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How to Handle Yourself in a New Work Environment [Kevin Quinn] Finding a job is tough - keeping a job is tougher. The first impression you make on your firm will be hard to erase - so make sure it is a positive one.
So your resume and cover letter were written
Since you were hired to work at this firm,
lar practice area, make it clear that you are
up all nice, you managed to avoid embar-
there is a strong likelihood that they actually
willing to branch out. If you were brought on
rassing yourself during three separate
have something for you to do. Some firms
to handle corporate work and the real estate
interviews and you were granted an offer to
will not hesitate to sit you right down at a
group is swamped, make yourself useful
work at a new law firm. You may be thinking
desk and rope your legs to your office chair.
by offering to take on some of their work,
that the hard part is over, but having gotten
Others, however, may be more protective of
provided you know what you are doing. You
your foot in the door, you now have to push
their work. Yes, they brought you in because
will not have to do this forever, just until you
it open and walk through without tripping
they thought they could use you, but some
have established yourself as reliable - once
over the gag wire if you hope to have a long
partners will not be willing to give you any-
the work picks up in your practice area, you
and fruitful career at this new firm. Start-
thing until they are sure that you are capable
have already made a good name for yourself.
ing a new position can be just as taxing and
of doing the kind of work that they have come
If you do not prove immediately useful to
stressful as the job search that got you that
to expect from other associates. What this
the firm, the partners are not going to feel a
position, especially considering the politics
can mean is a much larger workload for
strong allegiance to you, and you may soon
and the bizarre cultures that are inherent in
other associates, who may begin to resent
find yourself in the midst of yet another
some firms. Figuring out how to get through
you if you don’t step up to the plate. If you are
lengthy job search.
the rocky first weeks will prove important in
a highly qualified attorney brought in during
making the kind of first impression that has
a slow period because you add prestige to
people thinking “partner potential” instead of
the firm (rather than during a time of need) -
“first to go.” Here are a few helpful hints to
partners with favorite associates are unlikely
In your first few weeks at a new office, you
help you come out on top:
to give you work just because you are there.
might be appalled at the inefficiency in how
You may be thinking that the hard part is
The best way to overcome a problem like this
way of doing things, just as every firm has
over, but having gotten your foot in the
is to make it clear from the beginning that
different methods. Making it clear that you
door, you now have to push it open and walk
you are there to work and that the work you
think something is being done incorrectly
through without tripping over the gag wire if
do is on par with (or better than) the work
on the first day of your job can be taken in
you hope to have a long and fruitful career at
that the firm expects from its associates. Go
the wrong way, and you do not want to ruffle
this new firm. Starting a new position can be
up to a partner who seems swamped and ca-
any feathers at the outset. In particular,
just as taxing and stressful as the job search
sually reference the fact that you have been
mentioning that a previous firm you worked
that got you that position, especially consid-
sitting in your office for the past half hour
for handled things much better than your
ering the politics and the bizarre cultures
watching the clock as precious billable min-
current firm makes it seem like you think
that are inherent in some firms. Figuring out
utes pass. It may seem nice and relaxing to
your old firm is better than your new firm.
how to get through the rocky first weeks will
be checking out what’s going on in the world
Whether or not this is true, many people are
prove important in making the kind of first
of sports or entertainment via the firm’s
very protective of their workplaces and will
impression that has people thinking “partner
superfast internet connection, but chances
not take kindly to you bashing their firm.
potential” instead of “first to go.” Here are a
are, the more you do that, even if you do not
few helpful hints to help you come out on top:
have any work to do, the less the partners
Never suggest changing something for the
are going to value you.
sole reason that it is how you are used to
Don’t Rock the Boat
things are conducted. Everyone has a certain
Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Work
doing things. You are at a new office and If there is no work to be done in your particu-
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therefore you must adhere to new rules.
continued on back
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CAREER COUNSELOR’S CORNER
Suggesting that everyone else should change
willing to go that extra mile usually is built
but the first-years nor be very helpful. Find
their ways to accommodate you makes you
upon a strong relationship from the beginning.
people you like who can help you figure things
look like a prima donna. Besides, given time,
A secretary or paralegal who does not have to
out and give you the kind of insider informa-
you are likely to get used to their methods,
stay past 6:00 pm will not be willing to if they
tion that will help you thrive.
just as everyone else at that firm has.
are doing it only to help a relentless jerk that chastised them for using the wrong font in a
Of course, the above advice could all be moot
If you feel that you have suggestions that will
pompous firm memo you drafted to introduce
in any given situation, as law firms all oper-
really make a positive difference in the way
yourself to the other attorneys. Once you find
ate differently. A top law firm might just be
things are run, then by all means, make these
out who you will be working with, take them
interested in how many hours you can bill and
suggestions. You might want to wait until after
out to lunch and discuss how you prefer to do
not really even notice if you are making efforts
you have gotten a read on the people that
things, and how your ways may differ from
to be an affable coworker or boss. A smaller
will most likely be affected by the changes
theirs. If you prove you are nice and willing
law firm may only take into consideration how
you want to propose, though. Support staff,
to give as much as you take, then those that
pleasant you are to be around. In any case,
managing partners, fellow associates in
work for you should be willing to do the same.
the best possible advice you could receive is
your practice group - all of these people may
to just survey the surroundings - the work you
somehow have their job altered in some way,
If they are not willing to change for you at all
will be doing, the people you will be working
and you need to realize what people are going
or are just generally not up to your standards,
with, and everything else - and adapt accord-
to have to do differently. If more responsibil-
then you have a problem. Give them time to
ingly. If things did not work out at the last
ity will fall on certain people, make sure they
adjust to your style of doing things, but it is
place you worked, perhaps you did not make
are amenable to taking it on, or they will likely
not necessary to wait a year before deciding
enough of an effort to prove yourself. Be sure
treat you like the anti-christ for making their
that you are sick of having to do the things
to prove yourself at your new job immediately
jobs more difficult. It may take some people
that should fall under a paralegal or secre-
so that you do not fall victim to the same fate
longer than others to be able to figure out how
tary job description. If you are going to try to
twice.
their co-workers will react to change, but it is
get someone fired, though, you will probably
best to wait it out and get to know them fully
face some backlash - especially if that person
before you turn their worlds upside-down.
stays and has friends at the office. Do what you think is necessary when the timing is
Treat the Support Staff Fairly
right, but be prepared to deal with the fallout of possibly being despised for the rest of your
You may have ordered your secretary to shine
days at that firm.
your shoes and clean out your wastebasket with a toothbrush at your last firm, but unless
If It Is Possible, Make Allies (The Right Kind)
that secretary is following you to this firm, you should not assume that you have the same
Walking into any new situation can be tough,
kind of relationship with the support staff of
especially if you are an intrinsically shy
your new firm. The support staff at most any
person. Many attorneys start new situations
firm is much more influential than you might
with some friends already at the firm (which,
think, as many of them have been working
coincidentally, was the main reason they got
there for far longer than the majority of the
the job in the first place). For those of you who
attorneys. Their opinions will be heard and if
do not, though, things are going to be much
they have issues with you, particularly if they
rougher in getting to know people as law firms
are much more senior than you are, they could
sometimes tend to be the kind of places that
give you a bad name in the firm, and not just
don’t exactly breed social interaction. How-
among the support staff.
ever, having someone to help show you the ropes of a new work situation could be invalu-
Everyone knows, but few will admit, that most
able to getting the right kind of attention right
attorneys’ jobs would be ten times more diffi-
away, so it is important to try. Most law firms
cult without the help of a support staff. Getting
will have some sort of mentoring programs in
them on your side and making them eventually
place, but they may neither apply to anyone
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