Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates
P.C.
75 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Ste 101
Atlanta,
GA 30308(470) 294-1674
www.garymartinhays.com
Conversations with legal industry leaders about how they climbed the ladder of success and what they learned along the way.
Tasha Norman | July 29, 2021
"I really enjoy building relationships — mentoring, mentorship, and working with other organizations that I care about. You’ve got to figure out what you like to do and what you do well."
Tasha Norman | October 06, 2021
"I am a naturally energetic and social person who has greatly enjoyed the practice of law, enjoy collaborating with my colleagues and enjoy the learning and advising process."
Tasha Norman | October 04, 2021
"You will never get any better if you do not stretch yourself, you will learn more from your failures than your successes, and best of all, you may be surprised what you know and what you are capable of accomplishing."
Tasha Norman | September 30, 2021
"Carving out a niche area can be a great way to get noticed and elevate your profile internally."
Tasha Norman | August 02, 2021
"The business owner can’t really complain because there’s no one to complain to; either figure out a solution or remain stuck with the problem. A challenge must be an opportunity, or ultimately it will likely become a defeat."
Tasha Norman | August 03, 2021
"Having life experience, including a prior career, allowed me to come into the profession with maturity and a unique edge, which helped propel me into a successful law school experience and practice."
Tasha Norman | September 27, 2021
"Make an honest assessment of your own skills, strengths and weaknesses, compare that with what is expected and necessary for making a partner at your particular firm, and explore ways to maximize your strengths while at the same time working on your weaknesses."
Tasha Norman | September 21, 2021
"There is no award for doing it all, only for doing things well."
Tasha Norman | September 22, 2021
"Not everything you do is going to be your favorite deal or your favorite client or your favorite kind of work, but every single thing you work on will make you better in some way."
Tasha Norman | September 15, 2021
"I am scrappy with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder—I am also dogged, loyal, practical, a good delegator, funny, down to earth, and good with people. Once all of that came together, I brought in more business, I had more “wins,” I was happier; I was truly ready to become shareholder."
Tasha Norman | December 04, 2020
"It is hard to make partner at any firm, but it’s even harder if no one knows about your goals, ideas and contributions."
Tasha Norman | December 07, 2020
"I would recommend young lawyers ensure that they are doing the best possible job on their current cases."
Tasha Norman | December 10, 2020
"Stay open-minded and accept criticism from others. Regardless of how experienced or educated you are, there is always room for growth."
Tasha Norman | December 11, 2020
"I am passionate about diversity and inclusion and am proud to be at a firm that constantly challenges itself to do and be better. I feel like I am able to help in that effort using my voice as a partner in the firm."
Tasha Norman | December 14, 2020
"I would tell my younger self to join organizations and law school alumnus chapters earlier in my career."
Tasha Norman | December 16, 2020
Develop legal contacts early in your career and continue to nurture them, and think outside the box—use your own strengths to your benefit.
Tasha Norman | December 18, 2020
"Because I had a clear understanding of the firm’s expectations for its partners, I could make sure that I met these expectations."
Tasha Norman | December 21, 2020
"Make sure that being partner actually enables you to do the aspects of the job that bring you energy and you find satisfying."
Tasha Norman | December 29, 2020
"Before inviting you to join the partnership, the firm will want to know that you are not just someone who can get a task done when asked, but also someone who can think ahead and anticipate what’s coming down the road."
Tasha Norman | January 05, 2021
"To achieve partnership within the firm, I made sure to meet and exceed the expectations set before me."
Tasha Norman | January 08, 2021
"I worked hard to develop a reputation as a team player who is unafraid to tackle new challenges."
Tasha Norman | January 12, 2021
"Think strategically about how to move the case forward to achieve the wins your client is looking for."
Tasha Norman | January 22, 2021
"Get out of email and pick up the phone and talk to people. COVID has created so many alternatives to easily connect with people through video calls and virtual events."
Tasha Norman | February 01, 2021
"The path to partnership may look linear from a distance but it can be far from that. Persevere through setbacks and the growing pains of being an associate — we all go through it."
Tasha Norman | February 04, 2021
I built a reputation with clients and colleagues that led to repeat business and the promise of a pipeline of future business.
Tasha Norman | February 08, 2021
"While talent and excellence are always key traits, often overlooked traits are flexibility and adaptability."
Tasha Norman | February 11, 2021
"Early in your career, develop a problem-solving mindset and apply that to everything you do."
Tasha Norman | February 16, 2021
"There are so many factors that play into your case for partnership, and the full picture is what matters."
Tasha Norman | February 19, 2021
"Professionally, I’ve found great satisfaction in developing my subject-matter expertise and creating content for my clients to digest as we work together to navigate the ever-changing workplace."
Tasha Norman | February 22, 2021
"Don’t assume that just being a really good practitioner is going to be enough. You also cannot lose sight of the fact that law firms are businesses and you have to be able to demonstrate how you can bring all of your skills to bear to help your firm be a successful and profitable business."
Tasha Norman | February 23, 2021
"I would tell an associate who wants to make partner that they should view the partnership as something to join, not just something to achieve."
Tasha Norman | February 26, 2021
"Between the pandemic and new administration, there has been and will continue to be a lot of new legal developments. Try to stay abreast of those developments and how they could affect clients—consider teaming up with others to provide internal or external guidance."
Tasha Norman | July 28, 2021
"As a first-generation immigrant and woman of color, I faced many challenges and difficulties in getting to this point, including battling prejudice and racism. Looking back today however, I also believe that each of these experiences and my diverse background have ultimately made me a better lawyer, litigator and advocate for my clients."
Tasha Norman | August 09, 2021
"Whatever your professional goals are or become, do not keep them to yourself. Share those goals with the partners you work with the most, and ask them for opportunities that you believe will help you achieve them."
Tasha Norman | March 08, 2021
"Always be the most prepared person in the room. Everyone, including your superiors, will take notice."
Tasha Norman | March 09, 2021
"Success requires constantly getting out there, learning, speaking, writing, staying on top of trends and leading the way with advice and viable solutions."
Tasha Norman | August 12, 2021
"Understanding what success should look like, what to add that’s missing and how to communicate that to the appropriate people is a hallmark of great leadership."
Tasha Norman | March 18, 2021
"I think there is a fear that once you become partner you will be left to fend for yourself. It is comforting to know that you don’t become an island when you become a partner."
Tasha Norman | March 22, 2021
"I believe what separates a good partner from a great partner/lawyer is dependent on the partner’s ability to communicate, inspire, and delegate to their team."
Tasha Norman | March 25, 2021
"Business development opportunities sometimes arise at inopportune times, it is key to be ready and willing to do what it takes to seize such opportunities, even if the timing is not ideal."
Tasha Norman | April 01, 2021
"Have a positive mindset and be respectful of both your professional colleagues and your administrative supportive staff, most have been at the firm longer than you and they have lessons to teach you that will be helpful to your career development."
Tasha Norman | March 30, 2021
"Each challenge faced is a necessary opportunity."
Tasha Norman | April 05, 2021
"Identify a mentor or mentors and leverage their knowledge. When you find the right mentors, they will serve as your biggest advocate. Also, find those people that you can bounce questions off of or just vent to when you are having a bad day."
Tasha Norman | April 06, 2021
"Ingrain yourself in a case, understand how an individual piece you may be working on fits into the big picture, be inquisitive and anticipate the next step in the case. Make yourself the associate that the partner needs to turn to for anything in that case, and the one they look to first for future cases."
Tasha Norman | April 08, 2021
"If you deliver results, build trust and provide the right advice to your clients, their satisfaction will help drive your reputation."
Tasha Norman | April 09, 2021
"I am constantly striving to meaningfully improve “diversity.” For me, that means more than numbers—it means people of color, women, and other diverse groups having a decision-making seat at the leadership table. It also means intentionally and authentically answering the call of our clients and potential clients as it relates to diversity."
Tasha Norman | April 12, 2021
"Through my experience, I’ve learned that you must identify your strengths to demonstrate the various ways you provide value to the firm, whether that is by increasing the firm’s community initiatives or developing strong networking circles that will bring in new business to the firm."
Tasha Norman | April 13, 2021
"Figure out what you are good at and hone those skills. Are you an evidence wizard? Are you organized? Are you good on your feet? Find those skills and apply them to make yourself indispensable to your partner."
Tasha Norman | April 16, 2021
"Making partner is a difficult path that takes dedication, persistence and, to a certain extent, having someone to help open that door for you; it is even harder if no one knows that is what you really want."
Tasha Norman | April 19, 2021
I would counsel my younger self not to worry about traditional notions of success. For me, it was a much longer trajectory, and I am the richer for it, as is my firm.
Tasha Norman | August 16, 2021
"I came to realize that in many ways making partner is just the start of your career, and definitely not the culminating event that it can seem like when you are just starting out. This was something I didn’t recognize as a more junior associate."
Tasha Norman | April 23, 2021
"Have more confidence in yourself earlier on. You can and should do hard things as soon as you have the opportunity to seize the challenges."
Tasha Norman | April 27, 2021
"If your goal is to make partner, speak to your partner mentor about the things that he or she did right and more importantly the things they did wrong and the lessons they learned from these missteps."
Tasha Norman | April 28, 2021
"Making partner is an important achievement and one that I feel incredibly fortunate and proud to have accomplished. At the same time, I recognize that it is just one milestone in my career. There are many more goals to achieve and challenges to rise to."
Tasha Norman | August 19, 2021
"I think that having both the judgment to know when you need help and the confidence to take on increasingly complex tasks on your own are really important attributes you have to balance."
Tasha Norman | April 29, 2021
"Make yourself indispensable, not merely for your work product but for what you add to the firm's culture."
Tasha Norman | August 23, 2021
"Before you step into a conference room or jump on a call or log into a zoom meeting, take the time to ask yourself, “What value will I be adding?” If you cannot easily answer that question – go back to the drawing board."
Tasha Norman | August 24, 2021
"My ability (or even just willingness) to hit the ground running, take initiative and look for answers before asking for them definitely helped propel my partnership track."
Tasha Norman | August 25, 2021
"Don't strive to be everything to everyone but instead learn how to prioritize what is the most important at any specific time on any specific day. "
Tasha Norman | May 10, 2021
"Because my path was nontraditional and nonlinear, I sometimes wondered whether I would ever be a partner. Achieving this goal feels like the culmination of a long career path."
Tasha Norman | May 14, 2021
"Having great mentors is probably the greatest influence in my career that helped propel me to partner, and I am happy to pay it forward with our newer associates."
Tasha Norman | May 18, 2021
"The legal community flourishes when lawyers come from a diversity of backgrounds and experiences, and there are many ways in which your unique experience can be valuable in private practice."
Tasha Norman | August 31, 2021
"Once you hit partner, you are no longer artificially capped. My horizon is now the rest of my career, and it’s a greenfield to make it into whatever I want."
Tasha Norman | May 19, 2021
"Some lawyers are natural developers of business. That’s not me necessarily but I have found that if you do a good job, are generally easy to work with, and a reasonably decent person, work will find its way to you. That, and billboards."
Tasha Norman | September 01, 2021
" I would encourage associates to keep their careers in perspective, and to be thoughtful about their intentions with a holistic approach to their life."
Tasha Norman | May 25, 2021
"Do the right thing when nobody is looking. Be honest with yourself, work hard, build relationships, and make education a priority."
Tasha Norman | September 07, 2021
"Every rainmaker had a point in her career where she didn’t have a single client. It doesn’t happen overnight. You put in the work, one day at a time, and you make your clients’ business your business."
Tasha Norman | September 14, 2021
"When times get tough, look away to the future and then settle down to meet your challenges with nerves of steel."
Tasha Norman | June 02, 2021
"I had a hard time finding a job out of law school. But I’ve learned that, with hard work, persistence and a bit of luck along the way, things may not work out according to a painstakingly planned road map, but they will work out just fine."
Tasha Norman | June 04, 2021
"I’ve met and come to know many others whose paths to partnership took unexpected twists and turns. Their stories inspire me to stay open to new opportunities and remind me that detours are often part of the most memorable and rewarding journeys."
Tasha Norman | October 20, 2021
"You are amazing and belong at every table you sit at, so lean in and speak up, your voice matters, you being at that table matters."
Tasha Norman | November 23, 2021
"Make yourself indispensable and become a natural choice for a future leader."
Tasha Norman | October 21, 2021
"If you’re having fun and learning along the way, you’ll be more likely to produce strong work product, show commitment to the firm, and excel in client service, all the things firms look for in a partner."
Tasha Norman | June 10, 2021
"Everyone’s time is important, so ask questions early to establish expectations and provide the best possible work product the first time."
Tasha Norman | June 11, 2021
"No one can want you to achieve your goal more than you want it for yourself, and you need to be ready to go to bat for yourself."
Tasha Norman | June 14, 2021
"I’m just getting started! One of the things that attracted me to the legal practice was that you’re always growing and learning new things."
Tasha Norman | October 29, 2021
"Once you are out of school, you have to define success for yourself—there’s no more grading curve, you are on your own."
Tasha Norman | November 02, 2021
'Find what works for you, individually, rather than trying to force yourself to fit into someone else’s version of success.'
Tasha Norman | June 16, 2021
'It’s vitally important to push and push and push for more responsibility on cases. Do scary, new, challenging things every day.'
Tasha Norman | June 22, 2021
"One initiative I found to be particularly helpful in building my practice and brand is that I always put myself into the clients’ shoes to understand how my legal skills could be most helpful."
Tasha Norman | June 23, 2021
"Focus on building substantive expertise that differentiates you from other associates and law firms."
Tasha Norman | June 29, 2021
"I want to make sure when people mention my name, they identify me with being the expert in the room."
Tasha Norman | July 01, 2021
"Be yourself, unapologetically, and every single day."
Tasha Norman | November 04, 2021
"Being recognized as a good lawyer in your field can often mean little if you don’t have the support of others around you. Not only is it important to get comfortable with advocating for yourself, but you should always be mindful of the space you occupy and treat others with kindness and respect."
Tasha Norman | November 08, 2021
'One of the challenges I had to overcome early in my career was to know when to ask questions and seek the advice of other people.'
Tasha Norman | November 12, 2021
"I would encourage all younger attorneys to keep networking a top priority, as it will help with rapid advancement and pay dividends in the long term."
Tasha Norman | July 06, 2021
"Try to get a really good understanding of the business side and talk to as many partners as you can about what it takes and what to expect. And give yourself some grace and keep things in perspective."
Tasha Norman | July 13, 2021
"Partnership is very much a two-way street—you have to perform, but you also need those already there to cheer you on."
Tasha Norman | July 14, 2021
"Try to do more than what is expected. Find what makes you unique and hone in on it. And, make sure people know about you and your work."
Tasha Norman | July 15, 2021
"Keep a log of your cases along with significant work you’ve done on those cases. It can be very helpful both as a reference for new cases and as a guide for your own professional development."
Tasha Norman | November 18, 2021
"Know your worth, but also know when the time is right."
Tasha Norman | November 17, 2021
"Give them a reason to never want to lose you. Bring something to the table that others don’t bring."
Tasha Norman | October 18, 2021
'Figure out a way to be indispensable. For me, that was a combination of skills and luck."
Tasha Norman | October 12, 2021
"Try to replicate, in your own style, all of the things that the top partners in your firm do well, both as practitioners and brand builders. Learn the facts and the law inside and out. There is no substitute for subject-matter mastery and hard work."
Tasha Norman | February 25, 2021
"It is critically important to be professional and maintain excellent relationships with your opposing counsel. Often, they are the first ones called by the judicial nominating commissioners involved in the judicial appointment process."
Tasha Norman | September 23, 2021
"Advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives is not only the right thing to do, but it also makes us a stronger firm overall and improves our internal culture while also making us a more effective and valuable service provider to our clients."
Tasha Norman | September 16, 2021
"Those most successful love what they do and look for every opportunity to do 'it.' They live to win, and they will do whatever it takes."
Tasha Norman | August 04, 2021
"Self-promotion is key to making sure people know about all the amazing things you’ve accomplished. If you’re not comfortable talking about yourself, find a colleague or sponsor that can help you."
Tasha Norman | August 05, 2021
"Take a long-term approach! Successful business development is about building strong relationships over a long period of time."
Tasha Norman | March 01, 2021
"There is a big difference between talking about valuing the voices of all attorneys and demonstrating real commitment to that mindset. My advice would be to find a place where you feel that support and where you feel empowered to go after what you want."
Tasha Norman | August 11, 2021
'I am a first-generation college grad from Alabama who is a member of the LGBT community. Throughout my career, multiple folks have been incredible mentors and influencers to me.'
Tasha Norman | August 17, 2021
"My path to pro bono partner began after another partner pointed out what I knew: that Sheppard Mullin is a firm that will support you if you have a good idea, and as my mother always says, 'It never hurts to ask.'”
Tasha Norman | April 22, 2021
"Always try to remember that there are things that may be urgent but are not important and it is key to focus on the ones that are important."
Tasha Norman | April 26, 2021
"Stay connected to everyone at the firm. Pay attention to and elevate the concerns of not only the partnership but of associates, business services and administrative staff."
Tasha Norman | August 18, 2021
"Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable and letting go of the fear when encountering new challenges we haven’t faced before is key to not only growing in your career but also in leading."
Tasha Norman | May 03, 2021
"Giving back to the community is a cornerstone of our firm culture. We expect attorneys at the firm to be honest, active and good members of the community."
Tasha Norman | May 11, 2021
"Be a 'doer,' earn people’s trust, and step outside your comfort zone. Go to the after-work event even if you don’t feel like it. Take the meeting your boss or colleague suggests. Become a member of a local organization that inspires or motivates you."
Tasha Norman | August 26, 2021
"Good things come to people in this profession who are giving and generous. It helped shape my worldview very early on in my career."
Tasha Norman | August 30, 2021
"I believe that those who are most successful in leadership positions understand the business from their work in the organization."
Tasha Norman | May 12, 2021
"Those years held a lot of hard lessons and setbacks, but I was determined not to give up on education as my way out, with law school as my ultimate goal."
Tasha Norman | May 13, 2021
"My advice to anyone who wants to be in leadership is seize the opportunities that are available. You can learn from these experiences and use them to develop and cultivate your leadership skills for roles with increasing responsibility."
Tasha Norman | May 21, 2021
"I realized that my grit and resolve were two of the essential traits I had deployed over time to achieve these and other important life goals."
Tasha Norman | May 26, 2021
"As the first openly gay member of Clark Hill to be elected to its executive committee and one of only two openly gay members in charge of a firm office, I have tried to use my platform as a leader to advocate for awareness and progress within the firm."
Tasha Norman | September 13, 2021
"I like to try out new things; I fail a good amount of the time, but occasionally I succeed dramatically."
Tasha Norman | September 20, 2021
"Build trust and confidence in every person that you manage. Value and appreciate every person in the organization, whatever role they are in. People aren’t perfect, leaders aren’t perfect, but for the most part we’re all trying our best. Always assume good intentions until proven otherwise. Be introspective. Understand that mistakes and failures are inevitable, and your reaction as a leader is important."
Tasha Norman | June 01, 2021
"Diversify your experience and your skill set as much as you can. Identifying new ways to solve particular issues or to diversify your skills can showcase your aptitude and ability to take on that next role."
Tasha Norman | June 03, 2021
"It’s important to understand your motivation for being in leadership. It should not be because of the perceived power of a leadership role, but about the desire to serve, and to enhance the success of others."
Tasha Norman | June 07, 2021
"My motto is, and always has been, “the answer is always yes.” That means seizing every opportunity to gain as much experience as possible, both in the courtroom and beyond."
Tasha Norman | September 28, 2021
"Become an expert in your field and bring that knowledge to the table, adding value at each point along the way."
Tasha Norman | October 27, 2021
"As a professional who is not an attorney and in senior leadership at an Am Law 100 firm, I am different. I firmly believe the 'different' can make a 'difference.' I know from experience that a single individual can change someone’s life for the better, and everyone has something to contribute."
Tasha Norman | June 08, 2021
"Success is not a destination; it is a journey that never ends and must be earned every day."
Tasha Norman | November 22, 2021
"To be a great law firm leader you need to understand what drives the strategy and economics of the firm."
Tasha Norman | June 17, 2021
'Engage with mentors and peers. With both types, share your concerns, your successes and your failures. Without these people, it’s going to be difficult to figure out in which direction to steer your career and whether you’re actually driving toward a goal.'
Tasha Norman | June 21, 2021
'I learned qualities about being an excellent lawyer for clients, the value of building cohesive teams for large projects, and the benefit of leading by sharing responsibility and providing team members with challenging and growth-enhancing opportunities.'
Tasha Norman | November 03, 2021
"I have found that women in the sector truly want to support each other, which can be a missed opportunity if one is not taking advantage of that reality.”
Tasha Norman | June 28, 2021
"I was surprised by how demanding and fulfilling the management work can be."
Tasha Norman | July 02, 2021
"I believe anyone interested in the role should be genuinely interested in the business of law, read everything about our industry, talk with the people in the firm to learn what they are thinking and be humble and open."
Tasha Norman | July 12, 2021
"Keep talent happy and offer opportunities for advancement for long-term viability. Provide top client services at a reasonable price point and make sure your organization is lean, while still providing Class A service."
Tasha Norman | November 19, 2021
"Serving on committees and developing relationships with attorneys and business services professionals from different practices and offices is, in my view, an excellent way to prepare for a future leadership role."
Tasha Norman | July 23, 2021
"Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do whatever it is you want to do. So long as you are not hurting anyone else, pursue your dreams vigorously."
Tasha Norman | November 16, 2021
"You should have a good sense of your strengths and weaknesses. It's very important to know when you are the best-suited person to do something, and when you're not, when something should be delegated and when it shouldn't be."
Tasha Norman | November 29, 2021
"Most successful leaders are continuously learning and willing to receive input from multiple and diverse sources before, during and after making decisions."
Tasha Norman | July 20, 2021
"I feel like my team came off the pandemic faster, more efficient, stronger and smarter, because we used downtime to educate ourselves and others."
Tasha Norman | July 26, 2021
"It’s been very important for me to be at a place where I could have a meaningful, successful career and not miss out on life’s events."
Tasha Norman | October 13, 2021
"Have the courage to do things differently and take a path that diverges from the leaders who came before you. You can chart your own course, staying true to your values and your intuition. You may very well become the paradigm that someone else wants to follow."
Tasha Norman | June 09, 2021
"I think being honest and ethical is at the forefront. And I do really think caring and being empathetic also goes a long way amongst the masses, as well as the ability to educate and train and to stand up for what’s right. You have to be able to stand up for what’s right."
Tasha Norman | July 19, 2021
'Outside counsel adds the most value when they understand the structure of the business and the objectives it is seeking to achieve. Counsel that is able to do that captures the lion’s share of my business.'
Thomas Phillips | October 07, 2021
Introducing our new section to the How I Made It series: How I Got Into Law School. Future 1Ls will learn practical advice on how to tackle the application process.
Presented by BigVoodoo
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Legal Speak is a weekly podcast that makes sense of what’s happening in the legal industry.
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