A Day In The Life Of A Partner At Dinsmore And Shohl LLP
A typical day for Christopher, a partner at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, begins early, prioritizing tasks based on deadlines and client needs, "a lot of my day is sort of time and task management." The work varies greatly depending on court schedules and events like trials or depositions, but consistently involves overseeing team members and reviewing their work product to deliver to clients.
Time Management, Teamwork, Legal Practice, Deadlines, Client Communication
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Christopher Ghio
Partner
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
UCLA 2005
College of William and Mary School of Law; Juris Doctor
Political Science, American Studies
Law
Legal
Honors Student, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Balancing work and family: Christopher wakes up early to manage emails and prioritize tasks before his workday begins, demonstrating the need for effective time management in a demanding career.
2. Importance of time management and prioritization: A significant portion of Christopher's day involves time and task management, including overseeing team members and meeting court deadlines. This highlights the importance of these skills for success in law.
3. Varied workload: Christopher's work varies greatly, from focusing on a single case to attending all-day events like trials or depositions. This shows the diverse and dynamic nature of a legal career and the adaptability required.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of an attorney look like?
I'm an attorney and a father of two young children, ages seven and four. My day starts around 5:00 or 5:30 AM.
I have clients on the East Coast, so I spend about half an hour reviewing emails that may have arrived overnight or from different time zones. I prioritize these to determine what needs immediate attention.
I then create a list of my other responsibilities and check my calendar. After I work out, I arrive at the office between 8:30 and 9:30 AM. I usually stay until 5:30 or 6:30 PM.
My schedule can vary greatly depending on upcoming filing deadlines. If a deadline is approaching, I might focus on a single case and topic for the entire day. The same applies if I have a deposition, mediation, or any other all-day event, or if I'm in trial.
I handle both trial and appellate work. So, my days are not set in stone.
On days without all-day activities like trials or depositions, I prioritize tasks based on their due dates. Much of my work revolves around the court's calendar. It's crucial to meet court-imposed deadlines to avoid issues with the judge, who ultimately determines many of the parameters for a case going to trial.
A significant part of my day is dedicated to time and task management. I also oversee the individuals completing parts of tasks I'm leading.
Learning to start the day early, make a list, review overnight communications, and prioritize tasks from A to Z has been a key skill. It's important to ensure team members responsible for deliverables, like briefs or draft agreements, are on track. As the team lead, I need to be available to answer questions and provide support.
Finally, a lot of my work involves reviewing produced work product, making revisions, and delivering it to clients.