Counsel To Counsel - Career Advice For Lawyers

In law school, we learn how to think like a lawyer.  We develop the analytical skills we need to analyze a case, draft documents, research legal issues and provide sound legal advice to our clients.  But like many  professionals,  we don't spend a lot of time studying the human  component of the practice of law. While some of us come to the practice with strong interpersonal skills,  many of us  have not been in a position to lead prior to entering the profession.  As lawyers move up the ranks  this can create problems. Lawyers who are individual contributors  may provide outstanding legal services to their clients.  But as they move into leadership roles in their firms,  they need a different set of skills.  And if they don’t have those skills, that can create a bad culture. Moreover, a bad work environment  can cause numerous problems for a law firm.  For starters, it can cause turnover which can be costly. As someone who spent many years earning a living in the recruiting business,  I know how much it can