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Every year, Vault Law’s annual associate survey polls tens of thousands of associates from hundreds of the nation’s most prestigious law firms about both the relative prestige of firms other than their own as well as the working conditions at their own firm. Besides this, we also ask each respondent for practical advice for law students and prospective laterals, as well as a sample of interview questions they were actually asked. Our survey also distinguishes between large and midsize law firms. Below is a cross-section of the advice volunteered to us by associates working at the midsize law firms we surveyed.
“Ask questions early and often! If you don't get an answer, give it your best shot, but its much better to know what people want than to guess.”
“Be engaged, and take the chances to just be surrounded by smart lawyers where the sausage gets made. You'll learn a lot and get more chances if you're just around when things are happening, rather than just clocking in and out.”
“Advocate for themselves and try to overcome imposter syndrome and under-confidence as soon as possible. Do not assume the partner knows everything. Even if you are unable to start an assignment immediately do a high level review of the task assigned so that you can ask follow up questions immediately. Try to develop good organization and timekeeping habits early on.”
“Put yourself in the position of the people you work for and think of what work product you would want to receive or what communications you would want from someone working for you. It will help you anticipate issues and stay ahead of your partners and clients so they do not have to wonder where a draft is or what the status of their case is.”
“You're not locked into anything, and you absolutely can make an early career switch or lateral (despite what some more senior attorneys will tell you). Give yourself time and space to decide if a firm or practice area is working, but be honest with yourself if it isn't. This career isn't worth being miserable when it is absolutely possible to find something that might just be a better fit. Start to think about where you see yourself in 5-10 years and work backward to decide what you should be looking for next.”
“If you are looking to work at a law firm, the early years of practice are very hard. Expect to be working a lot of hours and asking a ton of questions.”
“Focus on building strong fundamentals. Be responsive, organized, and detail-oriented, and take the time to understand not just what you are doing, but why you are doing it.”
“Take care of yourself. Do the things that set your mind and body up for success, even if you feel like there is limited time.”
“Pay attention to what industries are paying the bills for the firms you are interested in. Early on, it's a good idea to get whatever good opportunity is offered to you, but continue to pay attention to whether a certain industry is booming, cooling off, overhyped, etc. and pay attention to whether the firm you are at is making prudent decisions in response. This can greatly impact young associates in terms of the type of work they get, billing pressure, and the stability of their positions.”
“Do not sit back and wait to grow-time passes quickly as an associate. So jump at opportunities outside your comfort zone and stretch yourself. That is the best way to become a better lawyer.”
“Put your head down, work hard, and try to absorb as much as possible. If you don't understand something, ask. Find the right partner/mentor for you, and if it's not working out, you're early enough in your career to look for something different. Do NOT just chase the money, I don't know very many people for whom that has worked out well.”
“Things you can control: responsiveness, effort, attention to detail, and communication.”
“Work hard, think critically, be situationally aware, and treat everyone from the custodial staff to the name partners like they are human beings.”
“Know what you want. Decide what you want to get out of a job before you start working and remind yourself constantly. Look out for yourself and value your time. Learn how to actively manage your workload and manage up. When you are managing/overseeing others, be very clear in your requests/instructions and available for help/support. Be kind to yourself and prioritize your mental health. Ask for help early and often.”
“Get as much exposure to different attorneys as possible. See how they work. See how they organize their matters and manage the team (if there is a full team) Try doing things their way. You can even learn from opposing counsel. Then you'll be able to create your own style. Never stop learning and refining your practice.”
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