Jabs and Right Hooks

"Taking it seriously", hedged bets, Coffee and a Case Note, and my attempt to build a legal practice

I'm trying to build a legal practice. It's not easy. I'm light years from the finish.

But I expect to succeed.

My failures

I've banked three failures that give me some confidence. They are:

1. A failed rap career;
2. A failed career in radio; and
3. A failed journalism / cultural commentary / musical journalism / whatever career.

I use the word "career" above in the loosest possible sense. Each of those ventures were little more than hobbies. They failed because I refused to take them seriously; refused to devote enough time or energy to them; refused to take any risks in relation to them.

Each failed because I didn't go "all in". I hedged my bets.

I've developed a suspicion that bet-hedging is a pretty efficient path to failure.

Then: law

Law was another venture I didn't go "all in" on.

I did the degree, having firstly graduated from a different degree, because I may as well.

I got admitted because I'd done the degree, and I may as well.

I got some experience because I'd been admitted, and I may as well.

I kept practising because I'd got some experience, and I may as well.

At each of these steps, I was hedging my bets. Law was "just a job". Unlike some, it was not something I'd wanted to do from childhood. It was simply a straightforward way for me to remained employed and to... do what else?

You know the answer: hedge my bets.

Time passed. I came to enjoy practice. I came to enjoy my interactions with colleagues, opponents, judicial officers, experts and other professionals I came into contact with. I even came to enjoy - gasp! - the clients.

That enjoyment led me to strive for improvement and to share my enthusiasm about the law with others.

I started to make the time to talk to others about the elements of law I found interesting.

Some talks were internal with my colleagues, some external. Some were paid, some were unpaid. Some were electronic, some were in person. Some were directed at lawyers, some at clients. Some were well-attended, and some were definitely not!

All were enjoyable, in some way or another.

Coffee and a Case Note

In September 2018 I went to Gumption Cafe in Sydney's Strand Arcade with Edgardo Sanchez. I ordered two coffees (one for Ed, of course!), plugged a lapel microphone into my iPhone, and - while sipping a piccolo latte - discussed the law of corporate oppression and the decision of Dr Leo Shanahan v Jatese Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 1088.

(That first post is here if you're interested: www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6447226560599728128 )

It was good fun.

Since then, I've recorded more videos, Ed's been replaced by a tripod, I've tried and failed to learn how Snapchat works, and I've chewed through stacks of microphones trying to get the audio right.

Many, many kind people have said nice things. Some of those people have been Very Important People. There was an article in the February 2019 Law Society Journal about me. Oh, and I've even been asked to join in a selfie!

So, #coffeeandacasenote's been good. Good fun. Good for a laugh. Not that serious.

I've hedged my bets.

The end of bet-hedging

Remember: I'm trying to build a legal practice. It's not easy.

I'm going to try to do the following:

1. To "jab, jab, jab, then right hook", or "give value, give value, give value, then ask without expectation". Ask for what? Who knows. My most recent right hook has been to invite the accountants of Sydney to have coffee with me. (It's an open invitation, accountants! Let me know!); and
2. "Take it seriously" and stop hedging my bets.

So what does that all mean? How does it relate to building a practice?

Well, I'll be treating my jabs more seriously, making content with the people consuming it front of my mind, trying to get the sound and look of my videos to a place that gives the most value. (I'll do this until everyone gets bored of video in 18 months and we all have a Google Alexa implanted in our brains. When that happens, I'll try to figure out how to use that to jab too!)

And I'll also work on my right hooks; my "asks".

So, here's my ask: if there's any value I can bring to you, or if you're keen for a chat (hopefully over a coffee!) please reach out.

I'm trying to build a legal practice.

Seriously, and without a hedged bet for miles.