sat down and out of the blue said, “I don’t
understand why so many young people use
the word ‘like’ all the time. It doesn’t mean
anything, and it makes them look naive and
uncertain.” Then he got up and left. (To this
day, I LOVE that guy.) He was right, and
from that day on, every time I hear anyone or
myself say the word “like” as an extra word, I
catch it and correct it. Even with my kids. It’s
a practice that needs to stop. Hear yourself
saying it, and start remembering not to. You
don’t need it, and it isn’t good English. That
simple correction will change how people
view you.
7. Embrace the power of being
able to help others. As a lawyer, you
have a special gift. You know and understand
the power of the law, how to negotiate, and
a million other little things that non-lawyers
do not and will never understand. You have
the ability to help them. Even helping
someone find the right lawyer to help them
is an enormous help. If you’ve never looked
for a lawyer, you have no appreciation for
how truly difficult it is to find someone you
can trust and who really knows what they
are doing. Helping a person who can’t speak
English know what to say to the electric
company to turn off the meter in their name
from their old house? Priceless. For you, five
minutes of your time. You can change lives
through your knowledge of the law. Try to
keep perspective as you go through your
crazy days.
The practice of law is about people and
relationships – keep that in mind and let it
guide your decision making. If you are in
New York or Chicago and you think you’ll
never run into that lawyer again, you’re
wrong. People talk, social media spreads,
and people remember bad behavior. You
have what it takes to build a positive career
helping others (and making some money
along the way).
Now get out there, I’ll be looking for you.
This column originally appeared in Above The
Law, https://abovethelaw.com, on June 13,
2017. It has been reprinted with permission. The
“6 Lessons About Lawyering – And Life” was
reprinted with permission in the Fall 2019 issue
of The Gavel.
Is pleased to announce the following
Associates to the firm:
Maggie R. Brockel practices in the
firm’s Bismarck, ND office. Her practice
focuses on title examinations and
commercial
transactions.
Maggie
received her J.D. from the University of
North Dakota and joined Crowley Fleck
in 2019.
Emily M. Ramage practices in the
firm’s Williston, ND office. Her practice
focuses on commercial litigation and
tort litigation. Emily received her J.D.
from the University of North Dakota
and joined Crowley Fleck in 2019.
The firm also welcomes the following additions:
Associates: Lucas Forcella, Montana Funk, Gabrielle Gee,
Marina Horsting, Michael Klepperich, Jasmine Morton,
Alexa Pyette, Issac Smith, and Peter Taylor
Senior Counsel - Mike Smith
www.crowleyfleck.com
JOHN WARD
John Ward practices
in Civil Litigation, including:
• Commercial
• Tort
• Insurance Defense
• Insurance Coverage
• Professional Liability
Defense
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