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7 Top Lifestyle and Practice Tips for Young Attorneys

By Casey C. Sullivan, Esq. on January 09, 2017 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

What should you wear to the cocktail party? What should you drink at the cocktail party? How much should you try to schmooze partners at the cocktail party? When can you leave the cocktail party and get back to finishing that memo?

If you're a new lawyer just starting out, getting by in the legal world involves a seemingly endless series of daunting questions -- and not just about legal minutia. To help you out, here are some of our best lifestyle and practice tips, taken from the FindLaw archives.

1. 5 Skills They Don't Teach You in Law School

Law school teaches you many things: how to plow through thousands of pages of case law, how to write a brief, how to differentiate precedent, and more. But there are plenty of skills you need to successful as a lawyer, and at most law schools these go untaught. Here are five skills you'll want to develop now that you're an attorney.

2. What to Do When You Embarrass Yourself

First, accept that you're going to embarrass yourself. We all do. Whether you forget a name, botch a meeting, or fumble during a social event, embarrassment is inevitable. Just hope you don't embarrass yourself too badly -- and be prepared to handle it when it happens.

3. Young Lawyers Need to Learn Tech Skills

The law might not be on the cutting edge of technology, but if you're going to practice in today's world, there are some tech skills every attorney needs, whether it's how to handle your emails or how to utilize practice management software.

4. With a Few Apps, You Can Have the Best Law Firm Perks

BigLaw perks are pretty legendary, whether there in-office wine bars or gold-plated healthcare. But you don't have to work for a major firm to experience some of the perks of lawyering. These apps can make you feel just as pampered as even the most overworked BigLaw associate.

5. Lawyers, Suicide, Depression, and Prevention for Young Attorneys

Depression, substance abuse, and suicide are common in the legal industry. Here are some ideas about what drives these trends and how you can prevent them in your own life.

6. Scalia Tells Young Lawyers Move to Cleveland, Work Less, Chill Out

If you want to stay happy and avoid burnout, the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has some advice for you. Here's a hint: It involves Cleveland and making sure you set aside time for "a human existence."

7. 5 Ways to Become a Partner by 40

Maybe chilling out in Cleveland isn't your thing, however. Maybe you're set on becoming partner, ASAP. If you want to make it to the top before you make it to middle age, here are five tips.

For more tips, follow FindLaw on Twitter (@FindLawLP) or Facebook (FindLaw for Legal Professionals).

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