Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Tips for a Positive Law Practice
“Don’t worry, be happy.” Perhaps you remember the popular 1988 song that encapsulated a worldview. If it were only that easy, though, especially with the practice of law. It’s true that a person with a positive outlook tends to be happier and have more friends. We all want to be that person who is the life of the party, or at least be friends with them. But how can we, with the daily stresses faced with our law practices and client expectations, build or maintain a positive viewpoint on our law practice? Here are a few thoughts.
It’s important to keep your faults in perspective, recognizing them not as insurmountable flaws but as opportunities for growth. Everyone has imperfections, and acknowledging them with humility can pave the way for self-improvement. Similarly, we will make mistakes when practicing law. The good news is that there is often more than one way to accomplish a legal objective, and that mistakes are not always fatal to a case.
For example, sometimes a missed deadline may mean a call to your malpractice insurance carrier, especially if it adversely impacted your client’s case. However, other times, a missed discovery deadline can be cured with an email to opposing counsel, asking for an extension of time. In all cases, transparency with the client is paramount. However, after resolving the issue, why don’t we take some time to review the process in place to calendar matters, or to better organize our caseloads? Remember, the only real failure is not learning from our mistakes.
Also, spending time comparing ourselves to other practitioners is counterproductive. Have you ever felt yourself thinking that someone you knew got into a bigger or “better” law firm? Or that you should be further ahead financially by now? While getting paid to provide legal services is certainly important, oftentimes, we remember the cases where we actually helped someone or impacted their lives more than the dollars we earned. Think of the pro bono case where you reunited a family or the time you helped a small business owner navigate a legal maze to save their livelihood. The relationships that we form with our clients, co-counsel, and opposing counsel last far longer than the cases themselves.
Finally, is it possible to be a peacemaker in what we do? True, many attorneys deal with a certain amount of conflict. But this is an opportunity for you to show that you can reach a solution, which is ultimately the goal for our clients. For instance, if you’re working on a contentious divorce case, facilitating an amicable custody agreement can save both parties years of heartache and ultimately benefit their children. Or, if you’re mediating a business dispute, helping both sides recognize shared interests can foster long-term partnerships rather than burned bridges. While we can’t control what other attorneys may say or do, we have control of our response, which is why it is always a better reason to wait 24 hours before sending off that email to a disgruntled client or upset counsel.
Finding things to be grateful about helps to maintain a positive attitude. We all have a measure of health, our families, and some success we can be proud of. Perhaps it’s the thank-you note from a client, the mentor who helped shape your career, or even just the satisfaction of mastering a complex legal issue. When everything seems to be going wrong, we need to find something we can be thankful for.
The bigger picture is important. We may all struggle at times with trying to find happiness with our work. But by remembering some basic tips and embracing moments of growth, we can maintain a positive viewpoint in our practice of law.