How to Deal with a Difficult Boss

Lisa C. Coppolo — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:35:53 GMT

You say that you have never had a difficult boss? Consider yourself lucky. At one time or another throughout our careers, most of us will have to deal with what we consider to be a “bad” boss. In fact, there are thousands of articles on this topic, not to mention books, seminars, etc., indicating how important and frequent this problem can be.

Several years ago, I learned a valuable lesson about what I feel is the right place to be in any organization. I was a mere 18 years old, hundreds of miles and worlds away from life as I knew it. In other words, I was at basic military training (aka “boot camp”). I was surrounded by strangers, and I was scared to death of my terrifying training instructors.

One day during mail call,

The Lunch Quandary: Do I Stay or Do I Go?

Lisa C. Coppolo — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:49:40 GMT

You’ve only been an associate at your office for a few months. You’re overwhelmed with getting up to speed and the workload. Several days a week, your coworkers go out to lunch, but you generally choose to eat at your desk while working in order to make a dent in that never-ending “To-do” list. Is this a good idea? Or should you take a break and join your office mates for a well-deserved break?

Balancing Work and Family

Lisa C. Coppolo — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:42:44 GMT

You have to be in court this morning, but the school just called to say that your child is sick and needs to go home. What do you do?

Balancing work and a family is not a unique problem to those practicing law. With so many dual career families and single parent households, the majority of our workforce faces these pr

Making Your Work Hours Fit Your Lifestyle

Lisa C. Coppolo — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:01:45 GMT

You like to rise with the roosters rather than burn the midnight oil. Is this acceptable? What if everyone else works late? Will this affect your career?

Not everyone lives – or works – on the same schedule. Gone are the days of 9-to-5 jobs in virtually every career field. Businesses have gone internationa

Job #1 for Every Beginning Associate

Lisa C. Coppolo — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:47:16 GMT

In an article on The Complete Lawyer, attorney development coach Julie Fleming-Brown advises that new attorneys marry legal expertise with client service skills to enjoy a successful career. According to Ms. Fleming-Brown, while excellence in client service and rainmaking requires a range of skills and attitudes, three skills underlie all of the others. Jump to the article to find out what

Bridging the Generational Divide

Lisa C. Coppolo — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:30:37 GMT

Cultural translator and generational expert Lynne C. Lancaster has written an interesting article on generation gaps in law firms and how firms can actively manage expectations in ways that can bridge those gaps. After anecdotally identifying some of the defining issues, Ms. Lancaster suggests consistent communication as the best method of addressing the problems. Jump to the article.

Is There a Silver Lining to Delayed Start Dates?

Lisa C. Coppolo — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:06:13 GMT

By now you’ve probably heard about the delayed start dates at some of the biggest U.S. firms. Could it be a harbinger of better days ahead? According to an article on Above the Law, short term pain could mean long term gain for associates. Following the dot-com fiasco, the number of associates employ

Tips to Take Back to Law School

Jess Carter — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:38:44 GMT

How much have you learned during the summer? You likely developed techniques for:

Drafting specific kinds of documents
Working with a variety of attorneys, adapting

Mentor Relationship. . . All Important

Lisa C. Coppolo — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:56:04 GMT

The concept of the Mentor has been around for a long time. (An upscale magazine by that title was published in the United States a century ago.) Just what is a mentor, as that term has come to be understood, and what part can a mentor relationship play in career development?

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