On the Job

On the Job

​​Tips for Establishing Your Own Law Firm
​​Tips for Establishing Your Own Law Firm

Lisa Jerles and Mara Geronemous, co-founders of Miami boutique law firm JG Legal, give advice on founding a law firm. Jerles and Geronemous have a cumulative 40 years of experience in litigation and corporate law. Both drew on their experience running All Before Dinner—a networking group for professional women and did the fundamental tasks incorporating their LLC, developing a website, obtaining insurance and selecting a legal research service. 

Looking for Your Dream Job? Don’t Follow Your Heart
Looking for Your Dream Job? Don’t Follow Your Heart

Mike Evers, a recruiter at Evers Legal, shares some unconventional wisdom for attorneys who are looking for happiness in the workplace. Evers describes a television commercial for a job site that shows a woman’s heart tearing itself out of her chest, marching into the supervisor’s office and resigning, then by the tagline “Follow Your Heart.”

While the Phenomenon Is Gone From the Headlines, Quiet Quitting Is Still Happening
While the Phenomenon Is Gone From the Headlines, Quiet Quitting Is Still Happening

With more than 30 years of experience in professional development, Tracy LaLonde works with law firm leaders on generating better engagement and combating burnout amongst employees. While the 2022 trend of “quiet quitting” has stopped hitting headlines, LaLonde expresses concern that the act have passive disengagement at work has not prompted change in the workplace.

‘Don’t Do as You’re Told’: 2 Legal Ops Luminaries Share How to Fix Problems Lawyers Don’t Know They Have
‘Don’t Do as You’re Told’: 2 Legal Ops Luminaries Share How to Fix Problems Lawyers Don’t Know They Have

Mary O’Carroll and Jenn McCarron, two legal operations veterans, share some insights on how to level up the legal ops at your company in 2024. Last week, both came together to hold a virtual question and answer session with tips on how to get better at the job, how to get buy-in from leadership and how to prevent problems with clients before they occur.

The Compensation Puzzle: An Added Piece Is ‘Compensation Culture’
The Compensation Puzzle: An Added Piece Is ‘Compensation Culture’

Compensation packages often consist of a base salary, a bonus, equity with a range of structures, and then a benefits package. The compensation structure can vary at a private company versus a public company. Heather Fine, a partner in the in-house counsel recruiting team at Major, Lindsey & Africa, gives insight into the topic of compensation for in-house attorneys. 

Go With the Flow: Five Key Mindsets for Work and Life
Go With the Flow: Five Key Mindsets for Work and Life

Michael P. Maslanka, associate professor of law at UNT Dallas College of Law, presents five key mindsets for a successful professional life in his new book “A Short and Happy Guide to Professional Responsibility.” In the book, he highlights five key mindsets that promote a healthy approach to riding the waves in an attorney’s professional life:

If You Want To Be a Litigator, Pro Bono Isn’t Just Your Professional Responsibility: It’s Your Ticket to Success
If You Want To Be a Litigator, Pro Bono Isn’t Just Your Professional Responsibility: It’s Your Ticket to Success

This article is for litigators who went to law school with a strong desire to represent clients in their legal disputes equipped with the expertise and experience to solve their problems. Daniel Brown, pro bono partner at Sheppard Mullin, advises that pro bono work experience helps litigators write and deliver persuasive arguments, negotiate with opposing counsel, reach favorable settlements and prevail at trial. 

The Risks Junior Lawyers Face by Switching Firms Too Soon, and the Benefits of Staying the Course
The Risks Junior Lawyers Face by Switching Firms Too Soon, and the Benefits of Staying the Course

Despite recent spikes in compensation and reduced billable hours, a recent International Bar Association survey reveals that 54% of lawyers under 40 consider leaving their jobs within five years, and 20% consider leaving the legal industry. Junior attorneys historically have reported job burnout and dissatisfaction and law firms have worked in recent years to improve work culture with more training and mentorship opportunities. But how does an attorney just starting their career react to modern challenges of working at a private practice?