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In focus: Lawyer
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In Focus is an occasional, ongoing series that outlines a particular career via a Q&A-style interview with someone who has been in the industry for at least 10 years.
Name: Wendell C. Taylor
Title: Partner, Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee, Hiring Committee Member
Organization: Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
Industry: Law
Number of Years in industry: 14
Heather Huhman: Please describe a "day in the life" for an entry-level lawyer.
Wendell Taylor: In the WilmerHale corporate practice, the days are truly varied. You never know what client will call, what problems will arise or what solutions you'll need to provide. Generally, you can count on doing three things:
1. Listening and learning. Most days involve talking with clients on the phone or in meetings so that you gain an understanding of the client's goals and needs.
2. Reading and analyzing. You will frequently be performing a background investigation of the client's business.
3. Drafting and delivering. You'll then be putting your analysis into words in a condensed yet precise manner so that you capture in your documents not just the words but the spirit of your client's needs.
HH: What skills/knowledge are expected of entry-level lawyers? Also, what type of degree is required?
WT: Large law firms generally require a J.D. from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited U.S. law school along with the requisite state bar admittance.
HH: What can an entry-level job candidate do, say, prove, etc. during an interview to impress you enough to move to the next stage of the hiring process?
WT: Prepare, prepare, prepare. Thoroughly research the strengths and areas of focus of the law firm so that you can hold a real conversation with your interviewer. Also, be honest about your strengths and weaknesses, and connect your strengths to the needs of the firm based on your research. Firms are not just hiring great legal technicians, but also lawyers who can engage and communicate well so as to gain the trust and respect of clients. You want to be seen as the person that clients would want to call with their most important and sensitive needs. I also want to feel that you're someone I'd want to be working with at 10 p.m.
HH: What might an entry-level lawyer expect in terms of salary range?
WT: The top-tier of law firms start first year associates at $160,000 annually.
HH: What advice do you have for students or recent graduates looking to "break into" the industry?
WT: First, do your best in law school as the competition is fierce—give yourself the chance to have a seat in the interview chair. In this industry, we are selling our intellectual abilities and ourselves.
Second, recognize that when we hire a lawyer, we hire more than just grades, we hire the whole person. Therefore, you need to demonstrate your activities through your leadership skills.
Third, work on your interviewing and networking skills by getting out and meeting people. By networking, you will gain insights into the practice, and it will pay dividends later on.
Fourth, you need to be flexible. Be open to trying different areas of practice and in different cities. My advice is, take it, try it and see what happens.
Lastly, remember that the best lawyers listen the most and talk the least. Lawyers with excellent listening skills understand each client's individual needs and thus can provide the best and most tailored advice.
HH: Do you have any personal anecdotes, without mentioning people's names, of the best and worst entry-level practitioners you've come in contact with over the years?
WT: The worst of the entry-level lawyers I've seen over the years are those who, despite great credentials, did not succeed. These lawyers on paper were extremely smart and accomplished, but believed that, since they went to the right schools and received the best grades, their job was done. What the great academics did was get them a spot. Once you've got that spot, you now need to work hard, take responsibility and gain the substantive knowledge, which will result in real success.
As for the best of the entry-level lawyers I've seen, these lawyers didn't just take an assignment and deliver what was asked. They began by asking questions so they could understand why they were doing the assignment. They then came back with ideas as to how to make it better and also anticipated the next questions.
HH: Please describe the current job market for entry-level lawyers.
WT: Despite the economy, large law firms who are weathering the times will continue to hire new attorneys. Some firms with very large classes might reduce their numbers, but overall, new lawyers are important to future growth. Firms understand these cycles and know that, in the long-term, they do not want to be caught short when the economy comes back.
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