Career Advancement Spotlight

PODCAST

Both Sides of a Federal Investigation

If a firm or company finds itself being investigated by the government what should it do? How does it prepare if one day the feds come knocking? Law.com bloggers and co-hosts J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi turn to Roscoe C. Howard Jr., who has been on both sides of federal investigations as a Washington-based partner with Troutman Sanders and a former federal prosecutor.
Play in Windows Media Player.
Download the MP3.

Practice the 10/20/30 Rule for Presentations

Fulton County Daily Report

Guy Kawasaki is a technology guru and venture capitalist who demands that all presentations at his business follow what he calls the "10/20/30 rule." The rule states that all presentations should be limited to 10 slides in 20 minutes, with no words on the slides smaller than 30-point type. It's a rule that should be embraced by attorneys and anyone else who wants to connect with audiences, says consultant Joey Asher. He notes that the restrictions help presenters keep their message focused on key issues.

Tips to Help Law Students Stay Positive This Summer -- and Beyond

New York Law Journal

There's no question that the recession is hitting law students hard. Some of you may not have gotten summer positions, while others that did aren't sure of any prospects after that. There is some good news, though: The economy is so bad that you shouldn't take it personally if you hit a career road block, says psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Elizabeth Tillinghast. She provides several tips to help you foster a positive, resilient attitude, to make the most of your opportunities this summer -- and beyond.

Advice for the Perpetually Tardy, and Those Around Them

The National Law Journal

For some lawyers, being busy is not the problem when it comes to time management. Instead, even when they have time on their hands, they are persistently, habitually late. And promises to change rarely lead to permanent success. The result, for them, can be a permanent state of anxiety and shame. Moreover, their reputations (in the firm and with clients) may suffer. Steven C. Bennett, a partner at Jones Day, provides some advice and tips for the perpetually tardy, and for those who must cope with them.

Permanent, Full-Time Law Jobs Remain Elusive for Three Job Seekers

Texas Lawyer

In these turbulent times, when firms and layoffs go together like law school and student loans, Texas Lawyer talked to two recent graduates and one soon-to-be grad who do not yet have full-time, permanent law jobs. Their stories show that the search for a law job in 2009 takes patience, persistence and some luck. "I'm taking a pretty positive outlook," says Linda Nguyen, who has a project manager position lined up thanks to a recommendation from a hiring partner at the firm where she spent last summer.

The Junior Partner Lateral Market Is Staying Quiet, Recruiter Says

The Recorder

If you've noticed an eerie stillness on the lateral partner trail, it's not your imagination. The job market is especially unpromising for junior partners, according to recruiter Bill Nason. He says junior laterals fell off last fall and have stayed quiet. "There's no market right now for people with no business," Nason said. If you have less than a $1 million book "you better hope your current firm likes you." If you have $1.5 million in business, you can get a job, he said, but forget about equity.

The Art of Procrastination for Lawyers

Fulton County Daily Report

The Snark thinks that procrastination is unfairly viewed as a negative working methodology. It is a real art to be able to delay a task just long enough so that it can be completed by the deadline with single-minded focus, determination and minimal sleep. Perky non-procrastinators often chirp about the vices of purposely and unnecessarily delaying the completion of tasks: "Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?!" The Snark's response? "Because I don't want to do it today. That's why."

Writing Tips for a Successful Summer

New Jersey Law Journal

Doing well on major writing projects is one way to help you stand out during a competitive summer program. With that in mind, consultant Ross Guberman provides several writing tips to help you steer clear of common problems. For instance, before you even begin writing, make sure you know what the partner wants by asking several key questions, and continue communicating to make sure you're on the right course. Another tip from Guberman: avoid too much "on the one hand, on the other hand" navel gazing in memos.

In Down Economy, Do Less Profitable Firms Have a Better Shot at Big-Name Partners?

The American Lawyer

A new study suggests that partners on the move increasingly are willing to join up with less profitable firms that might offer greater job security. The study, by management consultancy KermaPartners, surveyed more than 240 lateral partner moves among Am Law 200 firms. It found that, more and more, partners are moving "downstream," leaving firms with higher profits per partner for less profitable ones.

It's Time to Rise and Market

The Legal Intelligencer

It's a difficult time to be a law firm associate or new lawyer, so here is a networking road map to help guide you to success, from consultant Stacy West Clark. Included among her tips is the reminder to be thoughtful about how you treat your contacts and not to keep them at an impersonal distance. Clark uses a quote from Maya Angelou to demonstrate how important this step can be: "People will forget what you say, they will forget what you do, but they never will forget how you make them feel."

Will the Future for Law Firms Be a Reset Button Rather Than a Panic Button?

The Legal Intelligencer

There's not a crystal ball in town that isn't predicting dramatic shifts in the legal industry. And just maybe, those changes will be for the better, as the days of follow-the-leader disappear. There is no bandwagon to jump on like there was when salary wars were being waged, and the stigma attached to making tough, unique -- and sometimes unfavorable -- decisions seems to be fading as firms use the recession as cause to hit the reset button. Change is in the air for law firms -- and it could be a good thing.

How to Use LinkedIn Productively

The Legal Intelligencer

If you want to increase your network, boost your productivity and develop your book of business, consultant Neen James says you can achieve those goals by getting familiar with LinkedIn and using it in your everyday interactions with colleagues and clients. James provides some productivity tips to get the most out of LinkedIn. For instance, she notes you can use LinkedIn as a research tool by posing a question to selected people in your network, which she says works well because it allows for a quick response.