Client, Resume

Addressing Common Problems in Your Resume: Gaps, Age, Job Hopping, Stagnation, Switch in Practice Areas

  • On August 23, 2020
LinkedIn’s GetHired column recently discussed how to overcome stumbling blocks in resumes, like gaps between jobs, job hopping, perceived stagnation, ageism, and desire to change practice areas. Below are techniques I’ve seen successful in the legal world. Gaps. Employers can be understanding about gaps if they know the reason. You may want to add a line in the resume […]
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Career Management, Career Tips, Client

5 Steps to Get Clients to Come to You!

  • On August 20, 2017
Lawyers are in the service industry. Whether you are at a firm or in-house, you need to build your client base and have them come to you with their problems. How do you get loyal clients? I recently attended a career panel by NAPABA and gleaned these 5 tips from leading attorneys: Develop your craft. […]
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Career Management, Client

5 Ways to Grow with Business and Technology!

  • On July 23, 2017
If you missed the panel I moderated, IP Career Management: Growing with Business & Technology, below are 5 key points made by panelists Mark Brazeal (CLO Broadcom), Mallun Yen (RPX Board member), Judge Lucy Koh, and Bijal Vakil (partner, White & Case). Path to success zig zags. All the panelists started in completely different areas and […]
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Client, Networking

Why Small Talk is Important & 4 Easy Ways to Do It!

  • On June 4, 2017
The words “small talk” and “networking” often strike fear in the hearts of lawyers, who are used to diving straight into substance. But lawyers first need to build trust and be approachable before they can advise clients effectively, so think of small talk and networking as the gateway to real discussions. Below are some tips […]
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Career Management, Client, Interview, Job Search

4 Tips from Uber GC Sally Yoo

  • On March 19, 2017
I’ve heard time and again how lawyers can help their career by researching and emulating successful lawyers without a formal mentorship. In that vein, I encourage you to listen to the podcast interview of Sally Yoo, GC of Uber, as she shares her insights on how she got to where she is. Here are 4 […]
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Career Management, Client, Inhouse

Top 5 Client Management Skills

  • On January 16, 2017
I speak to many senior partners and in-house executives, who successfully manage their clients. They consistently: Research clients, both current and prospective. Even before their first meeting, lawyers have researched their clients’ goals, business, and hot buttons so they are ready to give tailored advice. Build relationships with clients. It takes time for lawyers to […]
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Career Management, Client, Inhouse

3 Ways to Accelerate Your Career!

  • On December 11, 2016
I recently spoke to two in-house lawyers who have successfully accelerated their careers. Their top 3 tips: Befriend your clients. Clients will then approach you early and often. From these conversations, you can get the big picture about the business goals, product roadmaps, risk tolerance, etc. than if you kept partners at arms’ length (even if you […]
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Client, Presentation

5 Ways to Quantify Executive Presence

  • On June 19, 2016
Clients and employers will likely review your profile on paper before deciding whether to meet with you. How can you show you have that vaunted executive presence? Here are 5 things I look for when I review profiles: Speaking engagements. Have you presented to key professional groups on substantive matters? Or at a minimum run […]
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Client, GC, Presentation

How to Advise GCs

  • On July 12, 2015
At a recent forum, four general counsels (from Varian, AOptix, NVIDIA, and AdRoll) talked how about how they want to be counseled by firm lawyers. The advice below clearly applies to in-house lawyers as well when communicating with their own top lawyer or business team: Make your advice practical. Brian Cabrera of NVIDIA noted he can Google black letter […]
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