March 21, 2017 | Share

I’m A New Attorney, What Do I Do?

Navigating the road as a new attorney can be scary and quite overwhelming. You graduate from law school and pass the bar, then what?  I am sure this is an experience that many new and old attorneys can relate to.  There is help.  It can work.  You will be successful.  You just have to develop a plan.

1. GET A MENTOR. All new attorneys, those in practice five years or less at least, should have a mentor. The mentor you choose should be someone with experience in your practice area AND someone who has the time and willingness to serve as your mentor. There are plenty of attorneys who are willing to assist new attorneys as they realize the value of mentoring. You need an attorney who is: fairly accessible to you who can answer questions; give you procedural advice on how to handle a particular case; and willing to serve as co-counsel in a trial with you if and when needed. Campbell Law School and the N.C. State Bar offers attorney mentor referrals for new attorneys.
2. IT IS OK IF YOU DO NOT KNOW. No attorney, or any person for that matter, knows everything. You will get client questions that you may not know the answer to. It is ok. Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know, but that you will research that issue or find the answer to their question and get back with them. Clients expect your honesty and diligence, not omniscience.
3. ENGAGE IN ACTIVE LEARNING. It is true the N.C. State Bar only requires 12 hours per year in CLE credits. That requirement is the floor (the minimum), not the ceiling (the maximum). Take extra CLEs in your practice area(s) to gain helpful practice information. Many CLEs offer great printed materials that can be used as reference materials in your practice. It is impossible to keep every piece of information in your brain, but having these handy, organized materials within reach when you need them is valuable and necessary. There are inexpensive CLEs available if you search for them. Local or county bar associations typically offer inexpensive CLEs. Also, take the time to go and sit in court and watch what goes on. Take a few days and go watch a trial from beginning to end, including the voir dire. Draft some pleadings and have your mentor look them over and give you pointers. The key is to develop a desire to learn and then go learn.
4. USE FREE ONLINE RESOURCES. If you have a question, research it. You can type a question in Google or any other search engine to get a start in the right direction. The answer may not be exactly on point or may not be from your jurisdiction, but it will at least get your mind thinking in the right manner and may even lead you to a resource that is specific to your issue or jurisdiction. The N.C. Bar Association offers a free research database – FastCase – which allows you to research case law from any jurisdiction, state, or federal. Use it. Your law school may also offer resources for their alumni.
5. KEEP IN CONTACT WITH YOUR LAW SCHOOL PROFESSORS. Your former professors are excellent long-term resources. You should already feel comfortable with them so soliciting their assistance with a case or asking them a question usually comes with welcome arms. Your former professors want to see their students succeed so they will often assist you without hesitation.
6. DON’T BE LAZY. There is no legal “how-to” book for every situation you may encounter. You will find form books, but there are no books to explain the legal practice in every detail for every situation. You have to put in the work to make yourself knowledgeable and to learn the practice. You have been taught how to find the answers you need so lean on your teaching. Invest in yourself! Be willing to put in the longer hours or do some reading and studying on the weekends. It will not be like that always, but initially in the first few years it may require that type of dedication and commitment.
7. Be Patient. The practice of law is a “PRACTICE.” There is no overnight success formula. You will not know or learn everything overnight or in one year or even 10 years. There are plenty of attorneys who have been practicing for 30, 40, 50 years and even they get confronted with new issues at times where they have to do more research or collaborate with a colleague. We are all in this together. Ask for what you need, but also be patient with yourself until you get there. You should have a benchmark of growth for yourself. You should see the growth as time goes on. Do not allow yourself to be in the same position two years from now or five years from now. It will come.