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How to Become an (Almost) Indispensable Junior Associate (Part 1)

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Whether you’re a junior associate just barely surviving Biglaw, thriving in Biglaw, or somewhere in between, this Career Center Tip of the Day series is for you.

For many of you junior associates, the extent of your experience with Biglaw layoffs was reading about them on Above the Law from the safety of your law school classroom.  But now that you can call yourself a cog in the Biglaw wheel, perhaps you’ve wondered what you can practically do to set yourself apart from the rest of the pack, just in case the economy takes another turn for the worse.

Or maybe you’re the superstar of your class, and you never worry about getting the ax. These tips are for you, too. The more valuable you become to your firm, the more control you will have over the direction of your career.

Now, on to the first tip….

Take ownership of winning your case or completing your deal.  Of course, the ultimate outcome of any case or deal is the lead partner’s responsibility.  But the point of taking ownership is to think like a partner, and demonstrate that you are committed to getting the best result for the client.  This involves much more than simply doing a good job on the tasks you are assigned.  Taking ownership of your case or deal requires you to first understand the case or deal as a whole, and then actively think about how every part relates to the big picture.  So, for example, even if you are stuck doing doc review or due diligence, approach these tasks with an eye toward spotting the important issues that will help prove the theory of the case, or information that your client would want to know about the company it’s buying.  And then don’t be afraid to bring up those issues to the partner or senior associate to get his or her thoughts.

One simple way you can show ownership of your case is by familiarizing yourself with upcoming deadlines on the docket or transaction checklist.  While it may be a secretary’s job to send out reminders about important deadlines, it is not his or her responsibility to determine how the work will get done on time.  By familiarizing yourself with the docket, you can help identify tasks far enough in advance to minimize any last minute fire drills.  Although all tasks won’t be clearly spelled out on a docket or a transaction checklist, it can help you anticipate the next steps.   For example, a junior litigation associate should jump at the chance to review interrogatory responses soon after receiving them from the opposing party, and begin preparing a motion to compel if the other side refuses to provide substantive answers.  If you do come up with new tasks or discover any unassigned tasks, first check with a partner to make sure that no one else is currently working on those tasks, and then volunteer to complete them yourself. 

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The most difficult part of taking ownership of a case or deal is the willingness to work long hours when needed.  No one will believe you really care about your case/deal if you consistently leave the office at 5 p.m. while everyone else on your team burns the midnight oil, or if you take a vacation at a crucial time during the case/deal.  So be prepared to put your vacation on hold again, and be willing and available to pull all-nighters for several consecutive days (or even weeks).

And when the time comes to look for a better opportunity, Lateral Link’s team of experienced recruiters can help you find the right position at one of the hundreds of law firms or in-house positions in their network.

Above the Law Career Center

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