Career advice from a professional law mentor
Law Mentor - Garry Mann
A great law mentor is like a Swiss army knife - they can be your life coach, career advisor, networking expert, good friend, and give you the shortcuts to your professional career. Given the enormous influx of recent law graduates in the legal profession, building a professional network is crucial and law mentors are an important part of this process.
Many law graduates need help and support during PLT, and having a law mentor can simplify the process of seeking solutions to career questions.
While completing my Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, I had the privilege of being assigned Garry Mann as my law mentor. Garry is a former law firm partner and legal mentor who was shortlisted for Law Mentor of the year in 2014, and has had what he describes to be 'a wonderful career' in the law.
Not every law graduate is fortunate enough to be able to draw on the experiences of a mentor, so I would like to share Garry's career advice with you.
You must be a fast learner, quick adapter and always updated about the latest law. It seems like you are going from one crisis to another.
What advice would you give people who are having trouble finding a job straight out of law school?
- Contact your network. You just never know who might be looking for a new employee. Many jobs are not advertised externally.
- Change the way you look at things. Ask yourself if you really want to be a lawyer or can you use your legal skills in another area?
- Take a break ......give yourself time to breathe and reassess.
- Consider moving to where the jobs are.
- Review your resume/CV and review your online presence on LinkedIn, Facebook etc.
- Consider up skilling by taking some short courses.
- You need a combination of skills to become a competent lawyer. Below are some of the skills I think are important.
Words are the fundamental tool in a lawyer’s toolbox. You MUST be able to convey information in a clear, concise, and logical way.
You MUST be able to speak and to advocate a position or a cause. You MUST master legal terminology.
Good communication also requires good listening.
2. Written Communication
Writing is an integral function in nearly every legal position. Brush up on the fundamentals of English grammar.
You will need to have the ability to write simple letters/emails, and to to draft complex legal documents.
Your writing, and drafting, should be organised, concise and persuasive.
3. Client Service and Management
To be a successful lawyer you MUST be able to serve a client capably, honestly, and responsibly.
You MUST master excellent client and customer service skills. You need to master meeting and managing client expectations.
4. Analytical and Logical Reasoning
You should be competent, efficient and effective in reviewing and collating large volumes of complex information and documents.
You should also develop organisational and problem-solving abilities, and to structure and evaluate arguments.
You need to have the ability to reason, draw inferences and reach conclusions.
5. Legal Research
Researching legal concepts, case law, judicial opinions, statutes, regulations, and other information are other important skills.
Effective and thorough research techniques, including internet research and the use of research software are a MUST together with an ability to interpret statutes.
6. Technology Skills
Technology has dramatically changed the practice of law.
You MUST master the new technology, including word processing, computer systems and AI, email, voice messaging, video conferencing, billing and practice related software.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted, and accelerated, the need to use and master online technology.
How up to date and familiar are you with computerised litigation support systems including e-discovery and document management software?
You will also need to develop technological know-how to make wise technology decisions.
7. Knowledge of Substantive Law and Legal Procedure
You MUST have a basic knowledge of substantive law and legal procedure including knowledge of local, state, and federal court systems, and relevant filing deadlines.
You should understand the fundamental principles of law in the practice area in which you work.
Specialisation is rapidly becoming mandatory for the successful lawyer and you should take steps to specialise and to become an Accredited Specialist.
8. Time Management
I am not a big fan of billable hours, but today’s lawyers are under constant pressure to bill time and manage large workloads.
You MUST have superior multi-tasking skills, a strong work ethic, and the ability to juggle competing priorities.
Meeting tight deadlines is commonplace and you MUST have excellent calendar and time management skills.
Productivity equals financial gain.
9. Organisation
To manage large volumes of data and documents, particularly in the age of technology, you MUST develop superior organisational skills.
This includes the ability to sort, order, and manage large volumes of exhibits, documents, files, evidence, data, and other information in paper and digital form, and the ability to identify objectives, catalogue data, and create an effective organisational structure from massive amounts of unrelated information.
You should also be able to use technology applications that assist in managing case-related data.
10. Teamwork
Lawyers seldom work alone. Even sole practitioners rely on support staff and team up with barristers, experts, and others to deliver services.
Teamwork is integral to individual and organisational success.
You will have to be skilled at collaborating with others to reach common goals, as well as coordinating and sharing information and knowledge.
You will be required to form and maintain relationships with colleagues and clients.
You will be required to and should participate in team events, meetings, and conferences etc.
How to Succeed
Develop all these skills, and you will be on your way to success in the legal profession.
It might seem like a lot to master, but you will find that proficiency in one area tends to lead to expertise in another.
What mistakes have you made during your career?
I am sure that I have made mistakes, but I hope that I learned from them. Mistakes and experience are excellent teachers!
On reflection perhaps I did not truly value some of my time or the opportunities that came my way.
However, overall, I have enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, being a lawyer. Being a lawyer is a privilege. It should not be taken for granted.
What is one thing you would have done differently throughout your career?
I have thought at times that perhaps I should have gone to the Bar.
I have learnt through experience, and practising meditation and yoga, not to dwell in the past, not to dream of the future but to concentrate the mind on the present moment.
NOW is the most precious thing. You do not feel anxiety in the present moment. Listen to your own voice and always hold on to the present.
‘Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.’ – Alice Morse Earle.
‘If you were conscious, that is to say present in the Now, all negativity would dissolve almost immediately. It could not survive in your presence’ – Eckhart Tolle.
When I graduated from the University of Melbourne, in 1976, with a BA, LLB (Hons) degree I did not see myself as a lawyer in private practice.
I wanted to join the diplomatic service in Canberra.
I was persuaded by my mother to obtain my Articles of Clerkship (Articles), get admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor, now Australian Legal Practitioner), and then consider my options.
I obtained Articles at Read & Read, Melbourne, an old firm established in 1897.
I thoroughly enjoyed my twelve months as an Articled Clerk and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria on 1 April 1977.
Read & Read was a general practice and I was fortunate, unlike many of my university cohort, to have excellent articles. I was exposed to many areas of the law, but I primarily practised in litigation.
I loved the excitement of litigation and going to court.
Gone was the ambition to be career diplomat. Now I wanted to become a partner and to specialise in litigation.
I become a partner at Read & Read in 1980. The firm went through several changes and mergers finally becoming part of Rigby Cooke.
Long gone are the days when lawyers would traditionally strive to become a partner for life in a law firm.
Partnership is not for everyone. Many do not want the extra layer of responsibilities, pressure and client base requirements that come with this title.
Partnership is not necessarily all it is cut out to be.
There are many other career options and opportunities for lawyers within and outside of private practice these days, but first you need to figure out what direction you want to head in and what career path you want to take.
It is in your employer’s best interests for you to have a fulfilling career.
A happy lawyer is more productive, better engaged with colleagues and clients which in turn has a more positive impact on workplace culture.
My other tips for having a fulfilling and rewarding career are:
- Be self-aware and reflect
- Have a written plan
- Find a mentor
- Focus on professional development
- Consider your current role
- Build your network
- Do not forget to have a life
Expanding on my tips for a fulfilling and rewarding career in the legal industry.
Be self-aware and reflect. This involves being present and taking a considered approach to your working life.
What are your strengths and weaknesses? Consider the following questions:
Take the time to reflect on the matters you are dealing with. What are they teaching you? What would you do differently next time?
• Have a written plan
Many lawyers have not put time into considering their career goals.
Make some time in your schedule, preferably away from your office, so that you can consider your own career plan.
Write down your career goals.
Have both short-term and long-term career goals.
Be specific, and make your goals measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Regularly review your career goals. Ensure they align with your values. Having clear goals can help with your decision-making framework.
Your career goals should align with the parts of your current position that you enjoy the most. It could be conferring with clients, going to court, preparing contracts, negotiating, advocacy or doing research?
Your long-term goal should be to do more of what you enjoy and less of the tasks you do not like or that you find boring or mundane.
Clear, realistic and achievable career goals will give you more purpose.
• Find a mentor
You might already know of someone who could be your mentor. If you do not know anyone who could fill that role you could ask your colleagues, partners or associates in your firm or search for one on Linkedin or another similar platform. You could also consider lawyers you deal with externally including barristers.
• Consider a career coach
A career coach might assist you in defining your values and objectives. They can also keep you on track and accountable.
You have spent a long time in obtaining your formal qualifications and hopefully have a long, fruitful and fulfilling career ahead of you. Why not invest some time in a future plan?
• Focus on professional development
There are many relevant areas of professional development such as:
▪ Substantive Law
▪ Ethics
▪ Business Skills
▪ Practice Management
▪ Soft skills such as emotional intelligence, communication, public speaking▪ Leadership skills
Without professional development your knowledge and skills will stagnate.
You could also miss opportunities to be at the forefront of developments in technology and new areas of the law.
Take up every opportunity for professional development offered to you.
You need to be doing continuing professional development (CPD) every year to maintain your credentials and practising certificate anyway. Why not do more than you are required to do?
CPD ensures that you maintain and enhance the skills you need to deliver a professional service to your clients and the community.
CPD ensures that you and your knowledge stay relevant and up to date. You are more aware of changing trends and directions in the law.
If your firm is not offering the professional development to suit you, consider organisations such as the Law Institute of Victoria, Leo Cussen Centre for Law, The College of Law, Thomson Reuters, CCH, etc.
• Consider your current role
How satisfied are you with what you are doing right now?Does it suit your talents, interests and experience?
Do you enjoy it? Is it a step on your career path or are you in a holding pattern?
What are you learning from this role?
What are you learning from the people around you?
If it is not adding value to your career, it may be time to be thinking about what is next.
• Build your network
Take advantage of networking opportunities within your firm, any associations you belong to,and your client network.
Your network will become a valuable asset in your career plan. Ensure you take advantage of professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, university to continue to network with colleagues, former colleagues and clients online.
• Do not forget to have a life
Your personal life is of major importance.Having short-term and long-term goals in your personal life will add to your satisfaction with life.Consider what you are passionate about, what you want to be involved in outside of work. Consider your relationships and make time to nurture them.
Consider what you want your legacy to be.
Have travel goals and a bucket list and do things you enjoy!
When you have reached your goal and have made associate, partner or managing director, changed areas of specialisation or have built your own client base, do not forget to take the time to work out what’s next!
Figure out the next career goal, revisit the career coach and continue to learn. It will make a difference!
Do you have a mentor? How have they influenced you?
I did not have a mentor, but I wish I had. As a substitute for a mentor I watched, and talked, to successful practitioners.
As a litigator I spent a lot of time with very experienced barristers and opponents and learnt a lot from watching them and asking questions.
Over the course of your career you should take the time to watch those around you.
Colleagues, team members, barristers, opposing counsel. Do they have the skills you want to emulate?
Are there any amongst this group that would be a suitable mentor?
A mentor is invaluable when it comes to sharing their own career experience and helping you with career advice to take the next step in your career. They can be a sounding board when you are needing a second opinion.
One of the most rewarding, and fortunate, things I have encountered in the law has been the camaraderie amongst the profession and the willingness of fellow lawyers to pass on information and to welcome in and help new lawyers.
How and where do you find inspiration?
- Watching, listening and reading about other lawyers.
- Discovering new music.
- Making a list of things I love to do, then doing them.
- Exploring a hobby or learning something new.
- Finding inspiration in nature.
- Spending time in nature-based art.
- Getting lost in nature photos on the web
- Going for walks in nature, practising mindfulness, and losing track of time for a while.
- Practicing deep breathing while listening to nature sounds.
- Watching children or animals playing in a park then making a point to carry their spirit with me throughout the day.
- Watching my dog or cats and trying to emulate their ability to be present and playful.
- Taking a camera/mobile phone outside and photographing everything that looks beautiful to me.
- Meditating or practicing yoga at home or in a nearby park.
- Listening to podcasts or audiobooks.
- Watching videos and films about nature, experiencing the beauty of the oceans, bush and forests, jungles, Great Plains, and caves.
- Getting out of my comfort zone.
- Talking to people and learning from different perspectives.
- Maintaining a journal for self-discovery.
- Watching TED videos to learn about inspiring ideas.
- Searching for tweets with the hashtag #inspiration using the Twitter search functionality.
- Posting an inspiring video then being an active part of the conversation in the comments.
- Reading blogs written by people who have overcome adversity.
- Joining a forum of people who can relate to my challenges.
- Browsing through inspirational quotes on the internet such as Tiny Buddha, Eckhardt Tolle etc
- Sharing my vulnerability and authentically in a blog post.
- Learning about ways to change the world through social media.
- Watch 40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes.
- Searching Facebook for new inspirational pages to follow.
Find inspiration in possibilities:
Trying something I have always assumed I could not do but secretly wanted to try.
Teaching someone to do something and tapping into my potential as a leader.
Teaching and learning from my children and grandchildren.
Immersing myself in learning something new and allowing myself to forget about the limitations of time.
Writing a bucket list of all the things I would like to do in my lifetime.
Brainstorming for ideas for a new project.
Thinking about the challenges I face and identifying possibly solutions.
Submitting my resume for a dream job instead of assuming I cannot get it.
Attending a conference, webinar or retreat to connect with like-minded people.
- Reading 50 Ways to Open Your World to New Possibilities and picking one to try today.
Find Inspiration in People
- Asking someone I love what they consider to be the most important thing they have ever learned.
- Asking everyone I see today what they are grateful for.
- Asking someone to tell me about the thing they love the most in life and watch how they light up sharing their passion.
- Asking my parents to tell me what I was like as a child and remembering what mattered to me then.
- Noticing what matters to someone and focus solely on how they experience it.
- Joining an organisation of people making a positive difference in the world.
- Reading an autobiography by someone who has marched to the beat of their own drum.
- Listening to music that moves me and thinking about what the songwriter felt when s/he wrote it.
- Making a list of all the ways my friends and family members are my heroes. Odds are, there is a lot of inspiration around me already.
- Spending time with children and seeing the world through their eyes.
Find Inspiration in Yourself
- Disconnecting for a while and writing in a journal.
- Making today the day I embrace a new healthy habit that can change my life for the better.
- Giving myself a pressure-free day with nothing to do except the things I enjoy.
- Trying something new and revelling in the sensation of stretching beyond my comfort zone.
Expressing myself creatively in a way I never have before and see what comes into my mind and heart.
- Enjoying something I created in the past—an article, a video, a drawing, or a project.
- Singing in the shower. Putting my heart into and releasing my feelings through music.
- Recognising in myself the strengths I see in other people.
- Making a conscious decision to let go of something that no longer serves me.
- Reflecting on everything I have learned and accomplished and how I have made a positive difference in the world.
- Reflecting on what has inspired me today.
How did you balance your work and home life?
Work-life balance means something different to everyone. For me it includes:
- Going home on time.
- Skipping activities that sap my time.
- Embracing flexible working.
- Learning how to deal with stress.
- Spending time with my family and friends.
- Letting go of perfectionism. I am a Virgo!
A lot of overachievers develop perfectionist tendencies at a young age when demands on their time are limited to school, hobbies and maybe an after-school job. It is easier to maintain that perfectionist habit as a child, but as you grow up, life gets more complicated.
As you climb the ladder at work and as your family grows, your responsibilities mushroom. Perfectionism becomes out of reach, and if that habit is left unchecked, it can become destructive.
Do you have any books that you would suggest law graduates read?
My reading list suggestions include:- Reading history and biographies (not only by or about lawyers).
- ‘Jesting Pilate and Other Papers and Addresses by the Rt Honourable Sir Owen Dixon’, 3rd Edition
In my final year at University I researched and wrote an Honours Thesis about Sir Owen Dixon.
- ‘The Art of War’ by Sun Tzu
- ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, by Harper Lee
- ‘Bleak House’, by Charles Dickens
- ‘The Firm’, by John Grisham
