CBA Record March-April 2023

YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION: ADVICE FOR YOUNG LAWYERS

It's the Good Advice That You Just Didn't Take By Daniel Berkowitz

CBA YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION Chair Daniel Berkowitz Aronberg Goldgehn First Vice-Chair Martin Gould Romanucci & Blandin, LLC Second Vice-Chair Kenneth Matuszewski Goldberg Segalla LLP Member Service Manager Gavin Phelps Phelps LLC Public Service Manager Margaret Mendenhall Casey City of Chicago

first few years of practice. I could come up with a list of recom mendations to pass along to readers, but I doubt I have much to offer beyond the collective wisdom of so many of my respected colleagues who generously gave their time and effort to help fill these pages with a wealth of insight. Rather than stating the obvious (e.g., if you are citing a case in a motion, take the time to make sure that case is still good law), sharing my own cautionary tales (e.g., never tell a judge you do not know what is going on with a case because you are “just covering” for another lawyer), or dispens ing my go-to advice for law students (e.g., your legal writing class is the most impor tant one you will take in law school; act accordingly), I decided it would be more helpful instead to give some overarching thoughts. My advice is admittedly counterin tuitive: do not try to follow every piece of advice contained within these pages. I do not mean to besmirch any of the authors in the subsequent pages. They are all accomplished, successful lawyers whose advice you would be wise to heed. And, in fact, the specific advice offered in these pages is great advice. Rather, I am only trying to caution readers about the volume and variety of recommendations that follow. There is no single, correct way to be an attorney. Every lawyer should prac tice law in a way that makes sense for them. Everyone should carve their own path through this profession. There are rules that must be followed, of course. All lawyers must adhere to the Rules of Professional Conduct, for example, or risk sanction, disbarment, or both. At the same time, however, everyone reading this issue needs to take the advice within

T he time has come again: the CBA Record Editorial Board has gen erously given extra space in an issue of the venerable CBA Record for the Young Lawyers Section to fill with con tent aimed at serving our section. This year, we have decided to construct a col lection of articles and sidebars focused on providing advice to young lawyers (whom our section defines as including law stu dents and attorneys in the first 10 years of practice, regardless of age). In this issue, you will find advice from CBA members for young lawyers at all stages of their career. The editors of this issue gathered knowledge from a wide swath of distinguished attorneys and jurists who, over the years, have learned lessons that they wish to pass along to all our readers. Although the advice is meant for younger attorneys and law students, I have no doubt that more seasoned law yers can pick up a few good tips or be reminded of some bedrock principles to live by while practicing law. We made sure to gather advice from people at all stages of the profession, from accom plished and experienced lawyers in a wide range of practice areas to those who were new attorneys recently enough that they can helpfully guide others through the

Project Officer Brittany Kaplan K&L Gates

Project Officer Aleksandra Petrovic Damisch & Damisch, Ltd. Secretary/Treasurer Kernisha Padilla Latham & Watkins

Co-Editors in Chief YLS Journal Theodore Kontopoulos FORVIS Jacob B. Berger Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC

YLS Journal Vice Chair Nikki Marcotte Tabet DiVito Rothstein LLC

Co-Editors in Chief @theBar Blog Alexandra Morelli Barker, Castro, Kuban & Steinback, LLC Brian Bentrup Pluymert, MacDonald, Hargrove & Lee, Ltd. YLS Administrative Director Emily Anderson

26 March/April 2023