Summary: Harrison Barnes explains that a perceived lack of commitment to the job is career suicide for many young attorneys. Without demonstrating such a commitment – such as working on weekends and holidays and showing that your work comes first – many attorneys will be the first to go when the firm needs to downsize.
In an eye-opening article, “The #1 Attorney Career Killer that Attorneys Are Never Taught,” Harrison Barnes explains the significance of demonstrating your commitment to a law firm from the day you are hired. Unfortunately, this is a point that is not always emphasized in law school, and many graduates find out the hard way that it is necessary to keep a job.
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Barnes recalls that, during his employment at one large law firm, most of the firm’s attorneys were present on the 4th of July. Simply because the holiday landed in the middle of the workweek did not mean that important tasks could be skipped.
Barnes explains that if you want to handle other people’s problems and impact how their lives continue after a case concludes, then you better be committed to your practice. Barnes asks, “Would you want an attorney who needed weekends off when you were in a big trial, or had an important deposition scheduled?”
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Barnes adds that the minute a lack of commitment is demonstrated in a firm, your days there are probably numbered. You will not receive good cases, you will not move up in the ranks, and you’ll be cut when business slows down.
Therefore, you must act like every assignment you receive is the most important task ever—including paying attention that no mistakes are made.
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If you do decide to leave the stress of big law behind, you must understand that you are unlikely to work in a big law firm ever again, because you have already shown (in the eyes of big law) that you are not fully committed to the practice. It is important not to give up and to strive toward your goals.
You must prove your commitment every day to your higher ups. After working hard in law school and studying to pass the bar exam, losing a job because you did not demonstrate commitment is inexcusable. Read the full article here: “The #1 Attorney Career Killer that Attorneys Are Never Taught.”
Source: BCG Search
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