How to Be a Star Associate

Book excerpt: "Most of what makes a lawyer a star involves smart choices, hard work, and the ability to relate to people. You also need skills to succeed in a law firm that you probably did not learn in law school. You can develop those skills, and this book can help you." So says James J. McDonald, Jr., author of How to Be a Star Associate: A Guide to Excelling in Your Early Legal Career. Applying lessons learned during his forty years of law practice, and from hiring, training and mentoring dozens of lawyers, McDonald shows new lawyers and lawyers-to-be how to survive and thrive in today's larger law firms. From picking the right firm, to getting the job, to learning the craft of practicing law, to finding the right mentors, to learning how to write persuasively, to going to court, to managing the workload to stay busy without becoming overwhelmed, this book covers all of the basics of law firm associate life. It also shows lawyers how to provide five-star client service in a two-and-a-half-star world, how to hone their client development skills in the "internal marketplace" in their law firm, and how to be thinking about business development from day one. This book provides a practical guide for lawyers who hope someday to become successful partners in their law firms.