Where To Ask Legal Questions For Free

Was there anything that you wished you'd have done otherwise in law school that you didn't understand until you started to practice?

I wish I had dealt with my distress over talking to people around, and asking them for, cash. It was quite uncomfortable when I opened my practice to speak to clients about money and ask them write me a check. I had read Jay Foonberg's book, How to Start and Build a Law Practice, that had suggestions. But I wish I had worked with a money coach (or perhaps done role playing with friends) for over my discomfort of saying, "The retainer inside this thing is X, and now I can't begin work without it." If you do nothing else, practice saying this until it seems like second nature.

Did any classes prove especially useful as you began practicing?

In my own experience now as a hiring attorney, the greatest failing I've observed with pupils and new lawyers whom I have interviewed or hired is the inability to examine each side of a problem and summarize the findings in a coherent memo or even persuasive short. Mastery of legal analysis and writing skills in law school are crucial--both because these tools make you an advantage to a law firm and also since they're virtually impossible to spend on some time and improve once in practice.

Do you must drive yourself to the ground the first couple of years of training to create it?

The practice of law is a competitive undertaking. You'll be charged with representing your clients' interest zealously, and so across the other hand. When it is matter or a lawsuitthere are market-based client-driven, or competitive time deadlines and pressures which will dictate the amount of time you will have to spend getting the task done. And trust me, you meet with the demands imposed by either these factors or the behaviour of your opposition and will not do well unless you rise to the occasion.

What do you enjoy most about your project? Least?

I started out in the corporate and securities department of a large law firm, but left to begin an immigration practice after four decades. I liked the firm and worked with a number of people, but the work wasn't interesting to me and not fulfilling. In fact I become instruction and would have gone back to school to pursue a PhD. As for what I enjoy about my job, here are a Couple of matters:

Do you find a prejudice against individuals who attend law school later in life?

In actuality, no book, no scientist, without a mock trial can really be a substitute for life experience. Something as simple as learning how to operate in an office or learning how to work and socialize with other people is, without doubt, "on-the-job" training. Having that basic "know-how" provides later-in-life students a distinct benefit in a lot of ways within their younger classmates. Indeed, one of the first things that a career student (one that has gone directly through) will want to understand is how to work in a workplace environment. The learning curve for that ability require a long time and could be steep. The later-in-life graduates are prepared to operate from day one and don't share the exact same struggle.