Lawyers Who Launch

A common perception of lawyers is that they are all outspoken extroverts, but while that is true for some, introverted lawyers are just as common as extroverted lawyers.  To be successful in your legal practice you need to network, but you can network very successfully even if you feel introverted, shy, anxious, nervous, or like an imposter. We have three networking mindset shifts for you to consider when thinking about how you network.

Mindset Shift #1 - Networking does NOT have to be in a ballroom or conference room to be successful.

When we speak with legal professionals about networking one of the things we always start out with is the following question - do you love going into a room where you don’t know anyone only to start talking about yourself?  This is the traditional way people think about networking.  Yes, networking can and does happen this way.  But this is certainly not the only way to network.  If this is the only way you think networking works then you are missing out on a world of networking.  Some of the best networking contacts we have made have been a result of networking in less traditional situations.

Your everyday life gives you a world of networking opportunities - if you actually look for them.  Law school gives you an opportunity for constant networking.  If you are currently in law school, make the most of your time and connect with as many people as possible.  If you are out of law school, take a few minutes today and reach out to three people from your law school that you have not connected with in a while.

Networking also happens at the bank, coffee shop, gym, dry cleaners, and so much more.  Talk to people in your daily life, introduce yourself, learn about them, and add them to your network.

Mindset Shift #2 - Never miss an opportunity to network remotely.

Sending some type of correspondence, whether it be handwritten, email, or even text - depending on the person - is a great way to keep in contact with the people in your network.  It also does not take much time out of your day.  There are endless opportunities to quickly touch base with someone in between more formal meetings.  Don’t let these simple things pass you by.  

Reach out to someone in your network just to say hi, congratulate them on a recent accomplishment, or share something with them you think they may valuable.  

Mindset Shift #3 - Stop networking.

Networking is all about building relationships.  If “networking” makes you squirm - then stop.  Stop thinking about what you will get from a professional relationship with someone.  Stop thinking that you do not have anything to offer other professionals.  Instead, work on building those relationships.  

Even if you feel as though you do not have a single person in your professional network we all have relationships with other people.  You know how to start, build, and maintain relationships with other people.  Networking is no different.  

Ready to shift your mindset and build your professional network?  We have another great blog post to help you nurture the connects you make - “5 Ways You Can Follow Up and Follow Through For Your Network.”

Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship.  Please keep in mind that your jurisdiction will hav

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

As we approach 50 episodes and our first podcasting anniversary, we have been thinking back to where it all began.  Over the last year we have talked with so many of you about how we got started in podcasting and about your fears surrounding podcasting that we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share our podcasting story along with all of our tips and tricks for those of you interesting in starting your own podcast.
Podcasting Background We had none.  Our only experience with podcasts was as listeners.  One day Amy floated the idea of starting our own podcast and the seed was planted.  We had to start from absolutely nothing because that is how much we knew about developing, producing, editing, and putting out our own podcast. So if you are interested in the idea of starting your own podcast, but you feel like you don’t have the experience, you are in the right place.

Step 1 - Topic The first step is to figure out what your podcast will be about.  You will need to identify your niche, what is your area of expertise and who are you going to share that with?  Who is your intended audience?  Your niche and intended audience go hand in hand so you really want to be intentional about those as you begin to develop your podcast.  Try to be as specific as possible because you cannot have a podcast that speaks to everyone, because you will end up with a podcast that speaks to no one. Trust yourself here because you are an expert, you know who is looking for your expertise, so speak to them.

Step 2 - Format
Is this a solo show or am I going to record with someone?
Will I have guests, no guests, or a combination?
How long will my episodes run?
How frequently will I publish new episodes?
Will there be any repeating segments?

As you are asking yourself these questions you must keep one critical factor in mind - consistency.  However, you choose to format your podcast you want to make sure that it is done in a way that will allow you to be consistent. 

Step 3 - Make a List of Topic Ideas Start now making a list of podcast episode ideas.  They do not have to be perfectly crafted titles or even fully formed episodes.  But you need to make sure that your idea for your podcast can inspire you to create enough episodes to get your through the beginning of your podcast.  We had at least 30 ideas on our list before we moved forward with actually creating this podcast.  This is a place where we still put ideas that are not fully formed episodes yet and we can revisit for inspiration whenever we hit that inevitable block. What happens if you cannot think of enough episode ideas? Answer:  Revisit steps 1 and 2.  Look at your topic, niche, audience, and format.  What can you tweak?  What can you adjust?  Do those adjustment inspire additional ideas?  What does that look like?

We have had a great time developing and doing this podcast.  We think that this is the perfect time to bring what we have learned back to you because we love networking and podcasting can be a very powerful networking tool.  Subscribe now and stay with us for this podcasting mini-series and you can launch your very own podcast too!

Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship.  Please keep in mind that your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow.  This discussion does n

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

Welcome back for the third installment of our mini-series - Summer Associates are Made in the Winter.  In part 1 we discussed how to get yourself set up to find the best summer role for you.  In part 2 we did a deep dive into the application process and landing that coveted position.  Finally, in part 3 we give you tips and strategies to make the most of your summer while you are there.

Whether you are working at a firm, judicial clerkship, or some other position, you will come in contact with many legal professionals.  And you will likely come in contact with those same people again in your legal career.  This is a great opportunity to network.  Get to know the people in your firm, not just the attorneys that you directly report to.  Ask questions.  Seek out projects to work on. 

Plan now to keep track of everyone you meet during the summer. It may be easy to keep track of your direct supervisor or the managing partner. But if you think now about how you want to organize those networking contacts that you meet over the summer then all you have to do is put your plan into motion once you start meeting people. There are a lot of opportunities to gain introductions to a variety of professionals depending on where you are working.

When your summer internship winds to a close don’t just leave like you will never return.  If any projects are not able to be completed, leave good notes so the next person can pick up where you left off because nothing will ruin the hard work you did over the summer faster than leaving a mess behind you when you leave.

Once you have everything organized and you have shared that information with whomever needs to know it, thank your employer for the opportunity and specify what, exactly, you enjoyed about working with them and their firm.  You never know how or when you may come across someone again.  You started the summer with a positive first impression, make sure your last impression this summer is just as positive.  Finally, do not forget to get contact information for everyone that you’ve worked with and connect with them on LinkedIn.  

If you enjoyed your summer work and you feel as though you will have time during the semester you may consider asking if there is an opportunity for your summer clerkship to be extended.  Especially in smaller firms that do not have a formal summer internship program you may be invited to stay on through the school year as a clerk.  There is no harm in asking if the position may be available.  

Law school does not need to be all work for three years.  The summer is the perfect opportunity to do some of the things you do not have time for during the semester.  Start now and reach out to friends and family and make some plans.  Having something fun to look forward too will make the winter that much more manageable.

The pressures in law school can be overwhelming.  Networking often falls behind.  Let us help you with a strategic plan for networking that is simple to execute and will help you build your professional network now for a long and successful career. 

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

This week Amy takes the lead as she shares her view on a deeper meaning in estate planning.  Since her clerkship, Amy is faced with two unavoidable aspects of everyday life - death and taxes.  By examining a deeper meaning in estate planning, she is able to expand her view of her practice and provide those services to her clients with compassion and care.

When Amy looked deeper she found that she is trying to create order out of chaos, provide protection for her clients and their loved ones, and allow her clients to maintain control.

Now in paperback - “The Law Student’s Guide to Networking”

We took our years of experience, along with trial and error, and developed an easy to implement strategy for networking.  Click here to get your copy and start building your professional networking right away!

Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship.  Please keep in mind that your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow.  This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

LWL Design Shop on Etsy use code LWLPOD for 15% off your purchase


Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

The preparations that you undertake during the winter months set the foundation for an amazing summer as a law student.  In part I, we shared four steps that you should start right now to set yourself up for success this summer.  In part II, we build on that with the applications process, utilization of your networking, and a practice tip for your voicemail.

The Application Process The application process for summer positions varies widely depending on where you are applying.  For smaller law firms, this may simply mean emailing your cover letter and resume.  Larger firms and government agencies often have their own online application process, which may require additional information not necessarily on your resume. You may also need to submit your transcript so be certain that you’ve given yourself enough time if you need to obtain an official one. Hiring timelines for companies and law firms vary widely. It is not unusual for someone to contact you about a position months after you applied - even for summer positions. Keeping track of where and when you have applied to a position, will help you if that call comes months after you submitted your resume.

We highly recommend tracking your applications in some manner.  This will be incredibly helpful when you are in a variety of stages with different firms.  Tracking your applications will allow you to be aware at one glance of where you are in all stages of the process everywhere you applied.  Having this type of information readily accessible will make it easy for you to keep on top of your applications.  You can easily know how long it has been since you have heard and whether you should follow up.  You can also keep on top of whom you should follow up with without having to comb through your emails. For these reason, and so many more, we believe that application tracking is essential to a successful job search.  This is why we have included a custom tracking spreadsheet with The Law Student’s Guide to Networking Course.

Utilize Your Network Look to your network to see if you can find a specific contact in an area of law, a law firm, or branch of government that interests you.  Being able to reach out to a specific person or have your resume forwarded to a hiring manager by a current employee can go a long way in making your application or resume stand out from the stack. 
 
Prepare Your Voicemail As a generalization, many lawyers love speaking on the phone.  Many interviews will be scheduled via email.  However, do not be surprised if someone calls to speak with you directly.  Make sure that your voicemail clearly and professionally states your full name and that your memory is free so that a voicemail can be left. For more on law student networking to help you put your hard work into practice and land your dream role, check out The Law Student’s Guide to Networking Course or our book The Law Student’s Guide to Networking - now available in paperback!

Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship.  Please keep in

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

Whether you are traveling or simply taking a few days to relax at home, we have five tips today to help you set up your time out of the office for success.

Step 1:  Review your current workload and prepare staff. Go through your current files and tasks. What do you need to get done to meet a deadline before you are out? What can you delegate to someone else? What can you prepare staff to respond to while you are out? Brief your staff and provide clients with another attorney in your firm that they can reach out to while you are out.  This first step is all about managing the expectations of the people in your office.  In order to do this you first need to know what is coming up in your files and then setting an action plan in motion.  You cannot prepare for every possibility, but there are definitely things that you can set up before you leave the office.  Setting these expectations ahead of time will allow you to take a true break and prepare your coworkers to respond to any pressing matters.  

Step 2:  Set expectations with your clients. Touch base with current clients that have more active cases or issues the week before.  When Amy is drafting documents for clients, she is certain to send those out before she leaves so that the clients can review the documents in her absence and are ready to schedule an appointment when she returns.  For this kind of transactional work, it is sometimes helpful to let the other attorney know you’ll be out and they can expect to hear back from you when you return.  Again, setting expectations for clients and counsel will set you up for a successful and more restful time out of the office. 

Step 3:  Disconnect. This is perhaps the most valuable and the most challenging of all of the steps.  Consider removing your work email from your phone or at the very least snooze notifications.  If you have a tendency to check email, even when you are supposed to be out of the office, consider limiting your access to that email.  If you read or view an email, it will take up unnecessary space in your mind.

Step 4:  Give yourself a buffer. If you will be out of the office from the 1st to the 7th, keep your out of office up until the 8th. This will allow you to return to the office on the 8th and review your email, mail, and phone messages. You will have the time to prioritize your tasks and responses instead of responding to messages haphazardly. Doing this can really set you up for a great return to office.  Because people are not expecting to hear from you until the next day, you have given yourself the time and the space to really go through what happened while you were away and prioritize.

Step 5:  Acknowledge that rest is productive. Rest is productive.  Taking a true break will allow you to rest and clear your mind. You will be able to return to the office more refreshed and as a result more productive.  Acknowledging how productive you will be once you have allowed yourself a rest will make steps one through four all the more attainable.

Start the year off right with the ebook that is changing the game for law students - “The Law Student’s Guide to Networking.”  Click here to purchase today!

Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship.  Plea

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

The preparations that you undertake during the winter months set the foundation for an amazing summer as a law student. 

Step 1:  Research-Spend some time researching different types of opportunities available for law students over the summer.  There are a variety of types of companies that hire law students - various sized corporations, various sized law firms, non-profit organizations, schools.  Within those opportunities is a world full of any kind of law you could imagine; and even some you did not know existed. There are a lot of summer jobs for law students that are pretty obvious, but many surprise and inspire you.  Give yourself the benefit of knowledge and take a look.

Step 2:  Visit career services-After you have some idea of what is available, visit with career services.  Researching potential opportunities before you visit with career services will help you make the most of your time with career services because you are starting from a position of some knowledge going into your meeting.  Career services may be able to point you in the direction of someone who works in the area of law that you are interested  in. They can also provide feedback on your résumé and cover letter and application packages. 

Step 3:  Prepare your cover letter and résumé-We do not recommend a standard cover letter for every resume, getting the letter ready for personalization will not take long.  When you find a job to apply for, utilize the cover letter and set yourself apart by editing the cover letter to reflect you specific interest in their posting, exhibit that you have taken time to read the posting and research your potential employer, and demonstrate that you are a high quality candidate that they would be lucky to hire. While your cover letter cannot yet be finalized, your résumé absolutely should be ready to go.  Use action words to describe your prior work.  Utilize facts and figures to demonstrate your experience and skills.  Most importantly, assume that your résumé is the most polished version of you and ensure there are no typos. Career services is critical here as well.  They are a valuable resource provided by your law school to help you succeed.  Make sure you are taking full advantage of their wealth of knowledge and experience.  

Step 4:  Prepare your writing sample-Some employers will ask for a writing sample and some will not.  As you are applying for summer positions, you want to make sure you have a polished writing sample ready to go. This is another place where career services will absolutely be able to help you.  If you are reading this and the thought of a writing sample strikes panic with you then get yourself to career services and ask for help.  They know what classes you have taken and they know the types of writing that their students have had success with.  Career services can provide you with guidance in the context of your law school that is invaluable.  As you go through this process, keep in mind that you have made it this far and you have the skills and talent to keep going.  Give yourself an edge with preparation and quality application submissions that will allow your hard work to show.
Start the year off right with the ebook that is changing the game for law students - “The Law Student’s Guide to Networking.”  Click here to purchase today!
Nothing contained within this podcast is intended

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

If you have been with us from the beginning, you already know that we love hobbies.  In episode three, we talked about making time for a hobby in the episode “Who Has Time For Hobbies.”  This week we are sharing our thoughts on why a screen free hobby might just be a good idea for you, along with a bunch of ideas for your next hobby.

There are so many distractions happening on our phones, tablets, and computers.  And so many of our practices now include meetings and appearances that also appear on screens. If your hobby is one that you need technology to do, you may want to at least consider silencing notifications and staying off of other apps.  However, we really would love for you to try something totally off line.

A hobby allows you to do something active with your mind while also resting and recharging at the same time. The amazing thing that happens when we give ourselves that mental break we suddenly become more creative and productive.

In the last 18 months we have been in our homes like never before.  As the world continues to open up again it can be very hard to get out there.  We have missed that in personal human connection and now many of us are not in the habit of looking outside of our homes for activities.  Hobbies can be an amazing gateway to a world very different from your profession.

Another great aspect of trying a hobby is that is does not have to be perfect.  Hobbies are inherently activities done for pleasure.  If you are working so hard to make it “perfect” or you are frustrated because you cannot get it quite right - maybe put it down and try something new.

Head over to our blog for our full list of off line hobby ideas.

P.S. - Start the year off right with the ebook that is changing the game for law students - “The Law Student’s Guide to Networking.”  Click here to purchase today!

Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship.  Please keep in mind that your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow.  This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

LWL Design Shop on Etsy use code LWLPOD for 15% off your purchase


Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

Welcome to 2022!  For our first episode back in the new year, we are looking at reflecting on the previous year and resetting for the new year.  We have four steps that we are going to go through to help you evaluate where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there as we enter 2022.

The first step is to think about where you want to be.  We like to start with five years from now as the first milestone.  Five years is a good point because if you are in law school, you will be out and done with the bar and if you are a practicing attorney the five year point is not so far away but is still far enough away to make big things happen.

So taking this five year outlook - what do you want your life to look like?  Be as specific or general as you want.  Maybe you know that in your personal life you want to be a parent by that time - how does that affect the way you think about your professional path?  For some of you, maybe the next five years looks like hustling hard in your current position to make partner.  Whatever your five year goals look like they are very personal to you.  Avoid thinking about what you should be doing or what you should want for your career.  What do you actually want? This can be challenging when we feel that there are so many other influences on our career.  And a career in law really can offer a variety of paths that you can take.  You may be working toward making partner in a law firm, working in house for a company, owning your own firm, or pursuing a career in public service. It’s important to make sure you are working towards the path you want you career to take.

Once you have gotten clear on your goals, the next step is to identify the actions you need to take in order to achieve those goals.  If you started journal to identify your goals, the steps to achieve those goals may naturally flow.  Just keep in mind that your path to your goal may not look like someone else’s path to the same goal.  This is your journey and at the end of the day you need to stay true to yourself.

Step three is to identify what you can discard. Law school is hard, being a lawyer is hard, life is really really hard sometimes.  An honest perspective is so important, but a bad defeatist attitude simply does not serve you and will not get you to your goals.  

The way you speak to yourself is probably one of the most critical pieces to achieving your goals.  But there are other practical things you can discard that may be helpful to you.  Maybe for you ordering your groceries online and having them delivered brings you hours in your week that you can devote to something else that will serve you goals better.  Maybe you turn your phone on do not disturb every night at a certain time and get rid of that distraction after hours.  Not everything has to be so serious and thoughtful.  Perhaps simply designating Wednesday night at a take out night makes a big positive impact on how your week goes.  

Finally, step four is to commit and embrace the journey.  There will be bumps in the road.  This is your life and your goals - they require your commitment.

P.S. - Start the year off right with the ebook that is changing the game for law students - “The Law Student’s Guide to Networking.”  Click here to purchase today!
Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be le

LWL Design Shop on Etsy use code LWLPOD for 15% off your purchase


Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

Whether this is your first semester of law school or your last fall semester, winter break is nearly here.  Today, we are going to give you some ideas of how you can make the most of your winter break.  First and foremost, after a long semester give yourself the time to relax.  Take the time that you need to decompress and find yourself not studying for hours on end.  This is a great time to catch up on that Netflix series everyone was talking about while you were studying for finals.  Maybe this winter break you want to continue a hobby you put away for law school.  Or maybe you want to try something new.  Give yourself permission to leave your finals back where they belong - in finals week.  What’s done is done.  Don’t spend your entire winter break stressed over what your grades may be.  Let winter break be a true break from the stress of the semester.  Along the lines of relaxing, schedule some time during winter break to connect and reconnect with your loved ones.  It can be difficult to make time during the semester to spend quality time with the many important people in your life.  Be intentional about making time during winter break to get together, and start the ball rolling right now.  Send out a text or make a phone call and put some plans on your calendar.  Time can get away from you if you aren’t intentional, so think about who you want to see and some fun things to do and reach out to them. Winter break can also be a great time to nurture and naturally grow your network.  Let the people in your life know what you’ve been up to and what you are looking for career-wise.  Seek to connect or reconnect with your networking contacts.  This can be as simple as sending some thoughtful emails, writing a thank you card or updating your LinkedIn.  Designate some time over winter break to move your career forward. Networking is all about building relationships.  While you are nurturing your personal relationships this winter break give those you care about the benefit of a little bit about you as a professional.  Your relationship will be better for it and you may just be able to expand your professional network a little bit more.  Finally, winter break can be a great time to set yourself up for success for the spring semester.  But seriously, only do this after you have taken some time for yourself away from law school.  You’ve worked hard, you deserve a break.  Once you have taken a break, take some time and make a list of some of those tasks that never seem to get crossed off your to do list and try to get them done in one day. Maybe you’ve been putting off making appointments or getting your oil changed.  Pick a day during break to make all those calls and even get those appointments taken care of.  It’s much easier to do when you know you don’t have 100 pages of constitutional law staring at you.  Think about this past semester and what you found to be most stressful personally and see if you can come with a solution or life hack over winter break that you can implement in the spring semester.  If planning or cooking dinner was a serious pain point, come up with some quick simple meals that you can easily rotate throughout the week.

P.S. - Give the gift of success this holiday season with the ebook “The Law Student’s Guide to Networking.”  Click here to purchase today!
Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should

LWL Design Shop on Etsy use code LWLPOD for 15% off your purchase


Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.