For more than a decade, I’ve written on LinkedIn almost every day. I missed a few here and there. Trials intervene. Travel intervenes. Life intervenes.
But mostly, I showed up.
I began writing while I was still trying to figure out if I belonged in this profession. I was dealing with imposter syndrome. I wondered if I was a fraud. I wrote to clarify my thinking. I wrote to test whether I had learned anything worth sharing. I wrote to help young lawyers while I was still becoming one.
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Over time, those daily posts became short, direct lessons learned in courtrooms, depositions, client meetings, interviews, conferences, and hard conversations.
Here are 100 of them.
Not theory. Not academic. Just what works.
I. Mindset: The Foundation (1–15)
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1. Work hard. No substitute.
2. Discipline beats motivation.
3. When it gets uncomfortable, lean in.
4. The hard path usually leads somewhere worthwhile.
5. Temporary setbacks are not permanent verdicts.
6. Grit is staying when others leave.
7. Doubt is normal. Quitting is optional.
8. You don’t need to feel ready. You need to start.
9. Build habits, not hype.
10. You are not behind. You are building.
11. Effort compounds.
12. Stay curious. Complacency is dangerous.
13. The profession is demanding. Rise to it.
14. You don’t grow in easy seasons.
15. Show up — especially when you don’t feel like it.
II. Ownership: Your Name Is On It (16–30)
16. Your cases are yours.
17. Delegate tasks. Never delegate accountability.
18. Read everything before it goes out.
19. Verify every citation.
20. Deadlines are promises. Keep them.
21. Follow up without being asked.
22. Anticipate problems before they surface.
23. Keep moving files forward.
24. Silence from you creates anxiety for clients.
25. A missed detail can undo months of work.
26. If something feels off, check it.
27. Assume nothing. Confirm everything.
28. Preparation reduces stress.
29. Own the result — win or lose.
30. Learn more from losses than wins.
III. Courtroom & Litigation Craft (31–45)
31. Start with your strongest point.
32. Judges want clarity.
33. Simplicity persuades.
34. Adapt your deposition style to the witness.
35. Sometimes calm wins more than aggression.
36. Listen more than you speak.
37. Jury selection is about removing risk.
38. Test themes early.
39. Stories persuade more than statutes.
40. Don’t over-try a hearing.
41. Respect the court’s time.
42. Professionalism is a strategy.
43. Give opposing counsel room to resolve.
44. Never take litigation personally.
45. Prepare as if a trial is certain.
IV. Professionalism & Reputation (46–60)
46. Your reputation walks into the room before you do.
47. Be the steady one.
48. Lower the temperature, don’t raise it.
49. Pick up the phone. Tone matters.
50. Confirm agreements in writing.
51. Be early.
52. Dress as it matters.
53. Be respectful to everyone — staff included.
54. Send thank-you notes.
55. Praise publicly. Criticize privately.
56. Avoid email wars.
57. Your word should mean something.
58. Return calls.
59. Build relationships before you need them.
60. Gratitude builds goodwill.
V. Mentorship & Development (61–70)
61. Seek mentors who challenge you.
62. Ask how they think, not just what they do.
63. Watch how good lawyers handle pressure.
64. Learn the unwritten rules.
65. Teach what you’ve learned.
66. Pay forward practical advice.
67. Invest in your speaking skills.
68. Start small. Improve gradually.
69. Feedback is fuel.
70. Surround yourself with people better than you.
VI. Career Strategy (71–85)
71. Decide intentionally: specialist or broad-based.
72. Reassess your goals yearly.
73. Build a professional presence online.
74. Your digital footprint matters.
75. Clients research you before calling.
76. Write. It clarifies your thinking.
77. Speak. It builds credibility.
78. Network consistently, not frantically.
79. Protect your integrity at all costs.
80. Say no when necessary.
81. Not every opportunity is your opportunity.
82. Stay financially disciplined.
83. Invest in continuing education.
84. Don’t chase titles. Chase competence.
85. Think long-term.
VII. Clients & Business Judgment (86–95)
86. Litigation is your job. It’s your client’s stress.
87. Explain risk in plain language.
88. Early evaluation saves money.
89. Create workflows that reduce chaos.
90. Communicate before being asked.
91. Underpromise. Overdeliver.
92. Be practical, not theatrical.
93. Know when to settle.
94. Know when to try the case.
95. Always protect the client’s trust.
VIII. Technology & Change (96–100)
96. Embrace technology, but supervise it.
97. Verify machine output before relying on it.
98. Adapt early to change.
99. Train continuously.
100. Lawyers who evolve will outlast those who resist.
Conclusion: Why I Kept Writing
I began writing because I was searching for my place in this profession. I questioned whether I truly belonged. I wondered whether I had anything worth saying.
Writing daily forced clarity. It forced discipline. It forced reflection.
Over time, that habit turned into something larger — articles, speaking engagements, conversations, mentorship.
You don’t have to wait until you feel established to contribute. You don’t have to wait until you’re certain.
If you have lived through a deposition, a tough client call, a hard loss, a demanding partner — you have learned something.
Share it.
Write. Mentor. Teach. Lead.
You may think you’re just adding your voice.
You may be helping someone find theirs.
Frank Ramos is a partner at Goldberg Segalla in Miami, where he practices commercial litigation, products, and catastrophic personal injury. You can follow him on LinkedIn, where he has about 80,000 followers.