Navigating Expectations Working with Senior Attorneys
Shannon Burke, Associate Attorney at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP shares insights on what senior attorneys expect from new(er) associates. The session covers strategies to meet and exceed expectations, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, client-cost awareness, and delivering quality work. Practical tips include preparing for meetings, conducting legal research efficiently, and effectively presenting results to senior attorneys.
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Presentation Transcript
CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH LAWYERS: WORKING WITH TODAY S SENIOR ATTORNEYS Shannon Burke Associate Attorney, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP Adjunct Professor of Law, DePaul University College of Law burkeshr@yahoo.com
Reminding students what senior attorneys expect. What we will cover today Discussing ways we can teach students how to meet and exceed those expectations. Giving the students a confidence boost.
What to do at the first (and often only) meeting with the senior attorney Bring a pen and paper Understand the assignment Repeat what you hear the senior attorney asking you to do (which may be different than what the attorney thinks s/he is asking you to do). Learn the substantive goal of the assignment. Learn how the senior attorney will use your assignment (ex: copy and paste your boilerplate language, have you find cases that support our argument or that the other side might use, make out of the box arguments, etc.). Demonstrate client-cost awareness: How much time should you spent on the project? When is the assignment due? Request and/or obtain the required documentation (ex: if you are drafting the Response to the Motion for Summary Judgment, you will want to get a copy of the Motion for Summary Judgment). Expectations What do senior attorneys expect of new(er) associates?
Performing quality and cost-effective legal research Expectations Cases that are in your favor What do senior attorneys expect of new(er) associates? Cases that need to be distinguished and then distinguishing them Drafting basics Include the question the senior attorney asked you to answer Include a clear and precise answer Then give the legal support Draft documents that need minimal substantive revisions Draft documents that require NO grammatical revisions
Many times, the senior partner will call the new(er) associate from court and need caselaw, statutes, or court rules quickly! Expectations What do senior attorneys expect of new(er) associates? Should you email the information as an attachment from Westlaw/Lexis? Should you draft a short email with the one word/sentence answer? Should you draft a lengthy explanation?
Orally communicating your results Repeat what the senior attorney asked you to do. Explain your research results (positive and negative). Clear, concise, precise Expectations What do senior attorneys expect of new(er) associates? Following-up with the senior attorney Before the assignment is due: Clarify your assignment Explain pitfalls, tangential issues that you found that may be relevant, etc. Be sure you are researching/drafting what is required After the assignment is due: Ask if you will need to draft a reply in support of your motion (or other similar document) so you can budget your time appropriately
Displaying professionalism In the office Expectations At court What do senior attorneys expect of new(er) associates? Bar association functions Community involvement Exchanges with clients Formal writing Emails Texts
Incorporating lessons into the classroom Mock initial meeting Orally give students the assignment Gentle critique Hand out written assignment at the end of the meeting Mock presentation meeting Have your student orally present his or her research to you. Have your students email you! Different formats General, every day, professional interactions Short emails (i.e., sending a partner an email while s/he is in court) Lengthier emails (i.e., thoroughly but concisely answering a question)
Something extra that new(er) associates bring Although the new(er) attorney has much to learn, s/he also has much to teach! Our students have grown up with home computers, the internet, email, texts Senior attorneys will want to capitalize on new(er) attorneys high comfort level with these technologies Ex: Firm website creation Linked In Twitter Facebook Blogs Articles Short videos Other forms of social media marketing
THANK YOU! Shannon Burke Associate Attorney, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP Adjunct Professor of Law, DePaul University College of Law burkeshr@yahoo.com
