What An Arbitrator And Mediator At Simburg Dispute Resolution Wishes They Knew Before Entering Law
Mel, an arbitrator and mediator, advises aspiring legal professionals that assertiveness, not aggression, is key to success, emphasizing the importance of maintaining positive relationships within the small legal community. Further, the ability to "run a business" alongside legal practice, coupled with open-mindedness and the application of "life experiences and common sense," are crucial skills not always taught in law school, and managing overly aggressive personalities is a necessary skill to develop.
Communication, Problem-Solving, Ethical Dilemmas, Business Acumen, Assertiveness
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mel Simburg
Arbitrator and Mediator
Simburg Dispute Resolution
University of California at Berkeley
Columbia University: Juris Doctor, Masters of International Affairs
Political Science, American Studies
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Law
Legal
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. It is more effective to be assertive rather than aggressive. Aggressiveness can alienate the other side and damage your career in the long run because this is a relatively small community where you will work with the same people repeatedly.
2. The job requires business skills in addition to legal skills. Law school does not always teach the business side of running your own practice.
3. You need to be prepared to work with aggressive personalities and develop effective strategies to manage these interactions.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
First, it's important to be assertive, but not necessarily aggressive. Many people believe a good lawyer is an aggressive lawyer, but that's not true.
An aggressive lawyer might please a client who wants a bulldog for counsel, but it doesn't guarantee a better job. If you're too aggressive, you alienate the other side.
You really have to work together, not just in the current case but also because it's a relatively small community. You'll likely encounter these lawyers again, perhaps on the same or opposite side.
It's important not to burn bridges or treat people unethically. Some lawyers don't grasp this, and I believe it hurts their careers.
Second, in addition to being a way of life, practicing law is also running a business. Learning the skills to run a business independently is crucial.
Regarding other legal skills, it's important to be open-minded, think outside the box, and apply life experiences and common sense, not just legal analysis. These are not taught in law school; most of us learn them after practicing for a while.
Finally, as I mentioned, some lawyers believe it's important to be aggressive. Therefore, we need to be prepared to handle overly aggressive personalities and understand how to deal with them.
Advizer Personal Links
SimburgDR.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/mel-simburg-1277ba/