Beyond Biglaw: Winning The Preseason

The week before Labor Day is a quiet time, but it would be a mistake to view this period as only one of enjoyment....

The week before Labor Day is one of my favorite weeks of the year. Has been for a long time. Even during my decade-plus in Biglaw, a fact that may be shocking to those who believe that the Biglaw experience ranges from the tolerable to the miserable — and never enjoyable. But even for those who feel trapped in the ravenous clutches of the insatiable Biglaw billable hours beast, the end of August almost always offers a welcome, if brief, respite. Because late August is prime Biglaw vacation season, and offices nationwide are running on a skeleton staff.

Partners, and even some associates, are trying to squeeze in some family time before the start of school. The younger set is off for a final round of beach weekends, or just enjoying lazy days in the office, relishing the chance to kick out at a normal hour. With time to hit the gym, before a meal in a real restaurant, rather than a Seamless-delivered dinner in a takeout tray. During my Biglaw years, the end of August meant the last few days of commuting down to the Jersey Shore by ferry from Manhattan, with twilight views of the Statue of Liberty and the Verrazano Bridge. Moments of serenity, even in a city of perpetual motion.

The end of summer can be wonderful, and the temptation to milk the most relaxation out of the waning days of the season great. But it would be a mistake to view this period as only one of enjoyment….

Why? Because your competition, whether they are associates in your firm, partners at other firms, or anyone else, is using the time not only to recharge — but also to plan. For your competition, as for NFL teams, this time of year is the preseason. They are preparing for the post-Labor Day “regular season,” when companies, and their lawyers, bear down in an attempt to ensure a profitable year.

If summer is the time for relaxation, then fall is the season of industriousness. The tone changes in most Biglaw firms right after Labor Day. On a surface level, the tone change is reflected in the end of more casual summer wardrobes at many firms. On a deeper level, preparation for the critical “year end” series of tasks begins in earnest in September. Employee reviews, the partnership decision process, financial performance reviews and forecasting — the planning for all of these usually begins in September. This transition from casual to serious is not limited to Biglaw firms, of course. Boutiques must also start to get serious about year-end decisions, such as whether to expand, or what can be done to make the firm’s marketing more effective going forward. In-demand lawyers, whether they be associates or partners, will usually also see an uptick in recruiter calls in September, as recruiters also focus on finishing the year strong with some placements.

There are two ways of dealing with the transition for individual lawyers, whether they work in a Biglaw firm, in a boutique firm, or even on their own. They can choose to float along with the change in seasons, or they can use the transition to September’s “seriousness” as an opportunity for self-reflection. In fact, today is the beginning of the Jewish month of Elul, a month considered auspicious for spiritual growth. Observant Jews spend the month observing certain practices designed to prepare one spiritually for the upcoming High Holiday season. The overriding concept behind those practices is that true change takes time and effort, and that important events, whether they be of a spiritual or physical nature, require planning in order for one to maximize the experience.

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But where to start, especially if you are trying, as we all are, to make the most of your professional career? For one, just recognizing the opportunity presented by the change of seasons will give you a head start towards making positive strides forward. On a more concrete level, one suggestion that has served me in good stead is to use this time to identify ONE thing that you want to accomplish by the end of the year. Whether it is to finally start preparing for a lateral move, or starting a family, or gaining some concrete legal skills — pick one thing and make it your goal. Do yourself a favor, though, and pick something achievable. There is no sense in setting goals that you can’t meet, or ones that require a confluence of events that are generally outside your control to achieve. If that advice strikes you as not ambitious enough, then feel free to give yourself a comprehensive self-review, and draft up detailed plans for your conquest of the entire legal industry.

Ultimately, it is up to each one of us to be thoughtful about our careers, and whether or not to take advantage of downtime for reflection on our goals and how to progress towards them. I am not advocating spending the entire last week of summer and Labor Day weekend in a meditative trance, chanting about billable hours. Far from it. What I am suggesting is taking the opportunity presented by the less hectic nature of this week for some clear-headed thought — about your career, your life, your happiness. Because things will get hectic again very quickly, and the deadening power of routine threatens to make deep thought and planning impossible. So enjoy your week, and have a great Labor Day holiday. Just try to make it a little productive, in between the beach and bbq. Win the preseason, and reap the rewards once the regular season kicks off.

Please feel free to send comments or questions to me at gkroub@kskiplaw.com or via Twitter: @gkroub. Any topic suggestions or thoughts are most welcome.


Gaston Kroub lives in Brooklyn and is a founding partner of Kroub, Silbersher & Kolmykov PLLC, an intellectual property litigation boutique. The firm’s practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and related counseling, with a strong focus on patent matters. You can reach him at gkroub@kskiplaw.com or follow him on Twitter: @gkroub.

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