Becoming a Lawyer is
both a career guide and self-improvement book that aims to make law students
into confident professionals, and possible even happy ones. Jaeger-Fine
concentrates in this work on the creation of a “professional persona,” or a
combination of qualities (not necessarily academic) that lead to lawyers who
thrive in practice. In a legal market that is becoming smaller, the author
argues, the more important this professional persona is to separate oneself
from the pack.
After describing how firms partnership, mentorship, and technology
are all changing modern legal practice, the author moves on to the building
blocks of the professional persona in chapter 3. Here, cognitive theory and the
Dunning Kreuger effect are analyzed with an emphasis on their role in the culture
of legal practice. Then, the importance of habit is discussed at length, noting
that 45% of daily behavior is based on habit rather than decision. This portion
of the book is especially useful, for any professional, as it gives clear
examples of how one’s emotional intelligence, leadership skills, and followership
skills are crucial to professional success in nearly any environment.
The second part of the book focuses on self-management, or
professionalism from the inside. Concepts here include the importance of a
positive mindset, optimism, and grit (sustained and persistent effort over a
long period of time). This portion of the book becomes a little heavy-handed
with its further commandments about resourcefulness, diligence, self-discipline,
and reliability. Again, the development of good habits remains paramount,
making one wonder if one could ever harness all the professional skills to create
one’s optimum professional persona. The sections on time-management and
organization do share some effective tips, such as not letting the urgent
hijack the important. Not to mention it finally persuaded this blogger to commit
to keeping a cleaner desk.
The final portion of the book deals with relationships, or
as the author describes it, “professionalism on the outside.” Tips for
newcomers to the legal profession include networking basics, the importance of
understanding generational differences, and the importance of inclusiveness. More
interesting though is the following chapter on talent management. This portion
may do well to explain the mind of a supervisor to a new attorney, and the value
of their intellectual capital in the workplace. It reminds the reader of the
importance of being valued and appreciated for one’s contributions, and the
value of a manager who can work with different types of workers and meet their
individual needs adequately.
Becoming a Lawyer is
a light and optimistic read that will be inspiring to some new lawyers, and
overly cheery and pedantic to others. The author has high hopes for the new
lawyer and her professional persona, and the book combines both useful advice
with an overall encouraging attitude that some young lawyers may find quite
inspiring.
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