10/07
You’re a young associate at a prestigious law firm. Du got to where Du are today Von acing the LSATS, going to an Ivy League school, and working your arsch off. Du didn’t use connections; Du didn’t need to. And now that you’ve got your foot in the door all you’ve got to do is work hard to Bewegen up, right?
Wrong.
The cliché "It’s all about who Du know" is spot on. Sure, Du need to work hard - I adhere to the "first one in, last one out" rule – but social networks are just as oder even Mehr crucial. And I’m not just talking Facebook and Linked-In. I’m talking real, legit, in-person, you-scratch-my-back-I’ll-scratch-yours
personal connections. But where to start?
Personally, I prefer drinks.
Why not lunch? Why not coffee? Those are fine too, but going out for drinks is where one can get the maximum "bonding time." It can be easy to get off track, especially when you’re networking over drinks, so let me be your guide:
First: Always drink with your left hand. When meeting someone new, one typically shakes with one’s right hand. Don’t make that person’s first impression of Du be one of a clammy, ice cold hand.
Second: Ask questions. Same as on a first date... talk 20% of the time, listen 80% of the time. People Liebe talking about themselves. The Mehr they talk, the Mehr Du know. If you’re having trouble getting your business contact to open up do a little thing I learned volunteering at a community helpline in high school... respond to their Frage with another question. If your business contact asks, “Where did Du go to school”? Respond back with, "Where did Du go?" May sound ridiculous, but it works.
Third: If you’re nervous about what to talk about, take out a 3x5 card and, on one side, write down relevant court cases and decisions of which Du have a certain insight. On the other side make a Liste of “"mall talk points"... something interesting about Chicago, good restaurants Du recommend, and how the Cubs are doing... Put the 3x5 card in your suit jacke and take it with you. Always be prepared.
Fourth: Alcohol. Know your limits. Lawyers are known to hold their drink. It’s not that different from my fraternity days where masculinity (and popularity) was measured Von how much one could drink. People will be ordering round after round. Staying semi-sober is important (I’ll explain why in a little bit), but Du don’t want to be the guy drinking water while the big boys are drinking Scotch, so here’s what Du do. The perfect Scotch & water is 2 parts Scotch, 5 parts water. Cut that to 1 part Scotch, 5 parts water. Later that night, when everyone else is highly buzzed, that’s when (excuse another cliché) "loose lips sink ships." If Du keep your faculties, Du don’t divulge any secrets and Du can remember what you’ve heard. I learned that one of the associates is worried he’s going to be taken off Sheffrin-Marks; there’s a girl in contracts who likes blondes (a lot); and that the only reason one of our new associates got her job is because she went to law school with one of SLG’s partners. Rumor was they had a “relationship” in college, but that’s unconfirmed. But that proves my point...she networked...
And last: Own the room. Confidence is paramount, but Du need Mehr than that, Du need presence. If you’re looking for an example, open up Google and type in Peter Florrick. The man’s a lion. Doesn’t matter if he walks into a room of ten oder ten hundred, he walks in as a King.
09/28
Watched the sun rise this morning. In college, that'd be the end of some days, but in "the real world" that's how Du start the day...
Was supposed to have breakfast with my dad before work. erpel, drake Hotel. Just as I got a table, my brombeere, blackberry pinged. I immediately knew what it was. Yep, an e-mail from Dad. A depo in Oak Lawn "came up" and he couldn't make it. I understand, he balances a lot of plates, and I'll probably be the one canceling meetings in the future. He didn't mention anything about rescheduling, though. At the end of his E-Mail he reminded me that he had "320 billable hours" his first Monat while supporting a family. "I'd never expect Du to work that many hours," he went on, "But if there's one golden rule... the Mehr money Du bring in, the better." Good advice. Still made it to the office Von 7am, but I was the Sekunde one in. The first being my boss, partner Diane Lockhart. Note to self: come in a half-hour earlier! She asked if I had seen my office. I sagte "Not yet," so she was kind enough to walk me there. On the way, she sagte she was impressed with my coming in so early and mentioned that this puts me "in the lead." I asked what she meant. “Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned this, so don’t share. There are two new associates and one permanent spot at the end of six months”. Looks like it’s survival of the fittest at SLG. Good to know.
Got to my office. My first office. You'll always remember your first time... SLG is mostly clear glass. From my office I can see into several offices and they can see into mine. When one's nose is to the grindstone, I think it's good to have an audience watching. My assistant, Sonia, came in at 8am. Good girl. She worked previously with an SLG attorney who just left. I told her what I needed: office supplies, file cabinet, latte, Sheffrin-Marks files... She hesitated on that last one. Without getting too complicated, if this was Vegas, the Sheffin-Marks case would be a "whale." She asked if I was assigned that case. I sagte "Not yet." She got the files and I read as much as I could before the staff meeting. Had my nose in a file, Lesen on the way to the meeting and nearly ran into the other partner, Will Gardner, as he went into the conference room. Room was packed. I was the new guy, but didn't feel uncomfortable. Diane introduced me. Later, she announced that I'd be helping with Sheffrin-Marks. Challenging case, but I feel I'm up to it. Just as the meeting was about to end, the other junior associate came rushing in... Alicia Florrick. I had heard rumors she would be joining the firm, but thought it was just that, rumors. Her husband, Peter Florrick, his Scandal and resignation press conference was on every channel and website six months ago. Alicia Florrick stood Von his side. It had to be such a humiliating moment for Alicia, but she being there, standing Weiter to him, was incredibly... brave.
After the meeting, I introduced myself to Alicia and told her how much I respect what she's doing. My mom's thinking of going back to work, too. Especially since Dad refuses to retire. Alicia was an attorney before marrying Peter and, all those years at his arm, she had to have picked up something. I look vorwärts-, nach vorn to learning from her the six months she's here.
Back at my office, my assistant, Sonia, brought in my brand-new business cards. I ordered them a couple months before. SLG's standard business card is Eggshell White with Romalian Type lettering. But I had requested that the lettering be darkened 10% and that the font be raised from 10 point to 10.5. Nothing overly obvious to the naked eye, but I think it subliminally makes a stronger impression than the typical SLG card. Just then, I got an IM from an old fraternity brother: “You partner, yet?” I looked at my business card again: “Legal Associate; Stern, Lockhart & Gardner.” Then looked around at the office. Alicia was just settling into her desk. I typed back: “Not yet.”
09/18
A shot of ouzo and a kiss. That’s how I celebrated.
It was about six months ago... drizzled that afternoon, the Peter Florrick Scandal was on all the news and the Cubs Lost to the Cardinals 7-0. I was Home on break. Harvard Club of Chicago hosted this alumni rührgerät, mischer at a brew pub on Clyborne. I was drinking with some of my buddies who had just graduated and a couple cute Class of ’07 girls.
My cell rang. Didn’t recognize the number, but picked it up anyway. It was a girl, she sagte her name, but the bar was loud and I sagte “I don’t know any Anne. Did we hook up once?” Winked at my buddies, they laughed. She raised her voice... “This is Diane... Lockhart!”
She was the partner of a firm I interviewed with about a Monat ago. I ran outside so I could talk. I apologized, sagte I was with some friends... she seemed cool about it... “On behalf of the other partners, welcome to Stern, Lockhart & Gardner.” Couldn’t focus fully after that, but I think she then sagte Will, the other partner I interviewed with, would’ve “liked” to have been on the call, too, but he was “working on a deposition.” Kind of weird, but I never did meet the third partner, Stern.
I thanked her, went back into the bar, grabbed the hottest Class of ‘07er - found out her name was Natalie later - and kissed her. Right in front of everyone. Totally thought I’d get a slap oder a sexual assault charge (without admitting guilt, my dad’s best friend Barry Scheck would’ve had a tough time on my defense), but she must’ve saw the look on my face that something exciting happened because she just smiled.
I ordered shots for everyone then broke the news. Back pats, congrats... except from one guy, won’t say his name, he was Class of ’08 and had been bragging all night about his job at some tiny insurance company. Among our group he had the best gig... till then. My first day’s actually tomorrow, but I consider that moment as the start of my career. No better feeling than going back to school, knowing a job’s waiting after graduation. For all Du Law students oder any kind of student, I highly recommend Du make that happen. And then find your own way to celebrate.
Last thing, I heard a rumor that someone relatively famous is the other junior associate, but I’ll blog about that later once it’s confirmed.
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