Get a Career Coach, and Other Tips from Dennis Kennedy

The advice is from Dennis' article "Resources to Prepare You for Your First Days as a Lawyer, and for the Days that Follow," published in the ABA's Law Practice Today:

Looking back, I would now make two strong recommendations to every law student and young lawyer, and by that term I mean all associates and all new partners.

The first would be to invest some of your earnings or savings into some work with a career counselor or coach as early in the process as you can. It can be very difficult to get a good perspective on the implications of your choices or even to understand what you want or what you should be looking for without getting help from someone who is clear-sighted, independent and concerned about you, perhaps even more concerned about you than you will allow yourself to be as you frantically try to "launch your career."

The second would be to track down Kimm Walton's book, What Law School Doesn't Teach You: But You Really Need to Know. In one volume, you will find tips, advice and, dare I say, distilled wisdom that might otherwise take you years to learn or, in some cases, that you may never find. It's difficult for me to imagine a more useful resource. Don't worry that it was written a few years ago – the lessons are timeless. Here's a tip: some of what you read won't make sense to you at first, but it's important to see it now, because you will appreciate it later.

There's that, plus much more, in the article. You can find more from Dennis at DennisKennedy.blog and Between Lawyers.

Comments

[celia]

I waited late in my paralegal career to work with career coach, Chere Estrin, but I can see the benefit of what you're saying. This kind of mentoring is invaluable.

[Kevin]

AL has a great post on coaches.

[Sally]

Thanks for advice. The information you've given is very interesting and useful for me.