THE ATLANTA BAR FOUNDATION PRESENTS
THE CASE FOR GETTING
INVOLVED EARLY AND OFTEN
By Daniel Huynh
Alston & Bird LLP
[email protected]
e
d Theatr
Buckhea 11:30pm
6:00pm -
B
eing a young associate is especially hard these days.
Much is expected from you that reaches far beyond just
doing good work. You are expected to meet a billable
requirement, be responsive to your superiors, take on pro bono
cases, and attend CLEs; all of which can leave little time to
eat, sleep, and have a life. Let us not forget you need to start
building a network of colleagues and business professionals
so you can one day have your own book of business. Young
associates can benefit from finding ways to become more
involved in seeking out leadership opportunities in your firm
and in the community.
Get Involved
Some consider a leadership position in an organization to be
an unnecessary time commitment. The case for pledging more
time outside of billable hours and away from your family is not
an easy one. Who has time for that? The truth is we could all
afford to donate a little time. There are so many non-profits
here in Atlanta addressing problems in our community and
they all need more help.
At work, getting involved with an internal committee is a great
way to change the firm for the better and a natural platform to
meet other attorneys. You may not know everyone that works
at your firm. This would have been a silly notion just 10 years
ago, but gone are the days where a partner can host a summer
party for a large Atlanta firm in their backyards. Knowing who
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April 2016
works alongside you and knowing what they are particularly
good at, and vice versa, is a valuable asset. An answer to
a lingering legal problem can just be a short call away, and
you can brand yourself as a marketing wiz when you can tell
a client that a particular attorney at the firm has handled the
exact same problem they are calling about.
Learning How to be a Leader
Getting involved in your firm and within the community can
be a gateway to becoming a leader. Being a leader , and
more precisely having great leadership skills, is continuous
and ever-evolving. For example, I have become better at
organizing and managing cases and deadlines because I
had to negotiate with caterers and round up speakers for a
conference I planned years ago. I have found that you can
hone your leadership skills by taking on more responsibilities
in organizations. Practice gets you closer to perfect. Getting
involved early in your career will lead to leadership opportunities later. Skills such as time management, organization, and
delegation of duties will all translate into your practice of law.
Aside from providing you with skills to be a better lawyer, there
are a number of other benefits to getting involved within organizations and taking on leadership positions. You can make
the world around you a little better, build your social network,
and you may even make a few friends along the way. ■
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LAW
BUCKHEAD THEATRE
general admission $20
Premium Tickets $100
Preconcert Reception
Bourbon Tasting
Catered Food
General Admission to LawJam
Host $250
2 VIP tickets to preconcert reception
2 drink tickets (beer/wine)
Bourbon Tasting
Catered Appetizers
Catered Food During Show
VIP Balcony Seating
Tickets go on sale through ticketmaster or the atlanta bar website starting may 1.
Proceeds benefit Atlanta Bar youth programs and pro bono legal services.
Visit our LawJam Facebook page or www.atlantabar.org for more info
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association THE ATLANTA LAWYER
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