How to Be a Star Associate by James J. McDonald; James J. McDonaldCall Number: KF300 .K45 2024
ISBN: 9781639054619
Publication Date: 2024-12-10
Publisher: Chicago, Illinois: American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2024.
James J. McDonald, Jr., author of How to Be a Star Associate: A Guide to Excelling in Your Early Legal Career states: "Most of what makes a lawyer a star involves smart choices, hard work, and the ability to relate to people. You also need skills to succeed in a law firm that you probably did not learn in law school. You can develop those skills, and this book can help you." Applying lessons learned during his forty years of law practice, and from hiring, training, and mentoring dozens of lawyers, McDonald shows new lawyers and lawyers-to-be how to survive and thrive in today's larger law firms. This book covers all of the basics of law firm associate life, including picking the right firm, getting the job, learning the craft of practicing law, finding the right mentors, learning how to write persuasively, going to court, managing the workload to stay busy without becoming overwhelmed, and much more. The book also teaches lawyers how to provide five-star client service in a two-and-a-half-star world, hone their client development skills in the "internal marketplace" in their law firm, and think about business development from day one. This book provides a practical guide for lawyers who hope to become successful partners in their law firms.