Hello again.  In order to spark some discussions on the listserv, I plan to post a topic of the week each Monday.  For our first week, I wanted a topic to help get to know others in the group.  So, please share with the group how long you have been practicing in the public sector; what you found to be the biggest challenge when starting your public service career; and how you responded to that challenge.

I have been working for my city for 6 1/2 years. When I started, my biggest challenge was gaining the trust and respect of my assigned client department.  The majority of employees in my client department had worked for the city for a decade or more.  As a young newcomer, the initial impression for many people was that I was too young and inexperienced to offer much assistance.  Here are a few tips on what worked and didn't work for me:

1. Don't try too hard.  My first reaction was to try to impress clients with all my vast knowledge from law school and a couple years of private practice.  Big mistake!  I quickly learned that I was better off sitting back and listening (see Tip #2).

2. Listen and learn!  In order to be a part of the team, you need to understand your client's goals and objectives.  Take the time to meet with key employees and listen to their needs and expectations.  Always remember that you can learn from other lawyers in your office as well as employees in other departments.  Take advantage of that knowledge and experience.

3. Be available.  Sometimes you get overwhelmed with projects and are tempted to hole up in your office.  Resist that urge.  Even if it means that you have to stay a little late, its important to show your clients that you are available for them - whether that means taking calls/promptly returning calls or allowing clients to stop by your office unannounced.  Build your relationships early and they will pay off for the rest of your career.

4. Recognize your role.  Early in my career, I would get upset or feel slighted if a client department ignored my advice.  It took me some over a year to learn that my role is to provide the advice and guidance to the client.  My role is not to make business decisions for the city.  Your clients won't always follow your advice and you can't take it personally.

I hope some of these tips are helpful to you. I'd be interested in hearing what worked or didn't work for others in the group.

Please take the time to share your biggest challenge and solutions.  Also, if you have any ideas for future topics, please let me know.

Thanks,
Carie

I have been in the public sector since I graduated law school. First as
a juvenile public defender, than a City Prosecutor, and now a Asst. City
Solicitor.

The biggest problem I had when starting as a public atty was the lack of
resources. There were not enough mentors to work out complicated issues.
What I found worked best for me was to ask several attys different parts
of the problem. Most of the attys didn't have enough time to sit for an
hour to work over a case, but by asking several attys questions about
different parts of the case I would work out my own solution based on
their answers.

From: younglawyers-bounces@lists.imla.org
[mailto:younglawyers-bounces@lists.imla.org] On Behalf Of Carie Torrence
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 6:07 PM
To: younglawyers@lists.imla.org
Subject: [Younglawyers] March 23 - Topic of the Week

Hello again.  In order to spark some discussions on the listserv, I plan
to post a topic of the week each Monday.  For our first week, I wanted a
topic to help get to know others in the group.  So, please share with
the group how long you have been practicing in the public sector; what
you found to be the biggest challenge when starting your public service
career; and how you responded to that challenge.

I have been working for my city for 6 1/2 years. When I started, my
biggest challenge was gaining the trust and respect of my assigned
client department.  The majority of employees in my client department
had worked for the city for a decade or more.  As a young newcomer, the
initial impression for many people was that I was too young and
inexperienced to offer much assistance.  Here are a few tips on what
worked and didn't work for me:

1. Don't try too hard.  My first reaction was to try to impress clients
   with all my vast knowledge from law school and a couple years of private
   practice.  Big mistake!  I quickly learned that I was better off sitting
   back and listening (see Tip #2).

2. Listen and learn!  In order to be a part of the team, you need to
   understand your client's goals and objectives.  Take the time to meet
   with key employees and listen to their needs and expectations.  Always
   remember that you can learn from other lawyers in your office as well as
   employees in other departments.  Take advantage of that knowledge and
   experience.

3. Be available.  Sometimes you get overwhelmed with projects and are
   tempted to hole up in your office.  Resist that urge.  Even if it means
   that you have to stay a little late, its important to show your clients
   that you are available for them - whether that means taking
   calls/promptly returning calls or allowing clients to stop by your
   office unannounced.  Build your relationships early and they will pay
   off for the rest of your career.

4. Recognize your role.  Early in my career, I would get upset or feel
   slighted if a client department ignored my advice.  It took me some over
   a year to learn that my role is to provide the advice and guidance to
   the client.  My role is not to make business decisions for the city.
   Your clients won't always follow your advice and you can't take it
   personally.

I hope some of these tips are helpful to you. I'd be interested in
hearing what worked or didn't work for others in the group.

Please take the time to share your biggest challenge and solutions.
Also, if you have any ideas for future topics, please let me know.

Thanks,

Carie