Professional Development

Law student debt averages about $165K at graduation, creating stress and restricting choices, survey says

Young lawyers are so impacted by student debt that they are making life-changing decisions, such as delaying children and, in some cases, choosing a job because of its higher pay, according to a survey posted online Monday.

Oct 27, 2020 12:19 PM CDT

How to maximize your business development during the COVID-19 crisis

Plenty of lawyers in private practice worry about business development during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there may be more opportunities to discover new clients than they realize. And that is thanks to an increase in online events, says Karen Kaplowitz, a lawyer and business development coach.

Oct 26, 2020 8:56 AM CDT

ABA Criminal Justice Section reflects on its first 100 years

As April Frazier Camara celebrates the 100th anniversary of the ABA’s Criminal Justice Section, she also looks forward to facing the many challenges she sees in the criminal legal system. “Racial injustice is something that is on the minds and hearts of American people,” says Camara, the chair of the section.

Oct 12, 2020 2:09 PM CDT

Thanks for nothing: When should lawyers end an email with ‘thank you’?

Writing a professional email is difficult enough. And choosing an appropriate signoff can be daunting, with so many options to choose from: “Thank you” (or just “Thanks”), “Sincerely,” “Best,” “Regards,” “Yours” or nothing at all (as in, “—Jon”). The list goes on.

Oct 12, 2020 9:00 AM CDT

Sidley Austin will provide scholarships, internships to law students to settle Labor Department diversity probe

Sidley Austin has agreed to improve its tracking of demographic statistics on summer associate applicants, associate bonuses and staff member promotions to settle allegations that it failed to adequately collect the data.

Oct 8, 2020 10:09 AM CDT

Would-be lawyer, 87, wants to try to pass the bar again, but obstacles remain

An 87-year-old would-be lawyer wants to take another crack at the California bar exam after failing four times in the 1960s.

Oct 6, 2020 11:31 AM CDT

Law firms lost 15 associates for every 20 they hired, NALP Foundation study finds

For every 20 associates hired by law firms, 15 left, according to a study that collected information from more than 800 law firms.

Oct 1, 2020 2:43 PM CDT

How to empower working moms during the coronavirus pandemic

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Carolyn Elefant, an attorney who focuses her practice on energy and environmental matters and the author of several books, including Solo by Choice: How to Be the Lawyer You Always Wanted to Be.

Sep 25, 2020 9:58 AM CDT

You accepted a clerkship; now what? A to-do list for before your first day

‘Tis the season. No, not for holiday shopping (thankfully), but for law clerk hiring. Prospective clerks are hearing back on offers for next year right about now, and it’s never too early to begin preparing. I often muse on my time as a law clerk and the rewards of the experience. And although articles abound regarding the benefits of a clerkship, there are few that offer advice to incoming clerks on what they should do to prepare for the experience.

Sep 23, 2020 3:29 PM CDT

6 strategies to get a perfectionistic lawyer off the ledge

In one of life’s ironies, the very things that make a great lawyer may also make a lawyer miserable. Achievement equaled value; if we did not get more than 100 on a test, we failed. This is the lawyer’s curse of perfectionism, writes James Gray Robinson.

Sep 17, 2020 9:13 AM CDT