Commentary

Looking Back—And Ahead: Advice From a Global Company Leader

Here are a few pieces of advice, based on 20 years as a trial lawyer and 13 years as an in-house lawyer, that Alex Dimitrief wished he had received when he started as a lawyer.

X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.
businessman-telescope

A new autumn always stirs memories … of first days of school, shopping for supplies and new clothes with my parents (and, years later, with my own kids), the crispness of the air, the smell of burning leaves, the beauty of trees as they change colors, the promise of a new football season, the excitement of baseball playoffs and, more recently, NFL fantasy drafts. At law firms, fall always signals the arrival of new classes of associates who have wrapped up clerkships, fellowships and summer associateships; passed the bar exam; taken “last vacations” and are reporting for their first “real jobs.” I’ll never forget my first day at Kirkland & Ellis on Oct. 1, 1986, in Chicago in what was then still called the Amoco Building … my excitement, my nerves and meeting my future wife (a true story).

My orientation focused almost entirely on administrative matters. I didn’t ask many questions about being a lawyer. Like most associates, I just dived in on the theory that I would eventually be able to figure it out. This tradition hasn’t changed, from what I can tell, which hindsight has taught me is crazy. So, here are a few pieces of advice, based on 20 years as a trial lawyer and 13 years as an in-house lawyer, that I wish I had received when I reported for duty:

This content has been archived. It is available exclusively through our partner LexisNexis®.

To view this content, please continue to Lexis Advance®.

Not a Lexis Advance® Subscriber? Subscribe Now

Why am I seeing this?

LexisNexis® is now the exclusive third party online distributor of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® customers will be able to access and use ALM's content by subscribing to the LexisNexis® services via Lexis Advance®. This includes content from the National Law Journal®, The American Lawyer®, Law Technology News®, The New York Law Journal® and Corporate Counsel®, as well as ALM's other newspapers, directories, legal treatises, published and unpublished court opinions, and other sources of legal information.

ALM's content plays a significant role in your work and research, and now through this alliance LexisNexis® will bring you access to an even more comprehensive collection of legal content.

For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]

Trending Stories

 

Featured Product

Global Briefing

A weekly, curated selection of our international content from around the globe, across the business of law, in-house, regulatory, technology and more, with expert insights from our senior editors.

Learn More

Recommended Stories

More from ALM

 

ALM Legal Publication Newsletters

Sign Up Today and Never Miss Another Story.

As part of your digital membership, you can sign up for an unlimited number of a wide range of complimentary newsletters. Visit your My Account page to make your selections. Get the timely legal news and critical analysis you cannot afford to miss. Tailored just for you. In your inbox. Every day.

Privacy Policy

About Us / Contact Us / Site Map / Advertise With Us/ Customer Service / Terms of Service/ FAQ / Privacy Policy

Publications

Law Topics

Rankings

More

Law.com

Copyright © 2020 ALM Media Properties, LLC. All Rights Reserved.