Beyond Biglaw: 3 Things Lawyers Should Be Thankful For

Even if times are tough, there is always something to be thankful for -- even for lawyers.

Hard to believe that we are in Thanksgiving week. It feels like the summer has just ended. But time marches on, and the yearly pilgrimage to spend the holiday with friends and family may have already begun for many. As a first-generation American, Thanksgiving has always been a holiday of great personal relevance, and in the wake of the attacks on the country where my father grew up and my mother still has family, the holiday takes on even greater meaning. These are perilous and challenging times, and it is increasingly clear that the freedom that we hold so dear is under threat — the least we can do is be thankful for the blessings in our lives.

Even if times are tough, there is always something to be thankful for — even for lawyers. While gratitude is very much a personal emotion, there are some common privileges and skills we have as lawyers that are deserving of our gratitude. I would like to focus on three; we can call them the “3 C’s” for purposes of this discussion. What are the 3 C’s? Communication, colleagues, and client service. These three aspects of life as a lawyer provide the bedrock for professional contentment, and are often the very things that make legal practice tolerable, even in the most challenging circumstances.

When I refer to communication, I am referring to the basic skills attorneys have that allow for effective communication. Whether that communication takes written or oral form, the simple truth is that attorneys are usually among the most effective communicators in society. Other than journalists, or politicians, perhaps no other profession has the same ability to influence, or advocate for, beneficial changes in the lives of others. Most importantly (and an important consideration in view of current headlines), attorneys have the unique ability to use their communication skills to advocate for change in non-violent ways, while also engendering respect for the rule of law. As the ability to write and speak clearly becomes ever rarer in an age of texting and tweeting, our abilities as communicators increase in value for both our personal and professional lives. Unfortunately, we continue to see how the powerlessness of those who lack communication skills manifests itself in destructive behaviors. In such times we need to celebrate our ability to communicate, and stand in the breach against those who would substitute radicalism and intolerance for constructive dialogue and true justice.

Another thing we all need to be grateful for are our colleagues. Does that mean that the legal profession is free from miserable human beings who are painful to deal with? Of course not. Anyone who has practiced for a minute knows that lawyers can be some of the worst people you will ever encounter. At the same time, the legal profession is chock full of wonderful people, who make practicing in even the most difficult circumstances a pleasure. As great as we all think we are, most of us have the good sense to recognize how fortunate we are to work with colleagues who are smarter, more generous, and nobler examples of what an attorney should represent. Whether it is a mentor who shares of their experience with no hope of reward, or a former classmate providing an inspirational example with their public service work, there are no shortage of heroes worthy of celebration among the ranks of fellow lawyers. We should be grateful for their example, as well as for everything they do to elevate the profession and ourselves as human beings. I can say without reservation that I am a better lawyer and person due to my interactions with colleagues, and I venture that I am not alone in that category. It does not matter whether you are a small firm or a large one, or even practice in-house or on your own. We all work with, and depend on, colleagues that enrich our lives. That is reason for gratitude.

Finally, we should be grateful for the opportunity to serve others, especially because we are able to earn a livelihood in the process. I should not need to elaborate on the paramount importance of client service to the legal profession. We all know that the calling of a lawyer is to serve others, irrespective of whether one is employed in the public sector or private practice. As self-evident as that may seem, however, there is a tendency to downplay the value of client service to the lawyer providing that service. We tend to focus on the economics of the legal profession (certainly important as well), or on the value of the results we achieve for our clients. While the financial rewards of legal practice are important, for both practitioners and clients, there are other benefits to a life of serving others that are just as valuable. We often take for granted how reassuring our advice can be for clients, especially when a client’s concern about something can be alleviated by a simple piece of our counsel. Even greater satisfaction comes our way when we put in time pro bono, or work tirelessly to solve even more complex problems for others.

At bottom, we should take the opportunity that Thanksgiving presents to reflect on the good in our lives, while resolving to do our part to improve our communities and the sometimes crazy world we live in. I am speaking to myself most of all, but I think the message is an appropriate one for these times and this holiday. A happy Thanksgiving to everyone.


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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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