News Post

Starting your legal career can feel overwhelming, but with the right mindset and approach, you can set yourself up for success. In this article, Ryan J. Duplechin, President of the Alabama State Bar’s Young Lawyers Section, shares ten practical tips to help new attorneys navigate the profession, build strong connections, and thrive in their early years of practice.

By: Ryan J. Duplechin 

1. Get Involved

The Alabama State Bar’s Young Lawyers Section (“YLS”) is an excellent starting point. Membership is open to Alabama lawyers under thirty-seven years old, or those practicing for three years or less. We host several events throughout the year, including the Minority Pre-Law Conference and our Orange Beach CLE. YLS has more than 800 members and thirty Executive Committee members that meet throughout the year.

You can also get involved in local bar associations. Many have their own Young Lawyers Sections, including Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Mobile, and others.

It’s natural to feel hesitant about attending events where you don’t know anyone, but those strangers will soon become friends. We hope to see you at one of our YLS events this year!

2. Keep Learning

We are all still learning. Don’t get down on yourself if you don’t know everything right away. None of us did. There’s a reason top lawyers have been refining their craft for decades. Even when you start to think you have figured it out, challenge yourself to level up and stay curious.

3. See Everything as an Opportunity.

Think back to a time at work or school when your energy was low. You didn’t quite feel like it. What were you thinking about? Was it the opportunity or the obligation?

As a young lawyer, you will get assignments that you may think are insignificant. You will get some projects that no one else wants to do. It’s your choice how you see those. In this profession, strong performance leads to more opportunities and greater responsibility. Once the experienced lawyers want you – and not just any young attorney, specifically you – to work on their cases or deals, that is a great sign. Not only will this improve your work product, but you’ll also find the profession far more fulfilling when you embrace each challenge as an opportunity.

4. Overcome Fear with Gratitude, Preparation, and Staying Present

Fear is an often-overlooked topic, yet it’s a normal experience—especially for new attorneys. It’s normal, especially for new attorneys. There will be a time when you are asked to do something big. It may be the first time you are asked to lead a team discussion, take a deposition, or argue in court. Gratitude, preparation, and being in the moment can all help ease anxiety.

Fear thrives in anticipation, but peak performance happens in the present. You can’t think clearly if you’re thinking about all the things that can go wrong. Be present, stand tall, speak slowly, and listen. You got this.

5. Shift Your Perspective

We were always being judged in law school, from class rankings to competitions. A well-known trial lawyer once told us in law school that real trials are easier than mock trials. I was shocked when I first heard this, until he started explaining. He didn’t mean the work was easier—trust me, it’s not. He meant it was easier on him as a person because the focus was no longer on his hand placements or where he stood in the courtroom; it was now about something more. It can be freeing when you realize that our job is not to be in the spotlight, it’s to direct the spotlight (towards the evidence and the truth).

6. If You Work Hard, You’ll Get Lucky

When I joined Beasley Allen, I heard rumors that Greg Allen was the best at finding the smallest details in cases. I got the chance to sit in on one of Greg’s depositions as a law student. During a break, I asked Greg how he earned his reputation for finding the needle in the haystack. He said, “if you work hard, you’ll get lucky.” I’ll remember these words for the rest of my career. Good things happen to people who put in the hours. It might look like luck to some, but it was never an accident.

7. Spend Time Talking with Experienced Lawyers

Don’t be shy about reaching out to more experienced lawyers. You may assume they’re too busy, and they are busy, but they also see the value in investing in you. They’re often willing to mentor younger attorneys because they once benefited from the same guidance.

8. Do the Unexpected

You can make a lasting impression on others by going beyond what they expect in two ways. One way is to over deliver on your tasks and assignments. You can also make a lasting impression by doing things that most may see as being beneath them. Think of a head basketball coach staying late to sweep the floors—leading by example. Never have a “that’s not my job” attitude and do things the right way even when you think no one is watching.

9. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

This profession provides countless opportunities to step out of your comfort zone. Growth lives on the other side of those nerves. When your number gets called, step up. Run towards it. The more you step out of your comfort zone, the bigger it will become.

10. You Can Have an Advantage

A prominent lawyer once was asked how younger attorneys can handle the anxiety of going against older and more experienced lawyers. He described how older lawyers can also be fearful of a certain type of young lawyer. You read that correctly, fearful. He called that type of young lawyer a “multi-tasking prodigy with a laptop.” The kind of lawyer that is fact-checking everything. His advice was simple: be that prodigy.

Use technology to your advantage. Be the lawyer that navigates research better than anyone. Be the lawyer that has everything organized and available at the tip of your fingers. Be the go-to on all the details. Lawyers who embrace this mindset consistently earn new opportunities and a seat at the table.