At McCabe and Mack LLP, we celebrate the achievements of young people throughout our community and region this time of year. Many family members of clients, colleagues, neighbors, and friends have children getting diplomas and degrees this month – and with those commencement festivities come conversations about what lies ahead for this group of new graduates.
That said, we thought it would be interesting to ask Partner Richard J. Olson what advice he might give to an aspiring attorney. He offered the following tips, many of which are relevant to any number of career paths:
- Find the right fit for schooling and internships. When you are looking for a law school, it is important to explore options that offer the kind of education and experience which will best prepare you for the field of law. Admission to law school can be extremely competitive, consider putting together a list of schools rather than just focusing on one. Take time to inquire about available internships; you want to be certain that you will have the chance to get real-life learning experiences in the field, which will also help you build an impressive resume before you head into the workforce.
- Develop communication skills, specifically the ability to listen. Most clients tell their lawyers what they want you to know, but you often need to read between the lines to figure out exactly what challenges might come about. It is key that you develop a solid understanding of body language, so that you can better understand cues you are getting from the person with whom you’re speaking, and so that you can likewise learn how to make good eye contact, conduct yourself in a way that shows you are fully focused, and listen for understanding.
- Be curious. You will always need to have an insatiable curiosity about the topic at hand when you are speaking with clients and practicing law. Ask open-ended questions to dig deeper and to reveal answers. And if someone says “the sky is blue,” do not just take their word for it. Go out and look up at the sky for yourself to determine if it really is blue. Then come back and ask questions about what made them conclude that the sky was blue. Critical thinking and comprehensive evaluation of a situation can make the difference.
- Align your area of practice with your own passions and values. By interning, talking to other lawyers, and researching, you can explore all kinds of paths when it comes to the field of law. Find something that really engages you and that reflects those things that you really care about. You want to really like what you are doing because you may be doing it for decades to come. I fell into municipal law because there was a gap in our region in that area and I basically filled it – but I recommend that you think deeply about what you are most passionate about and consider carving out a path that will represent what you most enjoy learning about and representing.
- Be deliberate about where you live and build your career. Figure out where you want to build your adult life, make a commitment to that place, and focus on opportunities in that geographic area. Once you have set up your practice, get involved in your community. The only way to build a career (unless you have a very unique niche) is to give your community an opportunity to get to know you. Serve on Boards of Directors or committees, volunteer, coach – just find ways to build relationships based on trust. Success will follow.
To connect with Richard J. Olson, call 845-486-6896 or email: rolson@mccm.com.