Young Lawyers

Expert Opinion

Ethics Forum: Questions and Answers on Professional Responsibility

Samuel C. Stretton | September 20, 2018

I am a young lawyer. What are some of the conflicts of interest that should be avoided under any circumstances?

Commentary

Why Your Firm Needs an Employee Wellness Program

Jessica L. Mazzeo | September 20, 2018

Employee satisfaction and engagement are topics that have been, and will continue to be, reoccurring in today’s workforce and well into the future. While there may be some out there who feel that continuing to talk about this topic may be redundant and unimportant, please note: you’re wrong.

Commentary

Young Attorneys in Litigation—Direct and Cross-Examination

Raphael F. Castro | September 12, 2018

TV shows such as "Law and Order," "The Practice," "Suits" and countless other lawyer shows have embedded legal folklore of dramatic opening statements and surprising closing arguments as the key to winning cases.

News

In Philadelphia, Midlevel Associates Are Happier

Lizzy McLellan | August 31, 2018

Midlevel associates in Philadelphia are happier on average than most of their peers, according to The American Lawyer's Midlevel Associate Satisfaction Survey.

Commentary

Effective Advocacy From Young Lawyers Requires Less Hostility, More Civility

The Young Lawyer Editorial Board | August 29, 2018

Nowadays, civility is often substituted for hostility. The Perry Masons of the world have long been eclipsed by the likes of Harvey Specter (Suits), Jack McCoy (Law & Order), and Patty Hewes (Damages).

Commentary

Those Habits That Are Working Against You Need to Go—For Good

Dena Lefkowitz | August 22, 2018

Did you ever stop to think that our daily actions are a simply a collection of habits formed at various stages of our lives and rarely, if ever, re-examined to see if they are working for or against us?

Commentary

Apply Lessons Learned During Your First Summer Jobs to Your Legal Career

Laura C. Bunting | August 01, 2018

One of the defining moments for many adolescents is their first summer job. A first job often represented a sense of freedom and increased independence.…

Stressed Out? Let's Talk About It

Zack Needles | July 31, 2018

The Legal Intelligencer wants to hear first-hand from its readers about the stress that lawyers are under, and the techniques and approaches they've found useful for addressing it.

Commentary

Planning for Summer Vacations or Time Off as a Young Lawyer

The YL Editorial Board | July 18, 2018

Summer vacations can either be one of the most relaxing or most stressful aspects of a young lawyer’s career. Demanding clients or shareholders can make young lawyers feel lazy or guilty for wanting a break.

Commentary

Diversity Then and Now: How One Midsize Firm Tracked Its Progress

Angie Gambone | July 09, 2018

When I joined Flaster Greenberg in 2015 as a lateral associate, I remember scouring the firm’s website for its “diversity and inclusion” statement.

Q&A

First Up: Choosing a Mentor, Pitching New Business and a Little Coffee Talk

Schnader's YL Q&A Panelists | July 04, 2018

A diverse panel of lawyers and other professionals from Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis answers a few select questions in this column each month, advising young lawyers about their career, professional development, office politics, business development, pro bono work, relationships with mentors and colleagues, and so on.

Commentary

Bridge the Generational Divide by Proving Yourself to Senior Attorneys

Christiana L. Signs and Alexander Scarola | June 27, 2018

Starting a career as a lawyer is full of stress, hurdles, and a steep learning curve, especially now with our industry so rapidly changing.

2018 Lawyers on the Fast Track

The Legal Intelligencer | June 12, 2018

The Legal is proud to present the 2018 Lawyers on the Fast Track winners.

Analysis

Pa. Law Firms Watch and Wait After Milbank Salary Boost

Lizzy McLellan | June 08, 2018

Most Pennsylvania firms aren't likely to match the latest associate pay raises emanating from New York, though associates in Philadelphia and elsewhere may enjoy a "trickle-down" effect.

Commentary

Young Lawyers: Try to Find the Right Balance in Your Career Now

Catelyn McDonough | May 16, 2018

It's no secret that work-life balance is difficult to strike in many professions. Especially as lawyers, we have consistently demanding schedules that never seem to stop.

Young Lawyers: We Need Your Questions for a New Q&A Advice Column

The Legal Intelligencer | May 16, 2018

Attention Young Lawyers! Send in your questions for a new Q&A advice column for the Young Lawyers' page in The Legal Intelligencer.

Commentary

Trust the Writing Process: How to Perfect Your Legal Prose

Raphael F. Castro | May 09, 2018

We are employed because of our use of language. We must learn to love words, and use them effectively.

Commentary

The Tables Have Turned: Four Tips for Being an Impactful Mentor

The YL Editorial Board | May 02, 2018

The importance of mentors is often impressed upon us as young professionals. A strong mentor-mentee relationship can be a critical component of career development and advancement.

The Legal Congratulates 2018 Lawyers on the Fast Track Winners

The Legal Intelligencer | May 01, 2018

Earlier in the year, The Legal asked the Pennsylvania legal community to submit nominations for our annual Lawyers on the Fast Track honors.

Commentary

Too Many Choices! From Staplers to Blue Jeans, Try to Keep It Simple

Dena Lefkowitz | April 25, 2018

Adding options increases expectations people have about how good they will be and, Schwartz says, that produces less satisfaction with the results, even when they are good.

Commentary

Get Out of Your Office: The Importance of Extracurriculars After Law School

Alyssa R. Angotti | April 18, 2018

“Resume builder.” It’s a term we are taught at a young age. We join the band and play sports to get into a good college. We join clubs and volunteer to be attractive to law schools. We pull all-nighters with the hope of making Law Review. Before we know it, our resume building is over and we are first year associates. There is no longer a need for extracurricular activities, right? Wrong!

Commentary

Millennial Attorneys: How to Make Your First Year Work for You

Fara A. Cohen | April 04, 2018

The legal profession is notoriously slow when it comes to adapting to change. Even though many law firms are doing a better job of adjusting to millennial lawyers’ needs and expectations, and law schools are requiring more practical curricula, the transition from law school to practice still proves tough for many new attorneys.

Commentary

Silence Is Your Secret Weapon: Use It to Gain Insight

Dena Lefkowitz | March 21, 2018

If you want to get more information, better intelligence and clarity, consider allowing silence to play a supporting role in your communication style. It can be used to great effect.

Commentary

Bringing Attorneys Together to Strengthen Diversity and Inclusion Efforts

Geneva Campbell Brown, Michelle Nguyen, Amanda Reed and Steve Stoute | March 09, 2018

Although more attention has been paid to increasing diversity in the legal profession, the industry as a whole still struggles to make meaningful progress on the hiring, retention and promotion of diverse attorneys.

Commentary

In Focus: A Practical Primer on Interviewing Witnesses

Douglas E. Roberts | March 07, 2018

Part of your practice—whether it focuses on civil or criminal litigation, internal investigations or even business transactions—will involve interviewing witnesses who will inform your matters. Here are a few tips, gleaned from my experience in speaking and listening to witnesses in offices, roadside diners and detention facilities, for conducting effective interviews.

Commentary

Four Things They Don't Teach You in Law School

Raphael F. Castro | February 28, 2018

You’ve mastered the IRAC method, especially after that formidable civil procedure International Shoe v. Washington case as a 1L. You passed the bar, and now you’re ready to be a lawyer … right? Not exactly.

Commentary

Protection Orders for Sex Assault Victims Can Provide Safety

Lauren McCulloch | February 23, 2018

What began as one woman’s allegations of sexual misconduct against producer Harvey Weinstein has become a cascade of people speaking out about sexual violence from Hollywood to Wall Street to the media to college campuses across the country.

Commentary

The 'Philly Special': A Lesson in Leadership, Teamwork

Dena Lefkowitz | February 21, 2018

On the field of life, leadership and team work look a lot like they do on the field of sports. It’s all about creating a culture where diverse opinions are actively encouraged, dialogue is ongoing and no idea is ridiculous.

Commentary

How to Use IRAC Strategies for a Successful Job Interview

Samantha Divine Jallah | February 01, 2018

I don’t remember much about the first case I read in law school, but I do remember how intimidating it was. I arrogantly thought I would quickly read those how-ever-many pages, absorb the content on the first read, IRAC the case in five minutes, and enjoy the rest of my life. Instead I remember spending an eternity reading each page and infinite more time re-reading the most boring content I’d ever been exposed t

Commentary

From Pyramid to Pangea: A Hypothesis for the Future of Law Firm Talent

Marcie Borgal Shunk | January 22, 2018

Smart Strategy Realization rates continue to decline in the legal industry, according to the most recent Georgetown Law/Peer Monitor report, demonstrating…

Lifetime Achievement, Attorney of the Year and Lawyers on the Fast Track Nominations Sought

The Legal Intelligencer | January 16, 2018

Each year, The Legal Intelligencer's Professional Excellence Awards honor Pennsylvania law firms and attorneys who have made a significant, positive impact on the legal profession. And this year, as always, we need your help.

Commentary

Secret to Success: Your Business Needs a Purpose and a Plan

Dena Lefkowitz | January 03, 2018

Are you looking for ways to simplify decision-making for your business or your life? Instead of agonizing endlessly, would you prefer having standards that automatically and organically eliminate some options while highlighting the efficacy and appeal of others? Do you know where your business is headed or are you focused on making the next payroll?

Commentary

Dos and Don'ts: Politics in the Office (and Around the Holiday Table)

The YL Editorial Board | December 13, 2017

Whether it is because of 24-hour cable news networks, social media or the “reality show” of the recent presidential election, and events since the election, politics is taking over.

Expert Opinion

Grit: The Secret Ingredient of Success in Your Career and Beyond

Dena Lefkowitz | November 29, 2017

The first time I heard the word “grit” was in the title of a 1969 movie, “True Grit,” the story of 14-year-old Mattie Ross, who hires Rooster Cogburn, a tough, aging, alcoholic U.S. Marshal to track down her father's murderer and goes with him on the quest.

Commentary

Stress Is On the Rise: Take Steps to Manage It

Dena Lefkowitz | October 25, 2017

The other day, I began typing the word “coping” into a Google search and before I could even finish, Google began to populate search results which included coping with Hurricane Harvey,

News

Judge Nixes Disability Bias Suit Against Law School Admission Council

P.J. D'Annunzio | October 23, 2017

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by a prospective law student with ADHD and dyslexia who claimed she was discriminated against by being denied extra time for LSAT testing.

Commentary

Striking the Right Balance With Your Newfound Authority

Alexander V. Batoff | October 18, 2017

As a grade “K-JD,” or someone who completed all schooling, from finger-painting to issue-spotting, with no gaps in between, graduating law school and entering the “real world” required many adjustments.