Swimming Lessons for Baby Sharks

This book contains hundreds of tips from attorneys throughout the country with the critical advice new lawyers need to ensure their success. The book provides useful, practical advice that law schools never teach. it starts with important steps graduates can take even before they begin work. With an easily readable style, Swimming Lessons for Baby Sharks continues to teach new lawyers the ropes from their first day on the job. Humorous, real-life examples illustrate the lessons along with bulleted tips that provide comprehensive advice quickly.

Grover E. Cleveland is a former partner at Foster Pepper PLLC, one of the Northwest's largest law firms. He currently holds an environmental policy position in Seattle and has more than a decade of experience mentoring new lawyers.

How to Use This Book	p. v
Preface	p. vii
Introduction	p. ix
Sink or Swim: The Transition From Law School to Law Practice	p. 1
Your Choice for the Summer: Frisbee or Test Prep?	p. 1
Bar Review Study Tips	p. 2
No "A" for Effort	p. 3
You Are Not a Superstar	p. 4
On the Bottom of the Heap	p. 5
First Impressions Matter	p. 6
A Good Impression	p. 6
Understanding Your Real Job	p. 7
How Well Do You Swim: Your First Evaluation	p. 9
Your First Major Test	p. 9
What the "Test" Means	p. 11
Just One Rule: Never Screw Up	p. 15
Top 10 Goofs to Avoid	p. 15
Dealing With the Goofs You Don't Avoid	p. 16
Cutting Through the Currents With Ease: 10 Quick Tips	p. 17
Feeding With Fellow Sharks: Getting and Doing Work	p. 19
Day Three: What to Expect	p. 19
You Eat What You Kill: Getting Work	p. 21
Knocking on Doors: How to Ask for Work	p. 21
Completing Your First Projects	p. 24
Project Checklist	p. 27
Swimming With Sharks: Building Relationships With Other Lawyers	p. 29
The Stack of Papers: How Not to Endear Yourself to Other Lawyers	p. 29
Earning Your Keep	p. 31
Judgment Day	p. 32
Think Before You Act	p. 34
Not So FastàAvoiding the Perils of E-mail	p. 35
Before You Hit "Send"	p. 35
Never Let Them See You Sweat	p. 39
Becoming a Pilot Fish: Making Yourself Indispensable With Exceptional Legal Work	p. 43
Online Research Skills: The Case of the Elusive Sundome	p. 43
Perfecting Your Electronic Research Skills	p. 45
Sharpening Your Analytical Skills	p. 47
Analytical Checklist	p. 50
The $1 Million Comma and Other Perils of Failing to Pay Attention to Detail	p. 50
Tips for Keeping Errors at Bay	p. 53
Navigating the Currents: Managing and Building Your Practice	p. 57
Taming Time	p. 57
Overcoming the Overwhelming	p. 58
Managing Your Work Flow	p. 59
Controlling Interruptions	p. 62
Building a More Civilized Practice	p. 63
Preparing for the Five O'clock Shuffle	p. 64
The Office Support You Need	p. 65
Supervision 101: Getting the Most Out of Your Assistant	p. 66
The Invaluable Assistant	p. 69
Making Your Mark With Presentations	p. 71
Public Speaking Tips	p. 72
Shark Supply: Law Firm Economics	p. 75
Fastest Is Cheapest	p. 75
Time Is Money	p. 76
Miracles Are Not Free	p. 78
Time Records: Making Your Billable Time More Billable	p. 79
Tips on Time Entries	p. 81
What Really Matters: Realization	p. 82
Your Dollars in the Door	p. 84
Partner Compensation	p. 84
Working for Free	p. 87
Being Strategic About Non-Billable Time	p. 88
Enjoying the Swim: Managing Your Life	p. 91
It's a Marathon-Not a Sprint	p. 91
Keeping Your Career on Course	p. 94
Order In: Why You Should Buy Time	p. 95
Life-Work Zen	p. 97
It's Called Your Life "Outside" the Office for a Reason	p. 98
Don't Blur the Lines	p. 99
Office Romances: No, No, No	p. 100
Perilous Waters	p. 101
Taking the Next Plunge: Client Relations	p. 103
Marketing 101: Skip the Schmoozing	p. 103
Take a Seat on the Couch: The Importance of Empathizing	p. 105
Showing Clients More Care	p. 107
"Everything I Needed to Know About Practicing Law, I Learned Waiting Tables"	p. 108
Anticipate Client Needs	p. 109
Helping Clients Choose Their Battles	p. 109
Helping Clients Gain Perspective	p. 111
The Critical Importance of Confidentiality	p. 111
Keep Your Jaw Shut	p. 112
Never Forget: CYA	p. 113
Document, Document, Document	p. 115
Other Fish in the Sea: Opposing Counsel and the Media	p. 117
Working With Opposing Counsel	p. 117
Rules of Engagement	p. 118
Handling Media Inquiries	p. 119
Swimming Like a Pro: Legal Skills in the Real World	p. 121
Contract Drafting: Think Win-Win	p. 121
Smart Negotiations	p. 123
Raise Your Right Hand: Taking Your First Deposition	p. 126
Deposition Goals	p. 127
Deposition Tips	p. 129
Swimming Away	p. 131
Leaving Without Making Waves	p. 131
Tips for Leaving	p. 133
Special Advice If You Are Laid Off	p. 134
Appendices
Quick Tips for Success	p. 135
The Really Quick List	p. 135
Building Relationships at the Office	p. 135
Researching and Drafting	p. 136
Practice Management	p. 136
Client Relations	p. 138
A Dozen Personas to Avoid	p. 139
Acknowledgments	p. 141
Credits	p. 143
Index	p. 145
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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