Conversate Podcast’s Post

Name: Conversate Podcast on LinkedIn: #legalcareer #privatepracticeinsights #mentorshipmatters
Uploaded: 2024-02-08T13:15:00.017Z
Channel: Conversate Podcast

Conversate Podcast

Real Lawyers. Real Conversations.

8mo

“The game of private practice..” After being an Assistant Attorney General in the DOJ, Gary Williams entered into private practice It wasn't a seamless shift; he encountered challenges like billable hours, demanding clients, and navigating a predominantly white male space as a Black man. However, Gary found his equilibrium by mastering "the game." 1. **Get A Mentor:** Gary emphasizes the importance of seeking mentorship. Having a guiding figure proved invaluable in navigating the complexities of private practice. 2. **Balance Your Workload/Set Boundaries:** Different attorneys are going to give you assignments and while it’s a great to get as much experience as possible you still have to say no at times when you have a full plate. 3. **Get Involved:** Actively engaging in the legal community is vital. Gary encourages professionals to make themselves known, fostering connections that contribute to a successful private practice journey. 4. **Join Bar Associations and Diversity Committees:** Gary found strength in joining Bar associations and diversity committees. These platforms provided a supportive network and opportunities to contribute to diversity and inclusion initiatives. Gary's experience underscores the transformative power of these steps. Implementing them made navigating private practice significantly more manageable. Here's to embracing growth, building connections, and overcoming challenges in the legal profession! Full Episode: https://linktw.in/Vwirny 🎙️⚖️ #LegalCareer #PrivatePracticeInsights #MentorshipMatters

Transcript

You learned the game. It is a game you learn how to get through. I'm dealing with Billy Bauer. I'm dealing with clients that are very rich in that expects you to do a lot of things that are out of your power. You're dealing with the powers that be that is a European based majority of a law firm that's bringing black and brown people in that just don't know how to do that. And you deal with the passive aggressiveness you deal with, you know, feeling like sometimes you're minority and you just don't have anyone to talk to and trying to find a mentor in those situations. But private practice was a struggle for a little while because I've just. Trying to build 160 a 180 hours a month. How in the hell am I gonna do this? And you learn, You learn how to do it. And it's crazy because every client has different requirements that they need, that they need and different billing requirements. You got to learn that. You got to learn how to tailor your writing to the partner that you're working for if it's more than 1. So it's a lot. So break down the game. You give like a quick synopsis, synopsis of the what what is the private practice game, the first thing you do when you get in. Into private practice is to make sure number one, that you have a mentor that's improbable. So that has been. And then once you get into the firm, pick what you want to do smart and wisely because a lot of different people are going to want to say, hey, can you work for me on this project? Hey, can you work for me on this project? And you have to balance what you're going to do because you're not able to do everything. You're going to have to be able to tell the partner, hey, yes, I can do this for you. However, I'm busy with this project one right now and I'll get with you and get to your project. After if that's OK. If it's not, if you have a deadline, I understand, maybe I won't be able to do it. So understanding your limits, that's number one. #2 Getting involved. Don't just be at your desk 24/7. Don't be in your office 24/7. If they have events outside of work, go. Make yourself known. Yep. Smile. Even when you don't want to tell them funny jokes, even if it's not funny. Lawyer the the party lawyer jokes. Learn Game of Thrones. Learn these shows like, you know what I'm saying? Because you have to be able to not just be your office work. You have to be able to move that outside of being an office. And you have to relate to them. Because if you're on the track for partner, if they don't know you personally or they don't know who you are outside of just who you what you put on a piece of paper work and they're never going to provoke you apartment, they're never going to promote. Say anything they're gonna say. It's a good point. The Bar Association committees join different diversity committees. Make yourself stand out. I know when I was at my my last firm I just moved to another firm. Now that's on my last firm and I was I shared other diversity committee that was something that me as a as a young attorney that never happened and I was the first black man. They even hold that position. So you have to be able to get yourself in these positions and these committees not only at your firm but bars association wide because you want to be recognized. I'm very big on pro bono work. I did that a lot in in law school and I continued it into my my practice now and that's some of the stuff that gets you. Recognized and that's some of the stuff that gets you on that track to become a partner.

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