What is a Legal “Practice"?”
Written by Ben Esplin
In a manner of speaking, the legal profession is one of the last guilds of the present day. Practicing law as a profession harkens to an ancient tradition, and is present, in some form, in human societies throughout recorded. It is typically regarded as at least a potentially honorable way to earn a comfortable living, and for that reason many intelligent young people consider a career as a lawyer.
Once, at a Big Law firm retreat, I listened to a partner go on and on about how successful attorneys will spend time investing in their “Practice,” and how that kind of initiative was common in previous eras but lacking at present. After he had prattled on, effectively berating his audience for their lack of proactivity with respect to their Practices, he was asked what a lawyer’s “Practice” consisted of. To everyone’s surprise, including his own, he did not have a ready answer. This left young attorneys like me to wonder how to satisfy this undefined, alleged requirement of ultimate success within their chosen field.
I define an attorney’s Practice as (i) her skills, and (ii) her network. The types of matters in which she is capable of providing excellent legal representation, and the people who trust her to represent them in those types of matters, to me, encompass her Practice. I have been practicing law for some time now and I have found investment in these areas is key to success – that partner was not mistaken, just imprecise.
To build a Practice requires a plan. Some of the steps will be readily apparent, such as: go to law school, for example, which provides necessary development of the skills required for a legal Practice. Being able to identify and execute on less obvious experiences to enhance your Practice will help to secure ultimate success. Mentors may be a tremendous source of ideas and opportunities to invest in one’s Practice. Of course, execution will always come down to personal motivation and prioritization. At the end of the day, the practice of law is work.
I remain grateful to all those attorneys who spent time helping me early in my career, and I try to provide the same for others whenever possible. Feel free to contact me if I can be helpful.
