Overlooked Secrets of the Modern Lawyer
By: Olga V. Mack
Tags: Law, Careers, Change, Change Management, Lawyers

When I became a lawyer, I was inundated with all sorts of tips and tricks of the trade. These pearls of wisdom ranged from what clothes I should wear, to why suits are the only option, to how to build an air-raid shelter filled to the ceiling with coffee.

I found the shelter much more helpful than the other advice, but, as I gained my own experience in the field, I found out that a few major things had been overlooked in the ocean of advice I was floating in. I’d like to dive into those by further discussing three conversations I had on my podcast.

So, without further ado, let’s appreciate this first gem because it’s a rare one. Now, being a lawyer, I rarely use words without purpose; in this case, I chose the word “appreciate” for a very good reason. Appreciation, in the legal sector, is more elusive than Bigfoot, but Lauren Zajac — Chief Legal Officer of Workhuman — is adamant that it is one of the most underestimated tools in the law process.

Why is it so useful?

Because it’s far more common to come across the inverse of appreciation. The only thing with less leeway than the law is lawyers, themselves. Obviously, that is not true in all cases, but I myself was skeptical about the so-called “Culture of Recognition” — in spite of the fact that I had initiated this conversation with Lauren. For the unbelievers, like me, here is a brief overview of its benefits:

Betters post-negotiation relationships

Creates a breathing space, and helps you process during the acknowledgment

Rewires neural pathways to be more geared towards recognizing the value

Turns “business-impeding lawyers” into strategic partners who add greater value

Creates psychological safety and, consequently, improves confidence, innovation, and risk-taking

Supports diversity and inclusion by building relationships across the board — even extending out to other firms/businesses

Overall, recognition establishes a positive culture, fostering healthy relationships that inspire superior performance. You can listen in on the conversation here:

Hyperlinks are not the only links that take you and your stakeholders to new places. LinkedIn does just this, as well. LinkedIn is a social media network designed for corporate relationships. It is a platform that combines marketing and digital personality creation in interesting ways. Neil Greenbaum has been very intentional about building his LinkedIn following, and, if his results are anything to go by, then everyone should be going the Neil Greenbaum route.

He started out doing 30 videos in 30 days but recommends giving 10 videos in 10 working days (two weeks) a shot, which would make it a little more manageable. He emphasizes videos because they create familiarity and differentiation. You’re not just marketing your skills, you’re marketing yourself, as well. A 40-to-60 second video explaining one concept is his sweet spot, but he provides even more insight in this interview:

The last tool is something we have touched on before but in a different context. We looked at the Law/Fusion Paradigm once, but Sarah Feingold has dug deep into the intersection between art and law, learning some cross-disciplinary lessons. She mentions some practical “transferable skills” — things that help wire your brain in a way that sets a pattern of thought, regardless of the area. Metalworking is her favorite pastime, and so she is used to the process of envisioning something and then seeing how it plays out. This journey from envisioning to enacting is an unavoidable iteration in law — a lesson complemented by patience and the beginner’s mindset, both of which she learned about through the medium of art.

On the flip side of that, Sarah also talks about the law through the platform of theatre, an original and brilliant idea she discusses in more detail here:

There are many gems unknown to the modern lawyer. Just dig a little deeper down, and you might find them.