Should you take advice from people who haven't themselves thrived in the legal profession?

I get it – bad things do happen in a legal career, and there are certainly some aspects that need “fixing”. But the truth is, even if we fix everything we can, a legal career is still going to be challenging at intellectual, emotional and spiritual levels. So if you’re not up for that, or at least prepared to start arming yourself with the necessary tools, perhaps this isn’t the career for you. I get it – bad things do happen in a legal career, and there are certainly some aspects that...

Your letters are too long. Time to fix it. Your letters are too long. Time to fix it.

And, more importantly, does it have to be that way? By applying a simple change in the way you perceive your decisions, you can start to ensure that you are working towards being a more valuable contributor to your firm every day. And, more importantly, does it have to be that way? By applying a simple change in the way you perceive your decisions, you can start to ensure that you are working towards being a more valuable contributor to your firm every day.

Audience, Purpose, Tone and Brevity – you’ve heard me say it before, and you probably will again. These are the key elements of excellent legal drafting. So how can we ensure that the purpose of our legal drafting is well defined, and that what we produce achieves that purpose? Let’s chat about that in this podcast. Audience, Purpose, Tone and Brevity – you’ve heard me say it before, and you probably will again. These are the key elements of excellent legal drafting. So how can...

Legal drafting isn’t just a way of throwing clever words on a page in a particular order. It’s about the right words, for the right situation, to achieve the desired purpose for the recipient. And a big part of that involves getting the right tone in your communication – if every piece of correspondence you send out is in precisely the same style and manner, then you’re probably not even turning your mind to this important issue. So let’s talk about tone. Legal drafting isn’t...

As lawyers we’re busy a lot, and some lawyers declare their busy-ness even when they’re not. But for young lawyers the first time they experience a period of relatively low workload can actually be a bit daunting. What should you be doing with that time if nobody has any work to give you? Do you just tap your fingers on the desk until people give you work? As lawyers we’re busy a lot, and some lawyers declare their busy-ness even when they’re not. But for young lawyers the first...

It’s 100% guaranteed to happen – you hit “that point” where you start wondering whether this is all that a legal career has to offer. The question is: what are you going to do with that feeling? It’s 100% guaranteed to happen – you hit “that point” where you start wondering whether this is all that a legal career has to offer. The question is: what are you going to do with that feeling?

Many young lawyers aspire to start their own firm. But beyond finances, business, marketing and legal knowledge there is one big question you need to tackle before you make the decision. Let’s talk about that. Many young lawyers aspire to start their own firm. But beyond finances, business, marketing and legal knowledge there is one big question you need to tackle before you make the decision. Let’s talk about that.

With all the advice, information and help available for young lawyers, it would be easy to try and suck up everything like an enormous sponge. I’m not totally convinced that’s a good idea. With all the advice, information and help available for young lawyers, it would be easy to try and suck up everything like an enormous sponge. I’m not totally convinced that’s a good idea.

With all the advice, information and help available for young lawyers, it would be easy to try and suck up everything like an enormous sponge. I’m not totally convinced that’s a good idea. With all the advice, information and help available for young lawyers, it would be easy to try and suck up everything like an enormous sponge. I’m not totally convinced that’s a good idea.

We need to be clear about something – we don’t work in a justice system, we work in a legal system. There are a few reasons I want to make that distinction… which you’ll find out in this episode. We need to be clear about something – we don’t work in a justice system, we work in a legal system. There are a few reasons I want to make that distinction… which you’ll find out in this episode.

We need to be clear about something – we don’t work in a justice system, we work in a legal system. There are a few reasons I want to make that distinction… which you’ll find out in this episode.We need to be clear about something – we don’t work in a justice system, we work in a legal system. There are a few reasons I want to make that distinction… which you’ll find out in this episode.

Falling into a rut isn’t always a bad thing, unless you don’t know you’re in it. In this episode I talk about how you can decide if the rut is right for you, and some tips to help avoid a path leading to frustration and despair in your legal career. Falling into a rut isn’t always a bad thing, unless you don’t know you’re in it. In this episode I talk about how you can decide if the rut is right for you, and some tips to help avoid a path leading to frustration and despair in your legal...

Falling into a rut isn’t always a bad thing, unless you don’t know you’re in it. In this episode I talk about how you can decide if the rut is right for you, and some tips to help avoid a path leading to frustration and despair in your legal career.Falling into a rut isn’t always a bad thing, unless you don’t know you’re in it. In this episode I talk about how you can decide if the rut is right for you, and some tips to help avoid a path leading to frustration and despair in your legal career.

With 30 days of legal skills in a row it would be easy to get overwhelmed by a massive “to do” list of things that you need to achieve instantly. But think back to where we started – that’s not how it works. In this last lesson for the series we talk about how to approach your legal career going forward. With 30 days of legal skills in a row it would be easy to get overwhelmed by a massive “to do” list of things that you need to achieve instantly. But think back to where we started –...

With 30 days of legal skills in a row it would be easy to get overwhelmed by a massive “to do” list of things that you need to achieve instantly. But think back to where we started – that’s not how it works. In this last lesson for the series we talk about how to approach your legal career going forward.With 30 days of legal skills in a row it would be easy to get overwhelmed by a massive “to do” list of things that you need to achieve instantly. But think back to where we started – that’s...

Yes. Yes you can. But you probably want more details than that, right? Yes. Yes you can. But you probably want more details than that, right?

Yes. Yes you can. But you probably want more details than that, right?Yes. Yes you can. But you probably want more details than that, right?