What I’ve learned
26+ years is a good amount of life to dedicate to any vocation. More so when we're talking about a demanding mistress like the law. Many of my fellow McGeorge classmates found jobs outside of law soon after passing the bar exam. The realities of long hours and high stress taking their toll on them. In some ways I don't blame them. Being a novice lawyer is a lot like being the youngest in a family of much older siblings. You're treated as annoying, patted on the head a lot, and told to go away.
Throughout my career, I've been lucky enough to work in small firms, or as a Sole Practitioner. Environments where my time is largely my own so I can actually give clients the attention they deserve.
So now that I've evolved into a Jedi Master of the legal force, what have I learned in my years of practice?
-You can't help everyone. My weekly inbox is full of people asking legal questions. Most of whom I cannot answer because they are well outside my area of expertise. Referrals to colleagues aside, sometimes you have to say, " I have no idea". And leave it at that.
-Your attention matters more to your clients than your legal knowledge. I know great legal minds who can quote you cites and page numbers, code sections, and verbiage all day long. Some of these brainiacs have multitudes of unsatisfied clients. Why? Because all the client sees is whether or not her lawyer has responded to her phone call.
-Knowing opposing counsel is key. Believe it or not, there is honor among lawyers. A code where working relationships are hashed out over years of interaction. For the most part, if you do what you say you will, and keep your word with opposing counsel, will be respected and met with much less unnecessary conflict.
-Time management matters most. As an attorney you are pulled in many different directions at once. Being able to focus and cross an item off your list before moving on to the next issue is key to being productive. Doing great work requires your full attention to whatever's in front of you.
-Speak English or Spanish, not legalese. Yes, your client knows you have a law degree, and he knows that you dedicate copious hours of your life to reading the unintelligible ramblings of jurists and writing correspondence to other lawyers. But can you explain these complicated concepts in simple terms that non lawyers can understand?
-When you arrive in Court, the work is already done. As persuasive as you are, few arguments are won without hours of preparation before making your pitch to the Judge. Ultimately, a confident presentation relies on you knowing the law and your case!
-You can disagree with opposing counsel and not be disagreeable. This is where the great lawyers are separated from the mediocre. It's a skill that's only honed after years of experience where you get to a place in your practice where you know the black letter law. You know your client, know the procedural road ahead, and are sure of that you've covered all bases. That's when you can confidently look opposing counsel in the eye with a genuine smile and say " we'll see what the Court has to say about this issue", steadfast in the knowledge that you'll come up victorious!
José Borrego
Attorney
Joseborregolaw.com
(916) 446-4911
