http://www.lifeatthebar.com/blog Attorney development coaching for associates and partners Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:55:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A client recently called me, and I could hear the tension in his voice right away.  Too many projects coming due at the same time (and thus, another long weekend in the office) combined with sheer exhaustion to make Rick an unhappy lawyer.  "I just don't know how I'm going ... http://www.lifeatthebar.com/blog/index.php/2008/09/05/avoid-overwhelm-hit-reset/ Introducing Ron Peterson, a guest author.  To learn more about Ron, scroll to the end of his post. Lawyers will often carry Phi-Beta Kappa keys, law review credentials, marquee college and law school degrees, and—after a few years of diligent and conscientious practice—a growing realization that they may be unemployable! How ... http://www.lifeatthebar.com/blog/index.php/2008/09/02/could-you-be-unemployable-its-up-to-you/ In just a few hours, I am going on retreat.  I'll be in Wyoming, which dials deep into one of my top values -- freedom.  (The image to the left is the view from my "office" during last year's retreat.)  A retreat is, for me, time devoted to looking at ... http://www.lifeatthebar.com/blog/index.php/2008/08/27/retreat-for-professional-reflection/ I noticed another lesson in the Olympics last night.  I watched the 400m relays and saw the U.S. men's and women's teams disqualified for dropping the baton.  The men quit running after the drop, but the women's team anchor Lauryn Williams picked up the baton and ran the rest of the ... http://www.lifeatthebar.com/blog/index.php/2008/08/22/under-pressure-dont-get-rattled/ Working on a bar association committee or project is a good way to get leadership experience quickly. The reason is simple: because of the number and variety of bar associations (the ABA, state, city/county, area-of-practice, group affiliations, etc.) and the number and variety of sections and committees within each, leadership ... http://www.lifeatthebar.com/blog/index.php/2008/08/20/attaining-leadership-in-a-bar-association/ Last night, I was watching the men's gymnastics Olympic competition.  I was struck with the approaches, at least as described by the know-it-all knowledgeable commentators.  (I admit to some impatience with the Olympic commentators, who magnify every misstep and cluck over the athletes' failings, but that's another story.)  Some gymnasts ... http://www.lifeatthebar.com/blog/index.php/2008/08/14/are-you-playing-to-win/ Former law firm associate Catriona Collins sued the law firm that had employed her, Cohen Pontani Lieberman & Pavane, claiming that she was passed over for work assignments and ultimately dismissed on the basis of her gender.  Last week, the ABA Journal reported on Judge Kimba Wood's Order denying (in part) the ... http://www.lifeatthebar.com/blog/index.php/2008/08/11/discrimination-against-women-in-law-firms/ One of my favorite questions to suggest to a lawyer who's in conversation with a potential client or looking to deepen a conversation with a current client is this: When you're stuck in traffic and you're thinking about your business, what's the challenge that comes to mind most frequently?  I ... http://www.lifeatthebar.com/blog/index.php/2008/08/08/what-challenge-bothers-you-most/ I've begun including a new feature in my weekly email newsletter Leadership Matters for Lawyers, called "Ask Julie."  Readers can send in questions, and each week I select one to answer in the newsletter.  Last week's question and response generated quite a bit of discussion, so I'm sharing it here.  ... http://www.lifeatthebar.com/blog/index.php/2008/08/05/qa-when-an-assignment-goes-awry/   I'll write more about this in a future post, but here's a question for you to consider: Are you playing to win?  Or are you playing not to lose? http://www.lifeatthebar.com/blog/index.php/2008/07/31/a-question-to-consider/