Law Students

Work Goals

By Andrea

Stolen from CM. I have the luxury/curse of a fixed amount of time in this job - 18 months more, to be exact - so it seems smart to remind myself what the goals are:

• Don't let the fact that no one pushes me to stay late be a reason to cut corners or do an incomplete job. Work hard because the clients deserve it. Along the same lines, when caseload runs low, push to take on more.
• Take on as many different types of cases as possible. To name a few, I still want a habeas, a VAWA, an LPR cancellation, and a family petition while detained. I may not have this opportunity to develop such a wide portfolio again.
• Volunteer to do all the brief writing for court and appeals, because I like it more than my supervisor and it's invaluable experience.
• Find a good balance between being an often frustrated advocate and a future leader who can work respectfully and productively with government agencies and opposing lawyers. This is in some ways more important than court skills.
• Leave this job with multiple wins, multiple losses I'm proud of, a great writing sample, and friends who will be happy to talk about my work and happy to collaborate with me again.

Full post as published by Peanut Butter Burrito on February 19, 2009 (boomark / email).