react to modern challenges of working at a private practice? 

Jay Harrington, author of “The Essential Associate: Step Up, Stand Out, and Rise to the Top as a Young Lawyer” and owner of Harrington Communications, advises that junior associates face three distinct options. They can make an immediate exit from a current job for a different position, go through the motions of a current job while searching for a new job or career change, or harness job dissatisfaction into positive change at the firm. 

Harrington cautions young attorneys against making career decisions while disillusioned, and makes the case that staying the course may pay off in the end. Each attorney should weigh the pros and cons of a career change heavily as new jobs may not be as rosy as they appear, and current positions may lead to more opportunities at the firm.

Are you interested in learning about pros and cons of different career decisions for junior attorneys? Read more in this law.com article.

This article is for litigators who went to law school with a strong desire to represent clients in their legal disputes equipped with the expertise and experience to solve their problems. Daniel Brown, pro bono partner at Sheppard Mullin, advises that pro bono work experience helps litigators write and deliver persuasive arguments, negotiate with opposing counsel, reach favorable settlements and prevail at trial. 

Brown writes that pro bono work is a “gateway to litigation expertise and professional success” and provides early and invaluable skills development. After taking on a pro bono case involving the New York City marathon on behalf of wheelchair users, Brown was able to meet with clients for their stories, prepare a complaint, negotiate with senior attorneys at other firms, appear before a judge, and manage the case through the conclusion. It was his first real experience as a litigator and Brown advises to always maintain one or more pro bono cases at any given time. He realized he could gain the litigation skills and experiences quicker through taking on pro bono cases.

“If you want to develop the skills and reputation needed to attract clients, your ultimate goal should be to have case ownership and responsibility from inception through resolution,” Brown writes. Aside from pro bono cases, most attorneys do not have case autonomy until they reach the ranks of senior associate or partner. 

Are you interested in learning more about the benefits of taking on pro bono work?  Read more in this law.com article.

Michael P. Maslanka, associate professor of law at UNT Dallas College of Law, presents five key mindsets for a successful professional life in his new book “A Short and Happy Guide to Professional Responsibility.” In the book, he highlights five key mindsets that promote a healthy approach to riding the waves in an attorney’s professional life:

Mindset No. 1: Be Open to the Universe. 

Maslanska advises that people tap into random encounters in the universe, as you never know when a new introduction can lead to an opportunity. He quotes former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban’s saying “Seek not to be blessed, but rather seek to be a blessing” in illustrating that fortune favors those who put themselves in the path of opportunity.

Mindset No. 2: Get in the Water, Catch the Wave

The idea is that a person will benefit from interacting with anything that is thrown at them. While we may not be in control of the events of the day, we are in control of how we react to each event. The more times you put yourself out there, the more opportunities may be seized.

Mindset No. 3: Use Tech, Bet on Humanity

Maslanka also advises not to turn one’s back on asking for advice from experts in their fields, versus turning to use technology. Using one’s network and contacts for knowledge can help save time, and build one’s relationships.

Are you interested in learning more key mindsets from Michael Maslanka? Read more in this law.com article.