Jagged Rocks of Wisdom: Professional Advice for the New Attorney
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Review
Jagged Rocks of Wisdom: Professional Advice for the New Lawyer, by Morten Lund; The Young Lawyer’s Jungle Book: A Survival Guide, Second Edition, by Thane Josef Messinger.
Reviewed by Carrie May Poniewaz, Journal and News Law Clerk, Florida Bar Journal, vol 81, no. 10, Nov. 2007.
Who says there’s no how-to manual for new lawyers just starting their first legal jobs?
Jagged Rocks of Wisdom and The Young Lawyer’s Jungle Book come about as close as possible to providing the holy grail for new associates – practical advice on navigating the day-to-day life as a real, live, memo-writing attorney.
Starting with the well-recognized premise that American legal education cranks out more legal thinkers than adept practitioners, these two career guides mix brutal honesty with humor to guide new associates through everything from dealing with partners to figuring out the art of rainmaking.
Jagged Rocks of Wisdom delivers its career advice in 21 “rules,” which are explained in short, pithy chapters and include anecdotes showing what can happen if the rules are ignored. The rule titles provide a to-do list of essentials for a new associate, reminding the reader to proofread (Rule 1) and proofread again (Rule 2), while also offering guidance on keeping one’s sanity amid the stress of the job.
The Young Lawyer’s Jungle Book takes a more in-depth approach to helping new associates succeed in their jobs. This guide begins by breaking down any delusions of grandeur a new associate may bring to the job by reminding readers that “[w]hen you strut (or slink) into your office on that first day, you should feel comfortable with the knowledge that, in the legal hierarchy, you are about two levels above amoebae.”
In addition to this help in putting one’s role in the proper perspective, this book also apprises the reader of some of the unexpected predicaments that often arise in law firm culture. For example, a new associate may not expect to get caught in the middle of conflict among senior partners, and this book not only provides a warning of such shockers, but also offers expert advice on wiggling out of them with a gold star on the company record.
Both books are quick reads and perfect companions for those who suffer from first-job jitters. — Florida Bar Journal, vol 81, no. 10, Nov. 2007.
Product Description
A new job is scary for anyone. A new job as an attorney is scary times two: the challenges are both substantive (as in actually knowing the law), as well as procedural (as in knowing how to act like an attorney). In this professional transition, many, many new attorneys fall by the wayside. This book is a guide to keep the new attorney on track. It includes advice for the new law firm associate, written by a partner at Foley & Lardner, a well-regarded law firm. Written in a first- and second-person tense and filled with no-nonsense guidance from someone actually in the mentorship role in a real-world law firm
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Jagged Rocks of Wisdom: Professional Advice for the New Attorney, by Morten Lund, provides important, relevant, practical, and helpful advice that tends to be overlooked and left out of law school curriculum. Lund combines his advice with personal experiences which results in a highly satisfying read. The book is formatted into 21 chapters, each containing a new rule (or jagged rock of wisdom) which build upon each other and culminate into a mountain of wisdom. Although the title suggests the advice is aimed at a new attorney, most of the advice given within the pages of this book can also be applied by anyone who is working in a setting that requires interaction with other people.
Multiple times in the last year I have recommended Morten Lund’s, “Jagged Rocks of Wisdom”, to non-lawyer professionals. I have found this book to be a great resource for anyone navigating the complicated relationships present in most work environments.
Even the “Rules” which are written in language specifically directed at attorneys, such as “Rule Number 14: The Partner is Not Your Friend,” is advice relevant in almost all professional settings. Rule 14 basically lays out good boundaries in the work place, which applies to almost anyone who has a supervisor. This is by far my favorite book on succeeding in the work place because of the way Lund presents the rules in a clear, direct manner, with no fluff; all of the 21 rules are basic, necessary, and essential to success in almost any profession.
This is an excellent book. I strongly recommend it PRIOR to a summer position with a law firm or at any time thereafter. The book is a very quick read but effectively gets its point across. Moreover, many of the chapters apply to any profession (especially business). Simply replace “partner” with manager and “summer associate” with intern.
woot go arbiter
The prevailing wisdom is we should give Obama time. I agree! How about 25 to life? #tcot #obama #nobama #potus
I think, engaging in a given activity as a source of livelihood or as a career, would be pretty accurate.
its jammin dats 100
Millions of plant-strangling tree ferns have invaded the Kauai watershed, and the only way to tackle the problem along the jagged, towering cliffs is by air, with hoses and paintball guns.
Me personally, I try to keep my rocks lower than grass to try and keep away from the lawnmower blades. I would leave it like you have it.
When Grandma Goes To Court
Source: http://www.wvwnews.net
In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her and asked, ‘Mrs. Jones, do you know me?’ She responded, ‘Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. …
mdr