Summary: Law firm work is not meant for everyone no matter what kind of credentials you have, so figure out now if you should be pursuing another career.
Read Three Simple Ways to Tell If You Should Work (or Continue to Work) in a Law Firm to learn more.
Investing the time and money into a career as an attorney is not always the best choice for some people even if they are interested in the law. Some people are not meant to be in medical billing just like some are not meant to be attorneys. There are certain qualities that attorneys need to possess and other qualities that they shouldn’t. Harrison Barnes describes who belongs in a law firm and who does not.
People that don’t belong in a law firm are only concerned about themselves. They don’t care about the work or the team. They only care about how the job benefits them.
The credentials of an attorney don’t matter if they think that because they have the credentials they are special. An attorney that has a sense of entitlement because of their credentials will not make for an attorney that works well with others. Barnes explains, “If you have any sense that you are better than your colleagues, you are always going to have issues with any firm you are seeking to be part of…”
See Set and Keep Priorities Where Your Job Is Not Number One.
Entitlement makes an attorney feel that they have the right to interview their employer instead of being a simple job seeker. They go into interviews with demands instead of being willing to work with the offer given them. Credentials only get you in the door to start with, after a few years your credentials don’t matter and your mentality towards the career is what matters.
Law firms are concerned with three key things:
- Can the attorney do the job?
- Can the attorney be managed?
- Will the attorney stay long-term?
Attorneys that don’t fit these criteria will not be asked to work for the law firm. Law firms want to see attorneys that are interested the job and not the compensation or hours.
It is not a bad thing to not fit this criteria, it just means you will likely be more successful in another career in the long run. Realizing now that you are fit better for another line of work is a good thing so that you don’t waste any more time in a job you don’t enjoy. Everyone has their different qualifications and skills, teamwork and putting work above all else is not for everyone.
Do you think an attorney can be a valuable member of a law firm and still be focused on themselves? Tell us your experiences in the comments below.
To learn more about the types of attorneys there are, read Which One of the Four Types of Attorneys Are You?
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