F-Bombs and Other Curses/Language

Hmmm....there seems to be some back and forth in the comments to my last post regarding F-bombs in the office, and related bad language.  Look, I am not saying that I never say the F-bomb.  I am just saying you need to be careful about language you use in the professional workplace.  You'll recall this came up in my discussion regarding being careful what you put out there in the social networking/cyberspace world. 

If you are sitting in a friend's office and the F-bomb flies, this is not a big deal. But, you need to be careful about who you use foul language in front of -- don't assume that just because someone is your age, or younger, or you are very familiar with them, that throwing the F-bomb or other foul language is ok.  The best thing is to be careful and watch the language.

First, do not curse in an interview!  DON'T DO IT!  Did you hear me?  Don't do it. Just because some of us look young and maybe even hip doesn't mean we think it would be appropriate for you to say shit, or f-bomb or whatever along those lines.  Or "the professor screwed me with that grade."  This goes to JUDGEMENT...and we will think ... how will this person behave in front of a client?

Case in point, a relatively youthful partner of mine takes great offense when people curse -- in any setting.  A person interviewed with her as a lateral.  This guy figured they are about the same age and let the f-bomb fly.  She complained and let her views known.  I don't believe he got hired.

Second, do not curse with clients.  Even if you are on very friendly terms, remember this is still an attorney/client relationship.  Remember, I told you guys and gals at the very beginning of the blog -- YOU ARE NOT AT HOME.  Guard your words.  

Case in point, I had a client who is a very religious woman.  You wouldn't necessarily know this off the bat, but over the years, I have learned how devoted she is to her religion.  She would take offense to cursing.  

Overall, just be cautious.  That isn't saying you can't be yourself - but keep in mind you are in a professional setting and it is always better to be on the conservative side when it comes to oral and written communications.  

We can address the TMI factor in communications in another post.

Hope you have a fun-filled weekend.  

social networking

Today, many of us have become devotees of Facebook and Myspace.  I joined Facebook last year and have re-connected with many old friends.  If you were to see my Facebook page, you would see a photo of me - fairly standard pic - and some family photos.  A couple of friends have 'tagged" me in photos from the past.  There's nothing shocking or "wild" out there in my Facebook land.  And, that is what I wanted to address.

Social networking can be a powerful tool for reconnecting socially and possibly even leading to networking and business opportunities.  But, you also have to be aware of the dangers when it comes to your career. Our recruiters routinely do Google and other searches on lateral and new recruits.  They don't want to read everything; they do want to look for things that may show a lack of judgment or embarrass the firm.  So, if you have a personal webpage listed on your Facebook account, and your personal webpage has pics of you drunk/half naked, etc., these are not going to help your career.  I am a fan of social networking, but you need to use it cautiously.   I just saw someone comment on another person's wall reminiscing about how they used to do mesc and ecstasy at a local establishment.  Why would you post that publicly?

On Facebook, you can use the privacy controls to make your profile private and available just for your Friends.  This is a good idea.  If we can't access your information, that generally shows good judgment.  On a related topic, beware what you post in your own name (versus anonymous) as comments on blogs, message boards, etc.  These too will also come up in searches.

Feel free to connect with your friends through social networking.  In fact, it is what I recommend in terms of connecting and reconnecting and expanding your base.  Just remember who has access to your posts and remember that what you post -- even to your friends -- could easily be forwarded around.

When I was a junior associate, someone once taught me as to an email or a memo:  if what you wrote ended up on the front  page of the New York Times..would you or your client be terribly embarrassed?  If so, don't write it.  

Be social, but be safe.

And, on my earlier subject, what have you done this week to further your career?  

salary freezes

The big news on some of the other legal blogs appears to be salary freezes at various AM Law firms.  This is usually followed by comments by associates at these firms noting how firm is traditionally "cheap," or a "follower," etc.  Similarly, there's been a lot of talk on the boards about annual bonuses, whether "Skadden" level or "measly" half-Skadden (believe me, it is still a darn good bonus).  In these times, with you, your relatives, or friends being laid off, why are we complaining?

If you have a bigLaw job and let's say, started off at 160,000 or even 135-145,000, the fact that firms are going to hold for a year at the same salary shouldn't be alarming. Of course, it is nice to get raises - understand the cost of living increases -- but I ask the same question; wouldn't you prefer a pay freeze or a reduced bonus over no job for you and your friends??  People need to come back to reality here -- a "half-Skadden" is still a friggin nice thing to have.  And it is a heck of a lot better than being a headhunter's reject because there's few jobs out there.

Start the new year off without the complaints.  Be enthusiastic.  Be a company man or woman (while networking, developing expertise, growing your reputation and base).  Long term view should trump the short term whining.  

I also want to address social networking, and will do that in an upcoming post.

Thanks for your votes on the ABA journal.  I still go trounced by the Temporary Attorney, but apparently there is a lot of interest in that topic these days!

Happy 09 once again.  

Happy New Year

Hello my friends.  Happy New Year!   We all know that 2008 was a difficult time in the legal market.  Things changed drastically -- gone are the days when associates could just keep screaming on the blogs "raise the salaries," "raise the bonuses."  Well, they could keep screaming but if it were me, I'd prefer a job over a bonus.  While I hate to see firms like Heller and Thelen erupt, I do think that greed had gotten out of hand, both at the partner level and at the associate level.  Clients shouldn't be gouged just so you can meet your targets - this applies to both partners and associates.  And, my experience with many of the millenials was that they were obsessed with the money, and less obsessed with learning how to be a good lawyer and doing good legal work.  I don't like to witness good lawyers laid off suddenly, but I also think that the new legal economy will bring things back into perspective, and where people work hard, get paid well, and do a solid job.

Now, since it is the new year, I guess we should have some resolutions.  I would encourage each of you to do something at least once a week to further your career.  This may be small steps, or bigger steps.  You've heard me say this before, and I will say it again:  you need to own your career.  No one is going to guide it for you.  Here's some suggestions for things we can all do:

1. Start to learn a new specialty or sub-specialty.  There's tons of new laws and regulations out there at the federal and state levels.  This is a huge opportunity for younger as well as more experienced lawyers.  You can become well-versed in something new and perhaps be heard as the "expert" -- remember, someone practicing in the general area for 20 years also has to learn the new law or regulation...so go ahead and jump right in.   You may love the fact that you know X inside and out.  But what if the need for knowledge of X goes away?  Don't get stuck in a very limited knowledge base.  I've stayed busy (and employed!) by being able to adapt. 

2. Continue to build your network. Do not just lunch with your office mates.  Get out there.  Call up old law school friends, people you met through bar activities, etc.  You never know when these people will, say, move in house -- and it does happen.  In addition to getting out of the office and clearing your head for a little while, you are expanding your base.

3. Don't forget to tend to your existing network.  Did you see an Internet article or blurb that might be of interest to a contact, forward it with a short note; go ahead and wish them a Happy New Year; perhaps invite them to lunch or to an event your firm or organization is hosting (assuming you are allowed)

4. At the end of each week -- ask yourself -- what have I done to further my career this week?  Make some notes about what you will do the following week.

3. If you are thinking of making a move, let your close friends (outside of firm or organization) who are discreet know that you may be open to opportunities.  I know so many people who have found great positions through referrals from friends.

2. If you can help a friend, former colleague, etc., who may be "on the street" with suggestions for new situations, go ahead.  Send them job listings you see, if you know of an opening at a client that may be right for your friend, let your friend know.  

1. Don't burn bridges.  If you act like an a-hole, people will not help you. This seems pretty obvious but you would be shocked at some of the behavior. Stay away from office cliques, treat all people with common courtesy and respect, deliver what you promise, be tough, but be fair.  

reviews

Someone asked for recommendations for how to behave in a review.   I have touched on this in an early post as it related to summer associates in mid or end of summer reviews, but there are some additional pointers for attorneys.

First, do not be a passive participant, just showing up and listening.    At a former firm, we associates could fill out a sort of self-evaluation report, where we could describe significant projects/achievements, as well as professional development activities, pro bono, firm activities (eg., recruiting committee) and community involvement.  Although this was voluntary, and it was time-consuming to do what I perceived to be a thorough job, I forced myself to do it, figuring that the primary evaluator (or any evaluators who received it) probably didn't know everything I had done all year, and this would help them understand the big picture.  Remember, the senior attorneys who complete written evaluations have several to do and it is an arduous task.  They appreciated that I gave them information that they could plug into their evaluations.  And, I felt better knowing that they were more aware of all I was doing.  If you are not aware of such a form at your firm, ask around.  I gave a junior associate a copy of one of my older self-evaluations that she could use as a model.  

If there are particular issues you would like to discuss (say, I am a junior litigator, but I haven't defended a deposition), you may wish to drop the primary evaluator a note with some things you would like to discuss.  Supervising attorneys generally like it when we see someone who is interested in furthering his or her professional development.  

Have a sense of your numbers before you go in (e.g., hours, client origination (if applicable), etc.  This helps if you get your evaluation and there's incorrect numerical information or numerical-based observations.  

If you get a copy of the written evaluation before, review it carefully.  Make notes of any incorrect statements or any items with which you disagree.  You can be prepared to discuss -- calmly.

Bring a notepad and pen, you may wish to take notes.

Listen to the evaluator.  Be appreciative of compliments.  Take in constructive criticism.  If there is something you do not understand, ask calmly for clarification.  Oftentimes the evaluator has collected various comments from other reviewers, and may need to go back to any underlying evaluation form to determine what is meant.  

If you have information to share -- like hours information is incorrect, or you actually did defend a deposition when they said you still needed to do so -- share that with the reviewer.  While you shouldn't be overly defensive or abrasive, this is YOUR career and you shouldn't sit passively like a pillow on a couch.  I often was able to get things added to my evaluation that were overlooked.

Feel free to express appreciation to the evaluator for his or her efforts.  These evals do take up a lot of non-billable time.  

If there are opportunities you would like to get, especially with the evaluator (e.g., work on the xxx case, or a xyz type of matter), go ahead and express that as well.  This is usually a good time to indicate the areas you are interested in, and to show that you are more than an employee -- that you want to develop your career and expand your capabilities and experiences.

No crying.  Doesn't help.

No whining.  Only hurts.

Be professional, be calm.

-- These words of advice assume that you are not getting canned in the evaluation or otherwise "set up."  We can address that situation another time.  

questions on early lateral moves

A commenter asked about the options:

- if you hate your first job

-- how long one can expect to have to stay at a firm before moving on

I'd say after 2 years is a good time to start working with a recruiter (ask trusted friends for recommendation, preferably someone outside your firm to avoid leaks). Most firms and recruiters think that you should stay 2 years before moving; you get a fair amount of experience and you don't look like and immediate job-hopper. Years 3-4 are probably the busy times for lateral associates, more movement, better focus by the associate as to what kind of practice they want, how firm B could be better than firm A, what they are really looking for long and short term. The recruiter calls do slow down as you hit year 6 and above.

-- how long grades are going to be following you around, etc.

E.g? great grades 1L and 2L, great firm for summer, and then C in 3L: cause for worry if want to lateral after 2 years.

E.g.: grades not great, but land job @great firm; at what point grades irrelevant.

Grades do become less important. Firms you are considering lateraling to will ask for a transcript as a matter of diligence (even HP had to give one when HP moves firms as a P). As an associate, your grades may be reviewed, but if you worked at a solid place, have a good reputation/references, as long as your grades aren't totally in the toilet, you should be fine. After a couple of years, at least in most places (I'm excluding special practices like Supreme Court practices where they may be partial to Yale Law grads and brainiacs), the HP is more interested in your experience in the workplaces and whether you are qualified for the position, and less concerned about the grades. Good grades are always a plus, but I can tell you in any mid size to large firm, if you pulled out the transcripts, there are a wide range of grades and even law schools out there.

If grades not great, keep plugging along, develop expertise, get known within the local and/or speciality bar, get out to bar and other events, grow your base.

I've even seen one guy with hideous grades get an associate job at a firm because he had very particular expertise and background that a practice group leader needed. Now, he didn't work out long term (and this HP wouldn't have hired him in first place because grades were really, really bad and he wasn't that far out of school), but the point is that experience can surpass grades when it comes to hiring.

I will aim to get back posting and I have to encourage my guest posters to start posting!

BTW, did you folks vote for our blog over at abajournal?  I can't believe HP is getting a** whooped by the Temporary Attorney blog!  Somehow I am insulted.  Though in this market, I guess I see the interest in finding a job as a temporary attorney.  Anyway, please vote when you have a chance.  For no other reason than HP doesn't like to lose.