Page 6 - First Year Associates

S6 | Tuesday, OcTOber 13, 2015 | First-Year Associates Handbook
| nylj.com
Work product
Use Legal Writing as a Springboard to Success
By andrew rosenBlatt
The old adage that “you only get one chance to make a first impression” holds especially true for young lawyers starting out at a law firm. While there are many attributes that make a good lawyer, strong written communication skills can put a junior associate on the fast-track to success.
so why is legal writing such an impor- tant skill for a first-year associate to have or quickly develop? Put simply, no matter how brilliant a first-year associate may be, he or she is unlikely to be arguing a high-stakes litigation matter or structuring a significant financing deal upon arriving at a law firm. rather, a junior associate will often be asked to gather information (i.e., the results of a research assignment) and to convey that information to a senior attorney. This will usually require some form of a written work product, such as a research memorandum, due diligence report, talking-points sum- mary or draft email or letter. exceptional legal writing is the fastest way for a junior associate to gain the trust and confidence of a senior attorney. This in turn will often lead to the junior attorney securing better assign- ments, gaining better experience and getting increased exposure to senior attorneys, all of which can accelerate a junior attorney’s development and personal growth within a law firm.
Early Impressions Are Important
Writing proficiency alone will not ensure an associate’s successful ascension through a law firm’s ranks, but it can create early opportunities for a young associate to show what he or she can do. Logically, senior attorneys want to work with the best and brightest junior attorneys. atten- tion to detail and strong analytical skills are common attributes of successful law- yers and they are often recognizable and reflected in a young attorney’s written work product. accordingly, if a young associate writes well and demonstrates through his or her writing an understanding of the underlying legal issues, a senior attorney is more likely to trust the junior associate’s work-product and will want to work with that associate.
ANdREW ROSENBLAtt is a partner in Chadbourne & Parke’s bankruptcy and restructuring group and the firm’s recruiting committee chair.
On the other hand, unorganized or shod- dy writing will lead to skepticism regard- ing other aspects of a junior associate’s performance. For example, if a research memorandum is replete with grammatical errors or even faulty citation formatting, a senior attorney may question whether he or she can trust the junior attorney’s research results. Oftentimes there is a perception that an attorney’s research, writing and analytical skills go hand-in-hand. regard- less of whether this is actually true, young attorneys should be aware of this perception and ensure that they devote just as much effort effectively conveying the results of
their research as they put forth towards the underlying research itself.
The Positive Domino Effect
at many law firms, the staffing of a par- ticular case is often based on the preferences of one or more of the senior attorneys on the case. it is not uncommon for “informal teams” within a particular department to form based on working relationships that develop within a group. if an associate demonstrates an advanced skill set that includes strong research and writing, as well as a strong work ethic, it increases the chances that the associ-
ate becomes a “go-to” associate who senior attorneys want as part of their teams. Being in demand is all about “adding value” or bringing a skill set that will enhance the team. strong legal writing from junior associates can be important both economically and for client- relations. clients have become increasingly cost-conscious and expect top level work to be completed in a cost-effective manner. if a junior attorney’s work product is well- structured and well-written, it allows senior attorneys to focus more of their attention on strategy and the underlying legal issues and less time on editing and rewriting. dividing labor appropriately and avoiding redundancy
BigsTOck