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7 Young Law. (ABA) 1 (2002-2003)

handle is hein.journals/yglwyr7 and id is 1 raw text is: Defending Liberty Pursuing Justice American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division 750 N. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60611-4497 I ,,Ih ,,iIIIII I #,llhIfI iih II,,,I , II,,hhh,II .--5 Volume 7, Number I 1110 OCTOBER 2002 fIHad Known The ... By Arnie Martinez A s young lawyers, generally our admis- sion to the bar is based on our ability to answer essay and multiple-choice questions on substantive law and ethical dilemmas. Some of us are lucky enough to have gained practical experience through hands on clinical programs during law school; however, during the first years of practice most of us either learn as we go or from our mentors. Here are some tips that many of us wish we had heard upon our admission to the bar. gehkmastdaWlrmol. Time management is a real issue for young lawyers. Try extending your day to handle all of the demands imposed by your career and per- sonal life. Also, pick a time \ I J/ each day to return phone Il1 calls and e-mail mes- sages. You will accom- plish more when you're not interrup- 1ted every three minutes. Finl a mentor. Choose a mentor with whom you're comfortable enough to ask any question. V- t 4fA Your mentor can help you with everything from assessing the merits of a case to determining the formali- ties required in a motion hearing held in chambers. e active, be active. Join your local, national, and specialty bar associations. Making connections within the profession provides a sense of belonging, boosts your confi- dence, improves your skills, markets you and your firm, gives back to the community, and is fun. Keep track of your time-ill of it. When you take on a new project, you may feel as though you are floundering. Don't be concerned because it took you five hours to answer a question that another lawyer answered in only five min- utes. Instead, accurately record your time to complete the task and resist the temptation to bill for only five minutes. That way you (and your boss) will know how many hours you worked on a matter, which may or may not indicate a need for more guidance or a men- toring relationship. This is especially true if it's someone else's responsibility to assess the time spent and bill the client appropriately. Your client miolt Net always be tellinq you the hAut. Hard to imagine, but it is not uncommon for the client's version of facts to be somewhat inaccurate. The sooner you realize this, the better. Thebailiff(oderk)isyourfiend. In most courts, the bailiff or clerk schedules hearings, advises about the judge's docket and the court's pref- erences and procedures, and is your channel to the judge. The bailiff can be helpful or make your life miserable. Make it a point to introduce yourself and to learn of certain pro- cedures they'd like you to follow. Documneeverlthiin. From phone calls to fil- ings, keep a written record so you can recre- ate a timeline if necessary. Virtually every phone call should be reduced to handwritten notes (date included). If significant, phone calls should be followed up with confirma- tion letters outlining the substance of the conversation. Keep file-stamped copies of pleadings (which clerks sometime lose) to help create an accurate file. Whdaoesaroud, comesarouiL. We should repre- sent our clients without being rude to opposing counsel, even though our clients may want us to act that way. If you can extend a courtesy to opposing counsel without harm to your client's claim, do so. For example, if the other side fails to file an answer on time and you know 11204 on page 2 Can You Afford Not to Own a Home? By Shannon Murphy With so much real estate information in the news lately, it's hard to determine if you should jump on the real estate bandwagon. Consider the following points: ment fund. Ask those same people about appreciation of a home and you may hear a dramatically different story of increases in their home's appreciation in the last two years, five years, and beyond. Coupled with the If you rent, you're already lowest interest r paying someone's mortgage. If you don't own a home or any rental investment proper- ty, the first question you need to answer is why. There may be many reasons why you choose to rent but keep in mind your payments - n are applied to your landlord's mortgage, accumulating equity (or the difference between the value of the - property and what is owed years and consi on it) that could otherwise be appreciation, yo yours. You don't receive any that home owne return for taking care of the sound investmer interior, and any improve- that, sweat equil ments you make to the prop- work you put in* erty ultimately benefit your property to incre landlord (whose approval you value) and enhar need before performing curb appeal incr those improvements), home's resale va You get a better return on your investment. Lately, it's rare to see signifi- cant positive gain when checking out daily stock reports. You probably know more than one person who has complained of mutual fund misfortunes or the drastic decline of a retire- ates in 40 stent annual u can't argue rship isn't a nt. Not only y (the hard to your ase its ncements to ease the ilue and your personal appreciation and pride in ownership. Don't forget the tax benefits. Your tax burden will be lighter in April because inter- est, mortgage insurance, and some home improve- ment expenses are 110444 on page 4 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID American Bar Association

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