Washington Lawyer - September/October 2024 - 37

NEWLY MINTED
Transitioning From
Theory to Practice
By Andrea N. Rivers
N
avigating the transition from
law school to a full-time law
firm job can be both exciting
and challenging for a young
attorney.
Law school prepares students by sharpening
their critical thinking skills and theoretical focus.
The early years of practice shift the focus
to practical learning, time management, and
business development. Going from law student
to law firm associate demands not only a robust
understanding of the law and critical
thinking, but also the ability to apply the law
practically and efficiently under real-world
conditions.
But the preparation for legal practice can begin
even before law school. In my case, I sought
out legal internships and preparatory programs
in high school and college. Shortly after my college
graduation, I left a part-time receptionist
position to become a full-time administrative
assistant in the D.C. office of a global law firm.
After taking a year off, I enrolled in law school
part time so I could continue working full time.
I stayed in that role until my third year of law
school, when I quit to complete a summer associate
position. During my fourth (and final)
year of law school, I secured various part-time
legal roles within the federal government.
While I cannot speak for everyone in my situation,
here are some of my insights as a firstgeneration
lawyer into the practical skills new
associates need to transition to Big Law.
RESEARCH AND WRITING
From memorandums to dense appellate briefs,
legal writing is often the most daunting class
for many first-year law students. In Big Law,
most associates are encouraged to submit written
work products in concise emails. For example,
during my first year of practice, a partner
requested case law research to develop legal
theories in an arbitration matter. In response,
I sent an eight-page Word document, explaining
how the relevant jurisdiction handled each
hypothetical scenario the partner laid out. He
responded, " Thanks, but a few bullets would
have been sufficient. " I then turned the memo
into an email with a brief answer and two subbullets
of case examples for each scenario.
Overall, the important point to remember is
that any written submission should be clear,
provide a direct answer to the question or legal
issue, and demonstrate an understanding of
one's audience.
CLIENT INTERACTION
In law school, some students will have the benefit
of experience from serving in a legal clinic,
doing pro bono work, or getting an internship
or externship to gain exposure to client management.
These client interactions instill the
importance of zealous advocacy. The reality for
Big Law associates, however, is that direct client
interactions are likely limited during the first
couple years of practice. Instead, junior associates
will likely primarily manage partners' relationships
with clients. How, then, can they gain
experience? By forming relationships with partners
and senior associates, getting involved
with client pitches, understanding the firm's clients
and their markets, and learning about the
teams responsible for the firm's other business
functions such as diversity, marketing, and
business and client development.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Most law students are busy juggling multiple
things, but law schools do not teach them how
to notate every task within a day in six-minute
increments. The reality is that in private practice,
associates will constantly have to input
their time into timekeeping software, and do
so accurately and efficiently. Students should
utilize the last year of law school to sharpen
their time-management skills (and become
comfortable with legal technology) so that
they are ahead of the curve!
MENTORSHIPS AND NETWORKING
Joining a national or global law firm of more
than 100 associates means constantly charging
one's " social battery. " Law firm associates form
relationships with other members of their summer
associate or incoming associate class, work
on multiple client matters with different team
members, and likely participate in various social
events hosted by the firm. While in law school
it is easier to put one's head down to make the
top grades, building relationships is encouraged
in private practice. It is understandable
that most junior associates are not ready to
host the first happy hour, but everyone should
be finding at least one mentor for support and
advocacy inside and/or outside the law firm.
Law students can start testing their social battery
a bit earlier by getting involved with associations
like the D.C. Bar and its practice-specific
Communities, which are also good sources
for mentors.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Although each Big Law associate's experience
is unique, I encourage all law students and
young attorneys to embrace the realities of
legal practice while also staying true to their
principles. The most important factors in easing
the transition into private practice are
adaptability, continuous learning, and resilience.
Andrea
N. Rivers is a third-year associate in the
Washington, D.C., office of Baker McKenzie where
she practices antitrust law. She is also cofounder of
Black JD, a nonprofit organization dedicated to
empowering pre-law students of color to gain law
school admission, and a leadership member of the
D.C. Bar Early Career Lawyers Community.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024 * WASHINGTON LAWYER 37
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Washington Lawyer - September/October 2024
