David Schwinger lists his tips for new lawyers.

1. CREATED BY DAVID SCHWINGER
TIPS FOR NEW
LAWYERS

2. There are many factors that contribute to successful
lawyers.
You can be sure, however, that being an impressive
lawyer in the first weeks and months of your career has
little to do with the knowledge and abilities that you
gained in law school.
Some are more subtle and
others are more
straightforward.

3. Instead, the impressions you make
on your colleagues will center on
the intangibles—your ability to
assimilate and integrate into your
office, your understanding of your
role as a new lawyer, and your
ability to learn quickly.

4. Here are three easy ways to
demonstrate that you’re
positioned to become a
constructive, productive, and
successful member of your legal
practice from day one.

5. 1. Don’t show up empty handed.
As a new lawyer, you never want to go
into a meeting or another attorney’s
office without a legal pad and a pen in
hand.
In fact, you should probably not leave
your office without paper and a pen.
You always want to be in a position to
take down an assignment when the
opportunity arises, and impromptu
conferences that result in
assignments are a regular occurrence.

6. 2. Offer support.
From day one, you can
demonstrate your willingness to
contribute meaningfully by being
as supportive and helpful as
possible.
Show that you will do whatever it takes—stay late, come in
early, run down the street to the courthouse, etc.—in order
to help your colleagues get their work done quickly,
efficiently, and correctly.

7. 3. Adopt this mantra.
‘No project is beneath me. Repeat:
No project is beneath me.’
Welcome any assignment that’s given to you, no matter
how simple. Regard every assignment as an opportunity
to learn, to grow, to understand more about your legal
practice. If you tackle each and every project you’re given
with energy and enthusiasm, in no time you’ll be assigned
to more complicated projects and will be trusted with
more responsibility.