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December 2009
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Welcome to the December issue of Something Different and the 2009 holiday season!
2009: 20 Updates on 9 Topics
Since this is the final issue of Something Different for 2009, I added a section with 20 updates on 9 topics covered in prior issues of Something Different during 2009.
Archive
One other format change to note - the Archive of past issues of Something Different now appears at the bottom of the newsletter before the About Us section.
Crossover Careers: Lessons for Lawyers from Darius Rucker
If you watched the Country Music Association awards last month or any of the related news coverage, you know that this year's New Artist of the Year is someone who crossed over to country music in 2008. Now, each time I hear this artist I am reminded of the many attorneys who want to cross over to a new practice area or career but aren't sure how. I've identified four characteristics exhibited by the New Artist of the Year that are also applicable to attorneys looking to cross over to a new practice area or career.
The 6Ps of the Big 3
It is worth sharing one important update for my readers who have also heard my presentation, The 6Ps of the Big 3. You may recall my noting that some attorneys are reluctant to receive recommendations on LinkedIn because the recommendations might be perceived as testimonials which are prohibited in attorney advertising in some states or or must contain certain disclosures. One state bar - Florida - recently agreed to exempt such recommendations from regulations prohibiting client testimonials. It will be interesting to see if other state bars follow.
Something Different (with a holiday twist)
For your dose of something different this month (and in the spirit of the holiday gift giving season), I found two companies that sell humorous gifts for attorneys (and, no, I have no connection to these companies): (1) Law Comix - books, calendars and mugs with cartoons created by an attorney and cartoonist; and (2) The Billable Hour - clever gifts and greeting cards for legal professionals.
Best wishes for a happy holiday season! As always, I welcome your comments and questions.
Amanda
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Where's Amanda?INK |
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February 19, 2010 - Texas Women Lawyers 2010 Annual CLE moderating The Art of Client Identification & Retention
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| 2009: 20 Updates on 9 Topics |
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The following list contains 20 updates to 9 of the topics discussed in Something Different during 2009. Skim the topics that interest you and click on the links to read more about a particular update.
- AmLaw Tweeple: If you decided to test Twitter in 2009 but are still looking for people to follow, consider this list of legal professionals from AmLaw firms who are using Twitter. Melissa Sachs compiled the list and updates it regularly on her blog, RecruiterEsq.com.
- Twitter - LinkedIn Integration: You can now add your Twitter account to your LinkedIn profile and update your status on both sites simultaneously. BONUS (for those using Tweetdeck): Tweetdeck now has a column for LinkedIn; you can download the newest version here.
- Retweet Button: Twitter activated the retweet button on certain Twitter accounts; with this feature, users can retweet with a click rather than having to copy, paste and add RT in front of the tweet.
- Twitter Lists: The list feature allows users to group interesting followers.
- Axiom expands into Boston: Axiom, one of the alternative law firms discussed in February, now has a Boston office and is hiring for three management positions for this office.
- Rimon Law Group + Virtual Paralegal Services: Rimon Law Group, another alternative law firm discussed in February, and Virtual Paralegal Services recently announced the partnering of their teams to provide cost effective virtual legal services to businesses.
- AmLaw Openings: Melissa Sachs who compiled the AmLaw Tweeple list mentioned above has also compiled a list of job openings at all AmLaw firms.
- Freelance Law: I introduced the concept of freelance lawyers in March as an alternative to finding a law firm full-time position; now, there's a national database of freelance lawyers, paralegals and other legal professionals who offer their services to law firms on an independent contractor basis.
- Law Clerk Connection: One job resource law students may want to add to their resource list is Law Clerk Connection.
- Creating a Resume that Sells: In April, I discussed the importance of lawyers using numbers in their resume. In this recent Wall Street Journal article, the career experts also indicated they wanted to see metrics in the job seeker's resume
I attended the National Association of Legal Search Consultants' (NALSC) annual conference in May and shared some of the topics discussed in the May issue of Something Different. Two topics discussed were potential salary cuts and corresponding cuts to billing rates. As you may know, many large firms are cutting salaries or eliminating the lock-step fee structure for associates. While there has not been much discussion about decreasing billing rates (in fact, there's been talk of a slight increase which you may read about here), there has been significant chatter about alternative or flat fees offered by large firms; I've shared one example below.
The July issue of Something Different examined a Facebook disaster where law firm employees used the firm's name to create a Facebook group and then post pictures from the firm's holiday party where "the employees got increasingly drunk" and posted "pictures to prove it." I mentioned the idea of using social media policies to address such Facebook disasters. In the last few months, numerous articles have surfaced about using social media policies and I thought it was worth sharing a few of these resources.
- My Pink Lawyer, Kristen Marks: The August issue of Something Different outlined traits of Mary Kay consultants that lead to marketing and business development success. Here's an example of a real-life lawyer and Mary Kay consultant who gained marketing skills as a Mary Kay consultant that have helped her develop her legal business.
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Crossover Careers: Lessons for Lawyers from Darius Rucker
by Amanda C. Ellis, Esq. |
 How can I switch practice areas?
How can I leave the practice of law and do something else?
Associate attorneys ask me these questions more
frequently than they ask about finding a lateral position in their current
practice area. Unfortunately, there is
no easy, one-size-fits-all answer to these questions. Yes, crossing over to a new practice area or career can be done, and I usually advise attorneys to consult with
someone who made a switch. I also advise associates to set themselves apart by looking for guidance outside of the legal industry and looking at non-legal professionals who transitioned into new careers.
One non-legal professional who has recently received attention for his career crossover is
country music singer Darius Rucker, the former
lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish who left the pop/rock group in 2008 to pursue a solo career in country music. Not only did he make the
transition from rock to country, he did so with tremendous success. His first three singles all reached Number 1 on the U.S. Hot Country Songs List and, last month, he received the Country Music Association's "New Artist of the Year" award-- all within a year of
crossing over to country music.
How did Rucker cross over to country music successfully and
what can attorneys looking to switch practice areas or careers learn from
him? I've outlined four characteristics
of Rucker's crossover and, in the spirit of the holiday gift giving season, one can remember the characteristics with the acronym GIFT:
GIFT = Gains + Initiative + Failure + Time
The GIFT characteristics are applicable to any professional looking to cross over to a new career or area, including:
(1) attorneys looking to
switch practice areas;
(2) attorneys looking to leave the legal profession for
a different career; and
(3) law students seeking their first jobs.
Crossover Characteristic #1: Gains
Rucker focused on his prior career gains. Specifically, he touted his success with Hootie to remind
producers of his talents; many identified with him once they were reminded of the Hootie connection and listened to him to learn what he had to offer to country music.
Attorneys should think of their career related gains and how they can use prior gains to propel them into a
different practice area or different industry. The gains could be a particular skill set or experience that others view as beneficial. For example, there have been a wave of energy bankruptcies during this economic
downturn. I've seen several former
energy finance attorneys transition into bankruptcy and they did so by selling
their energy experience and familiarity with the energy industry.
Crossover Characteristic #2: Initiative
Rucker approached over 85 radio stations in Nashville to educate them about his
crossover to country music. He did not wait for them to
find him; he initiated contact to inform them about his new career path and then inquired to see if there was any interest.
Initiative is critical for legal professionals as well; attorneys can't wait for the jobs or
opportunities to find them. For job
seekers in general, this means inquiring about opportunities rather than waiting for
opportunities to appear on job boards or websites; only a fraction of job
openings are advertised. For attorneys
looking to switch practice areas or careers, this means routine interaction with the
players in your target field, networking and letting the players know about your
background (i.e., your "gains" discussed above) and interest in the particular practice area or industry.
Crossover Characteristic #3: Failure
Rucker failed first; his crossover into country music was his second attempt to cross to a new genre after his failed 2002 R&B album Back To Then.
When Rucker was rejected by R&B, he continued his soul-searching which led him to country music where he has flourished. Attorneys should identify their failures, defeats, and rejections and embrace them because they frequently force us into new directions where we will succeed.
For example, layoffs can force associates out of their comfort zone and into a new direction such as a new practice area or career. Similarly, a law student who can't land a job at a large firm because he wasn't in the Top 10% might find a better opportunity at a smaller firm. The smaller firm -- a firm the student might not have considered if he had finished in the Top 10% -- might offer a better growth platform where the new associate can emerge as a firm leader.
Crossover Characteristic #4: Time
"We took our time ..." (Variety)Rucker was concerned that some producers would view him as another fading pop star looking for a new home in country music. So, Rucker took his time to make the right record.
Similarly, attorneys shouldn't expect to cross over to a new practice area or industry without investing time. The difference is the product - Rucker was selling his recording; attorneys must be able to sell themselves. Attorneys must be prepared to take the time to perfect their sales pitch, including past gains and accomplishments that are relevant to the new target area or industry. They must also invest the time needed to build the necessary relationships and allow for failure and detours along the way. Bottom line - while attorneys can usually make lateral moves (same practice area) within six months, attorneys should be prepared to invest a year or longer when looking to cross over to a new practice area or career.
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| ABOUT US |
 Amanda Ellis Legal Search was founded by Amanda C. Ellis, a former practicing bankruptcy attorney and an accomplished attorney recruiter. Amanda was previously with Special Counsel, the largest provider of legal staffing services to corporate legal departments and law firms nationwide, where she was the top producer for direct hire attorney placements. Amanda formed Amanda Ellis Legal Search to implement a focused approach to legal recruiting. Amanda Ellis Legal Search focuses on the placement of bankruptcy attorneys in law firms nationwide.
Inspired by the idea of doing something different or new each month in 2009, Amanda Ellis Legal Search launched Something Different in January 2009. The monthly newsletter outlines a new or different service or resource available to legal professionals in each issue.
Contact us:
www.aellislegal.com
214.361.0070 |
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© 2009 Amanda Ellis Legal Search.
This material may not be reproduced, republished or redistributed in whole or in part
without the expressed written permission of Amanda Ellis Legal Search.
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