The Education of a Lawyer: Essential Skills and Practical Advice for Building a Successful Career

The Education of a Lawyer is a delightful read that provides invaluable advice about the practice of law. Written for aspiring and young attorneys, the book is a font of wisdom on a range of topics: legal writing, speaking, handling clients, staying current on the law, and managing all the relationships typically encountered by lawyers.

Derived from the author’s decades of experience as a lawyer and teacher, the book is filled with stories and telling anecdotes. Some are hilarious, some are cautionary, but nearly all contain a nugget of practical insight that readers can apply to their own practice.

Specific topics include:

  • How to speak effectively to any type of group
  • Techniques to polish your writing and create more useful legal documents and correspondence
  • Manage relationships with judges, opposing counsel, your local legal community, and clients
  • How to stay current on the law
  • Improve your legal skills throughout your career

Decidedly original and consistently entertaining, The Education of a Lawyer will make readers laugh, think, and nod in recognition. And most importantly, it will help readers to become better lawyers.

Praise for The Education of a Lawyer

“Gary has distilled his decades of legal experience into a concise work that's full of sound advice and good humor. He makes a persuasive case that success in the practice of law is a deliberate accumulation of good habits, from court appearances to office supplies. His wisdom and candor on each of these topics will point you in the right direction.”
-Matthew Butterick, author of Typography for Lawyers

“Gary Muldoon has written an impressive book that will benefit both law students and practicing lawyers. He addresses the law school experience, the pursuit of employment, advocacy skills, and the need for maintaining a balanced life. The book is funny, concise, and filled with wisdom. Most importantly, Muldoon teaches that civility, respect, and adherence to ethical standards are critical to success.”
-Robert Klonoff, Jordan D. Schnitzer Professor of Law, Lewis & Clark Law School

"1143470489"
The Education of a Lawyer: Essential Skills and Practical Advice for Building a Successful Career

The Education of a Lawyer is a delightful read that provides invaluable advice about the practice of law. Written for aspiring and young attorneys, the book is a font of wisdom on a range of topics: legal writing, speaking, handling clients, staying current on the law, and managing all the relationships typically encountered by lawyers.

Derived from the author’s decades of experience as a lawyer and teacher, the book is filled with stories and telling anecdotes. Some are hilarious, some are cautionary, but nearly all contain a nugget of practical insight that readers can apply to their own practice.

Specific topics include:

  • How to speak effectively to any type of group
  • Techniques to polish your writing and create more useful legal documents and correspondence
  • Manage relationships with judges, opposing counsel, your local legal community, and clients
  • How to stay current on the law
  • Improve your legal skills throughout your career

Decidedly original and consistently entertaining, The Education of a Lawyer will make readers laugh, think, and nod in recognition. And most importantly, it will help readers to become better lawyers.

Praise for The Education of a Lawyer

“Gary has distilled his decades of legal experience into a concise work that's full of sound advice and good humor. He makes a persuasive case that success in the practice of law is a deliberate accumulation of good habits, from court appearances to office supplies. His wisdom and candor on each of these topics will point you in the right direction.”
-Matthew Butterick, author of Typography for Lawyers

“Gary Muldoon has written an impressive book that will benefit both law students and practicing lawyers. He addresses the law school experience, the pursuit of employment, advocacy skills, and the need for maintaining a balanced life. The book is funny, concise, and filled with wisdom. Most importantly, Muldoon teaches that civility, respect, and adherence to ethical standards are critical to success.”
-Robert Klonoff, Jordan D. Schnitzer Professor of Law, Lewis & Clark Law School

37.49 In Stock
The Education of a Lawyer: Essential Skills and Practical Advice for Building a Successful Career

The Education of a Lawyer: Essential Skills and Practical Advice for Building a Successful Career

by Gary Muldoon
The Education of a Lawyer: Essential Skills and Practical Advice for Building a Successful Career

The Education of a Lawyer: Essential Skills and Practical Advice for Building a Successful Career

by Gary Muldoon

eBook

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Overview

The Education of a Lawyer is a delightful read that provides invaluable advice about the practice of law. Written for aspiring and young attorneys, the book is a font of wisdom on a range of topics: legal writing, speaking, handling clients, staying current on the law, and managing all the relationships typically encountered by lawyers.

Derived from the author’s decades of experience as a lawyer and teacher, the book is filled with stories and telling anecdotes. Some are hilarious, some are cautionary, but nearly all contain a nugget of practical insight that readers can apply to their own practice.

Specific topics include:

  • How to speak effectively to any type of group
  • Techniques to polish your writing and create more useful legal documents and correspondence
  • Manage relationships with judges, opposing counsel, your local legal community, and clients
  • How to stay current on the law
  • Improve your legal skills throughout your career

Decidedly original and consistently entertaining, The Education of a Lawyer will make readers laugh, think, and nod in recognition. And most importantly, it will help readers to become better lawyers.

Praise for The Education of a Lawyer

“Gary has distilled his decades of legal experience into a concise work that's full of sound advice and good humor. He makes a persuasive case that success in the practice of law is a deliberate accumulation of good habits, from court appearances to office supplies. His wisdom and candor on each of these topics will point you in the right direction.”
-Matthew Butterick, author of Typography for Lawyers

“Gary Muldoon has written an impressive book that will benefit both law students and practicing lawyers. He addresses the law school experience, the pursuit of employment, advocacy skills, and the need for maintaining a balanced life. The book is funny, concise, and filled with wisdom. Most importantly, Muldoon teaches that civility, respect, and adherence to ethical standards are critical to success.”
-Robert Klonoff, Jordan D. Schnitzer Professor of Law, Lewis & Clark Law School


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781627227544
Publisher: American Bar Association
Publication date: 06/13/2023
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 214
File size: 663 KB

About the Author

Gary Muldoon is an adjunct professor at University of Buffalo Law School, and a partner in Muldoon, Getz & Reston in Rochester, NY. He is the author of several books on law. He resides in Rochester, New York.

Table of Contents

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction: Climbing Mount Ampersand xvii

Chapter 1 In Law School and Before 1

Someone to Watch Over Me 1

First Semester 3

Letter to a First-Year Law Student 4

School Rankings 6

Types of Law Schools 7

The Two-Year Push 9

The Well-Read Law Student 12

How to Talk Like a Lawyer 15

Demonic Devices 18

Law School Bingo 20

Theory and Practice 21

Chapter 2 In Search of a Job 25

Resume the Resume 25

What's in a Name? 29

Don't Think, Do 31

Hard Deadlines and Job Criteria 32

"Small World" Stories 33

Dressing for Success 34

The Job Interview 36

Beyond Email 38

The Luncheon Meeting from Hades 40

The Rejection Notice 43

What and Who You Know 44

While Waiting for the Bar Results 45

Now That You're Admitted to Practice 47

To Solo or Not 49

Chapter 3 In Practice 53

Be on Time 53

Advice to the New Attorney 54

It Can Be a Hardscrabble Life 56

Handling Criticism 58

Procrastination 60

Purge Day 65

Yes, Lawyers Do Laugh 66

No Water Bottles, Please 67

Two Cheers for Continuing Legal Education 68

Becoming the Go-To Person 70

Gossamer Wings 71

Be Positive 72

Turn Off Your Goddamned Cell Phone 74

Small Law Office Hiring 76

Minders Finders Binders Grinders 77

Practicing Law on the Cheap 79

The CYA Letter 83

Reinventing the Wheel 84

Along with the Internet, Interact 85

Dealing with Jerks 86

Grace Under Pressure 87

Chapter 4 Areas of Practice 89

Appellate Practice 89

Family Law 91

Assigned Counsel 95

Being a Defense Attorney 97

The Soloist 99

Thoughts of a Public Offender 101

Chapter 5 In Court 105

Being a Trial Lawyer 105

"The Big Bang Theory" of Courtroom Oratory 107

Respect the Judge 112

After the Trial 113

Better Angels on the High Road 114

What's a Meta For? 115

Chapter 6 Writing and Speaking 117

It All Started with William the Conqueror 117

I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar 120

Public Speaking 122

One Size Fits All? 127

Proofreading and Editing 129

The Fontz 132

Legal Writing and the Ugly Tie Contest 135

A Good Writer 137

The Lawyer as Writer 139

More About Writing 140

The One-Pager 141

Chapter 7 Relationships 143

Initiations 143

Sandbox 144

Snake Pit 146

Tact 147

Bridges, Not Barriers 148

The Stories We Tell 149

Smirch or Be Smirched? 152

Networking 153

Sharp-Elbowed Practitioners 154

Living by the Sword 155

When to Fire a Client 157

Responding to Grievances 158

Shot Across the Bow 162

Client Control 163

The GFY Retainer 165

Chapter 8 Improving as a Lawyer 167

Keeping Up on the Law 167

The Burns Book 168

Save Saturday for Education 170

Perseverance and Inspiration 172

Make a List, Check It Twice 174

Mind Your Manners 178

Learn from the Master, Learn from the Apprentice 179

Changing Jobs 181

Flateau 182

Chapter 9 In Life 185

Fit to Be Tried 185

Outside Interests 186

More Things to Read 188

Something About My Father 190

Pass It On 193

References 195

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