Surprisingly, I was not chosen to speak to my law school class upon graduation. Michelle Odom was president of the Student Bar Association at UALR Law School, and she spoke about the importance of trying to be relevant in the world as we wandered off into the practice of law. At least, that’s what I remember from it. If anyone else spoke, I don’t remember a word.
I come now to offer the class of 2013 ten nuggets of wisdom from 18 years of experience. They will really be short paragraphs, but I think you’ll get the point. You’ll likely forget this as soon as you read it and never think of it again. My greatest hope is that a few of you will remember one or two of these quips of knowledge someday, and that they help you to enjoy life a little more and make the practice of law a little easier.
I don’t claim to follow every one of these advisories, only that I think they’re good ideas.
Saying yes: You get in more trouble saying yes than saying no. Sometimes, it’s hard to pass up things in life. Be selective with your time and talent, and you’ll do better in all things.
Getting caught up: You will probably find yourself with more legal work than you can do. We can always chase a higher productivity level, but most of you will never get caught up. The work will always be there. Working hard is important, but so is remembering there’s life outside of the law. If you forget, there won’t be a life outside of law for you.
Keeping your word: Your most important asset is your word. Your good reputation is reliant on your honesty and doing what you say you are going to do. You will find the value of your word is much like your law school grade point average: Once it’s bad, it’s very hard to repair.
Doing what you love: Find what you like to do and do it. We all have to live, and we all have to make money. Find what you love, and find a way to do it as soon as possible.
Making money: Most lawyers make at least twice what the average Arkansas citizen makes in a year. But most lawyers work 1.5 to two times the average work week of an Arkansas citizen. That number assumes they’re not spending their time away from the office thinking about your case. Money isn’t everything.
Being yourself: Whatever you decide to do with your law degree, be yourself. You can fake yourself to a level of success, but you cannot be truly happy if you’re not allowed to live the way you were made to live. No two people are the same - including lawyers. Be yourself and accept other lawyers that choose to do the same.
Judges are not gods: When you come into a courtroom, the judge is the boss. He makes the calls and shall be given all due respect. However, beyond them holding that honorable position, they are people just like you. You’ll be amazed at the people in your class that become judges. Treat judges like referees, and you’ll be fine: Be respectful and play to win in spite of the judge.
Taking advice: Lawyers love to give advice. Find lawyers you respect and seek out their advice. Some do not relish the sharing of knowledge, but most will love to show you how much they know, and will be willing to share. If you really want to get in good with someone, take them to a fancy lunch. I gained a great friend and mentor by doing just that.
Becoming active in the bar associations: One of the best ways to meet lawyers outside of work is through bar activities. The bar is absolutely the best place to meet lawyers outside of your area of practice. It’s also a great way to give back to the profession while you build connections that will serve you throughout your career.
Accepting what you’ve become: No matter what, some of you have been messed up by law school. From this point forward, you’ll think about nothing but the law. You’ll spend most of your waking hours worrying about cases and files. Many of you didn’t study hard in law school, but something will click as soon as you pass the bar. You can try, but you won’t be able to change. Roll with the flow; it’s too hard to fight.
Bonus advice: Study for the bar. Study like your life depends on it. Most people that study pass the bar. Imagine how bad it would be to fail the bar. No one ever forgets if you fail.
There’s nothing magic about the advice I just gave you. It’s really nothing more than a bunch of things I’ve learned either by my own actions or by seeing the mistakes of others. Consider this advice from the future. Everyone can use nuggets of knowledge from the future. That’s especially true for those of us way up in the CHEAP SEATS!
Bill James is a co-founder of the James Law Firm with offices in Little Rock, Conway and Fayetteville, Arkansas. His primary area of practice is criminal defense. He can be contacted at Bill@JamesFirm.com