What a Partner at a Law Firm Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Law Industry
Mindy, a partner at an AmLaw 200 firm, advises aspiring lawyers to "keep in touch with your classmates," as these connections can yield valuable client relationships. Instead of engaging in networking activities solely for career advancement, Mindy suggests finding "something that you're passionate about outside of your job," as genuine engagement leads to more authentic connections and opportunities.
Networking, Career Development, Work-Life Balance, Passion, Authenticity
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mindy Morton
Partner
Amlaw 200 law firm
UC Berkeley
Yale Law School, J.D.
Political Science, American Studies
Law
Legal
Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. Maintain connections with classmates and colleagues; these relationships can lead to future clients and opportunities.
2. Find a passion outside of work; engaging in activities you enjoy can lead to authentic connections and potential clients.
3. Don't pursue activities solely based on others' suggestions; find your own passions and interests to make connections.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
That's a great question. One thing that's not necessarily specific to being a partner in a law firm is to keep in touch with your classmates. Anyone in a service industry, whether it's finance, law, or related fields, are potential clients for you. They can also be contacts who introduce you to clients.
Keeping in touch was a little more difficult when I was in school, as email was just becoming common when I was graduating. However, it's so easy to keep in touch with people now.
Another thing that's critically important is to find something you're passionate about outside of your job. Participate and enjoy it, and you'll meet people through that. It will be much more authentic than following generic advice.
For example, I ended up starting a women's networking group because that was something I was very passionate about and enjoyed. This has also brought me a number of clients. So, really, don't do things just because people say you should do them.