When do I receive my wake-up call? I’m sitting in my office. My student loan summary is on my desk showing over $150,000 in student loans, my Rutgers Law degree is plastered on my wall, and several publications are displayed on my laptop screen talking about the latest legal news in my area of practice. I must put all of this aside and focus on what seems to actually matter in this industry; networking and knowing how to handle people.
As a self-employed lawyer, it isn’t about what law school you went to or what your GPA was… It’s about who you know and how you present yourself. I have met some of New York City’s brightest attorneys who have struggled because of the inadequacies of their public relations department. At the same time, I met very successful attorneys who knew nothing about the law. Their success stems from their extensive public exposure.
This past year as a newly hired lawyer, I asked myself one thing: why does not law school prepare us better for the business side of having a law practice. I have experienced the bad side of this industry – harassment from attorneys and clients, threats, and business partners of thieves. This is definitely not a complaint. I’m still lucky to know that I have a solid foundation in legal knowledge because of my education, and a constituent of contented clients who remain friends with me long after their legal issues are resolved.
Some of the guidance I have for current law school students and up to date law school graduates is as follows:
- Learn how to run a business. Always have partnership and retainer agreements ready.
- Always run to opportunities to make new contacts. Attend as many legitimate social events as possible. You never know where your next client will end up. The more people you contact, the more chances you have of getting referrals.
- Remember tomorrow is all the time a new day. Maybe you lost a client today otherwise you have a financial loss. No need to stress. Learn from your mistakes, never forget your mistakes, and move on. I’ve lost count of how many mistakes I produced from a business standpoint in the last year, but I have not forgotten the lessons I’ve learned.
- Be professional at all times. Lawyers forget how prestigious our industry really is. Be proud when you come to work every day. As a lawyer, you’re a problem solver, closer, and defender of individuals’s rights. Always work on your craft and take every opportunity you get to build a reputation for yourself and your practice.
My advice is easy if you want to succeed in New York City as an entrepreneurial lawyer; stay energized, stay informed, and stay hungry. This industry has its ups and downs. The only way to have makeup to survive is to learn to love the great and the bad.
About the Author:
Kamilla Mishiyeva is an lawyer admitted to the New York State Bar specializing in real estate and bankruptcy law. He is headquartered in lower Manhattan, and is the founder Mishiyeva Law, PLLC. Kamilla holds a JD degree from Rutgers Law School- Camden,
