Law Technology Today From the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center
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With 2020 being a difficult year, many countries across the globe have experienced a recession. As a recent law graduate, it can be difficult to navigate the world in such a challenging time.
From staying healthy to making the right decisions, there are many things that you need to learn about if you want to survive and thrive as a legal professional. However, there is no need to worry as this post shares some of the best tips.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in.
Have Faith
One of the most important tips that every young lawyer needs to know is to have faith. Things can get overwhelming and outright difficult. However, when you have faith in things working out, you get to make your dreams come true.
Now, it does not mean that you should be an idealist. But, you need to understand that things tend to work out eventually.
A popular quote that you can keep in mind is, “What’s meant for you will never miss you, and what missed you was never meant for you.” These wise words were said by none other than Imam Ali. You can look up his sayings to increase your faith in things working out.
Be Prepared To Pivot
When it comes to surviving and thriving as a legal professional, you have to be willing to pivot when needed. You might think of it as a term used by a software houses. However, the term is completely relevant in the legal world.
There comes a point when doing the same thing is just not worth the effort. Therefore, you need to work on reinventing yourself to survive and grow. You might start as a prosecutor. But, it does not mean that you should continue working as a prosecutor.
You might realize that you enjoy intellectual property law and decide to work for a firm. Similarly, you could fall in love with banking law and take up employment at a bank. Life is all about unpredictability, and that is the fun in it. Hence, you should be prepared to pivot.
Move Fast
To take your legal career to the next level, you have to be ready to move quickly. There is no room for sitting around. Start somewhere and keep switching until you feel that you have found the right job. If you find the job to be dreadful, work somewhere new or setup an online business idea.
There is nothing wrong with giving up. Instead, you should be proud of yourself for taking a leap of faith rather than feeling miserable. You must realize that the legal profession requires you to look around for opportunities and move fast.
Redefine Success
Success is a subjective term. It means something else for everyone else. What you might think of success might not be the case for someone else. Law graduates tend to be seduced by six-figure salaries. However, there is more to life than just making money.
Think deeply about what makes you happy and focus on making it work for you. This means that you might need to leave your current six-figure salary for a five-figure one just so that you feel better about yourself.
Working at a non-profit could make you feel passionate and fulfilled. Thus, you should not limit your perception and expand beyond the restrictions you have imposed on yourself. Remember, money does not equate to happiness.
Determine What You Find Valuable in Your Employer
Even though there are plenty of great employers in the industry, not many value the mental health of their employees and even treat them poorly. If your employer has severely unrealistic expectations, you need to rethink your work.
Always know your worth and make mental health a priority. Working in a toxic environment is not worth it. This does not mean that you should immediately quit your current job. But, you should not stick around to let the environment get to you.
Consider Your Career Options
As a fresh graduate, you should consider all your career options before making any commitment. Do not sell yourself short. Gone are the days when people worked at the same law firm their entire lives. Today, workers switch between jobs and firms more than ever before.
Lawyers who have gained significant experience within a short period of time can even consider starting their own practice. You might want to work for a large law firm where there is support for handling admin tasks.
Use Cloud-Based Legal Tools
Since technology has come a long way, it is important that you take advantage of cloud-based legal tools. Utilize cloud-based storage systems such as Google Drive or One Drive to work on the go.
When starting in the field, you should invest in cloud solutions to avoid any inconvenience. Clio Manage is one of the best cloud-based legal tech tools that you can use for handling client communication, document storage, and billing across various devices.
Never Stop Learning
To succeed as a lawyer and make a name of your own, you need to keep learning. Make use of your time to learn about different legal fields and consider continuing your legal education. It can be fun to remind opposing counsel that the rules cited have changed.
Law is constantly evolving. This is why it is crucial that you constantly learn. If you fail to study the latest developments, you will be left out. In addition to pursuing further studies, you should also learn about the latest technology and acquire management skills.
Take Care of Your Physical and Mental Health
Finally, you should also look after your physical and mental health. It is easy to overlook your health needs with so much to do. You cannot expect to be always on call and ready to work. It is important that you take some time off to focus on your well-being.
Survive and Thrive As a Young Lawyer
Once you have gone over this post, you will know the best tips to survive and thrive as a young lawyer. Remember to take care of yourself and actively search for better employment opportunities. With persistence, you will be able to make a name of your own.
