Who Do I Need to Know and How Do I Meet Them?
I. Rule 1.01 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct
A lawyer should not accept employment in a matter beyond his/her competence.
Unless: 1.01(a)(1) a competent lawyer is associated with client’s prior informed consent
“Competence” defined as having the ability to timely acquire the necessary knowledge, skill & training.
Need to know: lawyers
- That you can call on to give you advice and guidance to expeditiously acquire such additional knowledge, skills and training as you may need.
- That you can associate in your client matter with the client’s consent if the matter is too complex to handle on your own.
How do you meet them?
- Houston Young Lawyers Association meetings
- State and local bar association section meetings.
- Solos Supporting Solos.
- Call your old professors, especially if you are practicing in the same town. They can answer questions and refer you to other lawyers. They may even be able to help you find employment down the road if you stay in touch. Established lawyers often contact their old professors when they are looking to hire a young lawyer.
- Lawyers in firms where your friends are working. Even someone just 2 or 3 years ahead of you can be helpful.
- Take on bar association duties or section duties.
Start attending meetings before you have questions, so that you will already have the relationships established before you have the questions. Most of the organizations have student memberships, but very few students take advantage of them. You will stand out as dedicated, plucky, and savvy.
Find ways that you can benefit the lawyers you would like to benefit from. When you do them a favor first, they will want to find a way to benefit you.
- Perhaps offer to 2d chair a trial with them for free, or at a very cheap rate.
- Handle some of their “dog” cases for them.
- Find out what needs or interests they have and try to help get them met.
- Baby-sit their kids in […]