Aspiring Rising-star Attorneys: This One’s for You

Whether you passed the bar 10 years ago, or just recently, you may be thinking about the life and the rewards of a plaintiff trial practice.?You may even be dreaming of owning the next great trial law firm. But right now, it’s a Big Law job or associate position that pays the bills and the student loan debt. It probably feels like any big accomplishments are years, maybe decades, away. As a member of the civil justice community who has seen aspiring leaders make their way to the top, hand over fist,?I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way.

I recently had a Saturday morning coffee conversation with a young lawyer from Houston, whose post on LinkedIn caught my eye:

“Quit my #biglaw job and spent a week at the beach without a computer for the first time in over 10 years - highly recommend ?? ?? ????”

I wished her luck in her new adventures. I’ve had a few new starts myself in my career, and I know it comes with a lot of reflection and often some worry and hesitation at first.?

She fired back with: “I’ll likely be launching my own plaintiff firm.”

This post is for younger attorneys who, like her, are ready to get into the driver’s seat of their own plaintiff legal career. Below are tips based on the moves of my trial lawyer colleagues that helped them skyrocket to the top.

Join AAJ.

Join the?American Association for Justice?(AAJ). Attend the conferences if you can, and volunteer with the philanthropic opportunities through AAJ. You’ll get to know all the key players in trial law in just a year or two.??There are also a variety of groups within AAJ that you can join. If you’re a minority attorney, consider joining AAJ's Minority Caucus, which has 1,000+ active members and hosts virtual and in-person events throughout the year. If you’re a female attorney, go to the biennial Lobby Days event, which usually brings over 150 women to Washington, D.C., to lobby members of Congress on the importance of maintaining a strong civil justice system. It might be one of the most profound weekends of your legal career.?

Consider working on mass tort litigation.

Your practice could benefit from originating mass tort cases, marketing them, and even referring your cases to leading mass tort attorneys around the country.?

Network.

Identify your heroes, and network to meet them. Almost every state plaintiff’s bar has emerging leaders' groups for networking. Milestone is an ally for the?Texas Women Rainmakers, a powerful state-based group.

I encourage all female trial lawyers to attend?Women En Mass, regardless of whether they plan to take on mass torts. It’s an incredible networking event where many of the best and brightest female attorneys gather in Aspen, CO, each year.?Mass Torts Made Perfect?is another opportunity. It shows how the plaintiff’s bar is a community of awesome people who like to have fun and make connections.

Start your own law firm as soon as you can.

If you want to own your own firm, there’s no better day than today to get started. Leverage everything you’ve got and believe in yourself. Your commitment will make you more successful.

While you’re at it, learn how to rely on?qualified settlement funds?and?attorney fee deferral?to become your own bank, so you never have to rely on litigation financing.?

Specialize.

Some of the most successful trial lawyers have taken on certain types of cases that speak to them. Birth trauma, food-borne illness, bicycle accidents – find what matters most to you and stand up for those plaintiffs. Specializing in certain cases also allows you to market nationally for them and grow a strong referral base.

Give.

Give back to organizations you care about – even if you do not have much to give. Your support will make a difference in your causes while leading to new friends and professional allies.

Save.

This one will set you apart from many other trial lawyers. Start saving now. It’s not as difficult as it sounds to take 10% of every fee and bank it. Think about it this way: the case could have settled for less, and you would have operated all the same. Pay your future-self first. One of the simplest ways to plan short- and long-term with your fees is to defer them. Saving for the future will grow your balance sheet and build a financial reserve that you will feel confident about. It will also embolden you in your practice and give you greater clarity on your future endeavors.

I’ve met many lawyers in their 70s who have settled dozens, if not hundreds, of seven-figure cases but do not have $3 million put away for themselves. They regret not saving. They continue to litigate because they can’t afford to not generate the next fee. Put yourself in the position to pull back on your work when you're ready.

Take care of yourself.

Last but certainly not least, do not neglect your physical and mental health. You are the only one of you that you have. Burning it at both ends comes at a price. As the pandemic has taught us, patience, health, and mindfulness are all virtues to respect. Many a guru has said that you are unable to fill others’ cups when yours is empty. That’s true for your families, clients, and business partners. Take care of yourself throughout your journey.?

I’m open to helping younger lawyers in their careers however I can. If you would like to make a connection or receive an introduction, please connect with me on LinkedIn or text me at (716) 864-8917.