New Attorney Boot Camp – Part I

PART I: LAW FIRM CULTUREProfessor Roxanne Crocket ‘03

PART II: EMAIL, SOCIAL NETWORKS & EVENTS Professor Daniel Kramer ‘08

PART III:LAW FIRM MECHANICSProfessor Roxanne Crocket ‘03

Law Firm Culture – The Basics

Professor Roxanne Crocket ’03Graves & King

• Office Hours• Professional Dress• Your Work Space• First Impressions• Confidentiality • Relationships – Support Staff• Relationships – Junior Attorneys• Relationships – Work with more than one Attorney

Office Hours

• EXPECTATIONS• COMMITTMENT• OBSERVE• EMULATE

(best employee behavior)

• INFORM

Professional Dress

• ASK• DRESS like a lawyer• OBSERVE• EMULATE

(best employee behavior)

Dressing for a Court Appearance

• Pants/skirt suit, tie, shoes• No tight fitting attire• Women: Conservative shoes 1– 2 inch heels max• Groomed• Avoid being flashy if you are

appearing before a jury• As you would for a job interview

Dressing for a Deposition

• Pants or skirt suit, tie, appropriate shoes, even if deponent is casual• Attorneys may remove their jackets• Avoid getting too casual

Dressing for a Site Inspection• Includes construction site, vehicle inspection,

expert testing• Dress appropriately for the occasion– Work shoes/sneakers– Wear a hard hat if required

• Dress like an attorney and look professional– Be clean, groomed, wear a sport coat or nice

jacket– Do not dress like a slob!

Business Casual Defined• Start Conservative• Avoid Denim, T-shirts, short

skirts, flip flops, sneakers & too much “bling”

• Do Wear• Men - Khaki pants &

collared button down or polo shirt, nice shoes

• Women – dress pants & nice blouse/sweater, shoes

Your Work Space• Personalizing

• Do not make your office another “home”

• Telephones–Answering–Voicemail

First Impressions

• Avoid being shy• Friendly• Conversational / Professional• Employers considerations:– Clients– Court– Trust– Fit

CONFIDENTIALITY

• Information about the Firm’s Clients . . .

• “Do I only know this information because I work here?”

• Then DO NOT repeat the information!

RelationshipsSupport Staff Can Be Your Best Friend• Abuse• Secretaries• Seniority• In “Charge”• Don’t become too friendly• Keep overly personal matters for friends

outside of the work place

Working Relationships

Junior Attorneys• Evaluating performance• “Higher up”• Source of advice and

samples• Good reference

Working RelationshipsSenior Attorneys• Professional relationship• Respect their time• Ask questions• Good reference

Working Relationships

Partners• The Partner is always right• Organize and present information briefly

and concisely• Never say “Maybe,” “No,” or “No Thank

You” to a partner

Work with More Than One Attorney

• Leave your comfort zone

• Ask for work• Mingle• Become known

Attitude & Fit Issues

• Have a Learning Attitude

• Be a Team Player• Be Confident• Be appreciative• Smile and if you are

happy, look like you are!