1. 800. 973.1177
CAREER CORNER
David Morrison On juggling, labor law, and A versus B work [by Teresa Talerico] Fresh out of law school, new associates are frequently blindsided by the amount of juggling they must do. David Morrison, a principal at Goldberg Kohn in Chicago, says this is a major hurdle for young attorneys.
“One of the biggest [stumbling blocks] that
the hat of the other side and give an honest
of other people who graduated with 3.8s and
law school doesn’t prepare someone for is
assessment of the strengths and weaknesses
did very well on the LSAT. The first round of
the ability to juggle multiple matters—to
of your case.
exams is probably the most humbling thing. By the time you graduate, hopefully you’ve
handle client concerns and to be available and accessible at all times,” he said. “They
Some people tend to think of labor lawyers
figured out what it takes to do “A” work and
teach juggling to the extent that you need to
as—well, you represent management or
what represents “B” work because you then
juggle your classes and do well. One of those
you represent employees, and you’re either
apply that in your practice. You really want to
implicit lessons of law school is how to bal-
therefore incredibly conservative and only
try to give “A” work whenever you can.
ance your workload and excel. But translat-
think one way or incredibly liberal and only
ing that into the time management skills on
think one way. Neither one of those things is
Certainly when you’re practicing, the
a day-to-day basis as opposed to over the
true.
humbling experiences can be those occa-
Q: What are some other hurdles for new as-
a sudden sit back and say, “Did I think about
sociates?
that issue?” Those are the things that keep
sions when you’re juggling, when you all of
course of semester is very different.” A 1993 cum laude graduate of the University
lawyers up at night: Oh my gosh! Did I think
of Michigan Law School, Mr. Morrison is
about this issue when I was making that ar-
a labor and employment litigator who has
A: One of the things that young associates
handled discrimination, wrongful termina-
have difficulty learning is the need to fully
gument? Oh my gosh! Did I do that in the best
tion, harassment, and other labor-related
engage on the matters they’re working on
way possible? The flip side is you’ve got to
cases.
right away. When you’re doing your summer
learn how to let it go and do the best job you
internship with law firms, it tends to be a
can and not let it consume your life.
Q: What attracted you to working as an employment attorney?
project-by-project basis: here’s my next assignment, and I’ll do that and then wait to get
Q: What do you look for when hiring?
another assignment. When you’re an associA: With respect to labor law, it was a combi-
ate in a law firm, you need to take ownership
A: We look for students who are going to
nation of litigation and corporate counseling,
of your case—thinking on your own what kind
be bright enough to do the job, to be able
so that you would be negotiating agreements
of discovery needs to be done, where do I
to walk through complex legal problems,
at the same time as litigating matters in
see this coming out in six months, be putting
but also with a personality that allows them
court. You become a more complete lawyer
in the brainpower on case strategy. That’s a
to comfortably interact with clients, with
when you’re doing both sides of the equation.
skill that develops over time. The sooner a
attorneys in the office. There are plenty of
new associate develops that skill, the more
times we get students with great grades who
effective he or she can become.
we don’t make an offer to because they don’t
Q: What are some of the misconceptions or
have a personality that will mesh well in
stereotypes of labor attorneys? A: Oftentimes you find yourself arguing on
Q: What was your most humbling moment in
the office. And there are times when we see
law school or as a new lawyer?
people where the grades aren’t good enough even though they have one of the greatest
the behalf of a company or the employee. You want to avoid allowing yourself to get
A: You just have no idea how well you’re
into the trap where you just make a knee-
going to do. You have all this confidence in
jerk reaction to arguments. The best way to
yourself, and you go to a school like Michi-
effectively represent your client is to put on
gan, and you’re in a room with a whole bunch
PAGE 1
personalities in the world.