Professional Development

Some people always know exactly what to say. When words fail the rest of us, these people deliver the smooth segue, the clever comeback, the perfect parting shot. How do they do it so effortlessly? Maybe they've taken a page from Patrick Alain's ...

When you're an associate receiving positive feedback for your intelligence, diligence, and impeccable work product, it's hard to fathom the need to start learning an entirely different set of skills for the later phases of your career. But ...

It's that time of year—conference season! So for this week's Friday Five, we're checking out the "coming events" that promise to put a polish on your practice management know-how. There are so many conferences we want to attend, our virtual ...

When young attorneys begin their career, they get loads of information thrown at them, meet a lot of “very important” people and enter a lifestyle that’s extremely different from the one they lived in law school. It can be overwhelming. In this ...

“When I came out of law school,” recalls Scott Westfahl, director of professional development at Boston’s Goodwin Procter, "I was told ‘Keep your head down, do good solid work and you’ll be elevated into the partnership and build a client base. ...

The market for your talent today is an imbalanced one with far more talent than there are opportunities. In other words, employers are the buyers and it is definitely a buyers’ market. Given that, how should you think about and develop your ...

You stand at the front of the room to make your presentation, but this time it's different: You are doing it all with your iPad! With a little preparation and practice, you can use your iPad as a sleek, subtle tool to educate and convince your ...

As lawyers we’re required to do CLEs every year. (Groan.) My experience has taught me that Sean Carter was right when he said that CLEs are really CLAs—"Continuing Legal Attendance." You get credit just for showing up—no one really cares if you ...

You might think the gift of the gab is an essential skill for a successful lawyer. And it's true that knowing how to think fast on your feet and verbalize points quickly and understandably can be important qualities. But it can be just as ...

I have had the pleasure of being a public performer for 22 years as a gymnast, a classically trained singer, a flash mob performer and, more recently, a speaker on legal topics. Despite all of my experience, I still get nervous. Before most ...