What to Do When Starting at a New Law Firm: The Ultimate Guide to Success in Your First 90 Days

This guide is designed to show you exactly what to do (and what to avoid) when beginning your new position. Follow this advice, and you’ll be on a direct path to long-term success, no matter what kind of law firm you’re joining.
 

 

1. Understand the Firm’s Only Objective: Making Money

Before anything else, you must internalize this truth: You are a product hired to produce revenue.

The firm did not hire you for your personality, potential, or pedigree. They hired you because they believe you can generate value. If you understand this, your actions will align with what the firm actually wants.


To deliver on that expectation:

• Bill hours. Your time is the firm’s inventory. If you’re not billing, you’re a sunk cost.
• Do excellent work. Partners want to delegate without micromanaging. If your work is clean, thoughtful, and doesn’t come back with red ink, they’ll give you more.
• Create no problems. Firms thrive on smooth operations. Don’t complain, don’t stir the pot, and don’t make things harder for anyone.

Why this matters:
Firms are lean businesses. Your salary is not a gift—it’s a bet. If your output doesn’t justify the investment, it will become obvious. Think like a business owner, not an employee. You’re there to contribute profitably, or you won’t be there long.
 

2. Establish Your Brand Immediately

Your reputation in a law firm is usually set within the first 90 days—and it’s very difficult to change after that.

From the start, you should be:

• Detail-oriented and consistent. Turn in work that requires minimal edits. If a partner has to fix your grammar, formatting, or logic, they’ll lose confidence.
• Deadline-conscious. Always hit or beat deadlines. Never make others chase you.
• Visible and responsive. Respond quickly to emails and calls, even if it’s just to say you’re on it.
• Professional and discreet. Don’t overshare, gossip, or try to be the office comedian.

Build your internal brand like your career depends on it—because it does. Ask yourself daily: “If someone were describing me to a partner right now, what would I want them to say?” Then act accordingly.
 

3. Avoid Negative People at All Costs

At every firm, there are attorneys who underperform and cope by poisoning others. They’ll tell you which partners are “toxic,” how “no one ever makes partner,” and why “this place is worse than my last job.”

Stay away from these people.

• They’re often close to being fired or already on the outs.
• Their stories are usually self-serving, not accurate.
• Being seen with them can tarnish your own reputation.

Why this matters:
Negative people seek validation. If you absorb their mindset, you’ll start performing like them—and you'll begin justifying your own decline before you even get started. Associate with the top performers. Let their energy shape your own.
 

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See Related Articles:

• Navigating the Challenges of Transitioning to a New Law Firm
• What Lawyers and New Lawyers Earn
• Everything an Attorney Needs to Know About Surviving in a New Law Firm Job

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4. Learn the Culture—and Adapt Quickly

Firms don’t always spell out their expectations. Most of the rules are unspoken. You have to watch, listen, and absorb.

Key cultural clues to pick up:

• Hours: When do people arrive and leave? Who stays late? Are weekends normal?
• Communication style: Are emails formal or casual? Do people copy everyone or keep things tight?
• Mentorship structure: Are partners accessible? Or do senior associates run point?
• Work distribution: Is there a formal assigning partner or an unspoken pecking order?

How to use this:
Mirror the behavior of the most respected attorneys. If the top associate in your group comes in at 8 a.m. and leaves at 8 p.m., you should too. Culture is the current. Swim with it, not against it.
 

5. FaceTime Is More Important Than You Think

You might think: “It’s the work that matters, not how much I’m seen.” That’s wrong—especially early on.

You need to be:

• Seen in the office early and late. Even if you’re not working with a particular partner, your presence gets noticed.
• Available on short notice. When someone asks, “Who’s still here that can help with this?”—you want to be the answer.
• Known for commitment. Partners trust people who show up, literally and figuratively.

Remote or hybrid firm?
Even if the firm allows hybrid work, go in more than required—especially in your first year. Visibility accelerates trust. You’ll get better work, more feedback, and faster opportunities.
 

6. Develop Strategic Relationships (Carefully)

Relationships matter—but choose wisely and proceed cautiously.

You should aim to:

• Connect with high-performing senior associates. They’ve walked your path and can help you avoid landmines.
• Earn the trust of partners. Be the associate they count on when it matters.
• Build goodwill with support staff. They talk to partners more than you think—and often influence internal perceptions.

Be warm, not vulnerable:
Avoid oversharing personal struggles or frustrations. Law firms have long memories, and what you say in confidence can travel far beyond the intended audience.
 

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See Related Articles:

• Survival Tips for the First-Year Associate
• Getting Your First Legal Job: What You Need to Know
• The 10-Step, ''No-Fail'' Guide to Distinguishing Yourself as a First-Year Associate
• Top 10 Pieces of Advice for First Year Associates

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7. Always Be Reachable and Responsive

Nothing will sink your reputation faster than being known as unreliable.

To avoid that label:

• Respond quickly—even if it’s just to say you’re working on it.
• Have your phone and email accessible at all times.
• If you’re offline, let people know ahead of time.

Example:
I’ve seen associates lose partner trust because they didn’t reply to an email until the next morning—while another associate got the same work and ran with it. Responsiveness is a signal of engagement and professionalism.
 

8. Deliver More Than Expected

Don’t just do the task—add value beyond it.

• Submit clean, polished work—formatted, proofread, and properly cited.
• Think one step ahead. If you’re writing a memo, also include a summary email the partner can forward to the client.
• Make your superior’s life easier. That’s how you get more responsibility and better work.

Build a reputation as a force multiplier:
You want people saying, “Give it to her—she always does a great job,” or “He’s the only one who thinks about the bigger picture.” That kind of praise will accelerate your path inside any firm.
 

9. Stay Out of Gossip, Politics, and Drama

You will be tempted. Don’t take the bait.

Avoid:

• Talking about other attorneys behind their backs.
• Getting involved in power struggles or partner rivalries.
• Venting to support staff or treating them like therapists.

Why this matters:
Law firms are tribal and political. Siding with one group or saying the wrong thing can backfire months later—especially during performance reviews or restructuring.
 

10. Treat Everyone with Respect

How you treat support staff reflects your character—and everyone is watching.

• Say thank you. Every time.
• Don’t blame others for your mistakes.
• Be patient when asking for help.

Why it matters:
Staff members often have the ear of partners. If they say you’re rude or entitled, that sticks. If they say you’re gracious and respectful, that buys goodwill you’ll need when things get hard.
 

11. Learn What Success Looks Like—and Model It

Every firm has attorneys who are clearly winning.

You should:

• Identify them. Who gets the top assignments? Who do partners respect?
• Observe them. What are their hours? What’s their writing style? How do they communicate?
• Mirror their habits. Successful attorneys are successful for a reason.

Tip:
Don't just guess what success looks like—ask. A well-phrased question to a mentor like, “What do the strongest associates here do differently?” can yield invaluable insight.

Final Thoughts: Be the Associate No One Wants to Lose

In every law firm, there are attorneys the partners will fight to keep—and those they won’t mind losing. Which one will you be?

If you:

• Produce excellent work
• Are reliable, consistent, and invisible in drama
• Add more value than expected
• Stay aligned with the culture
• Build trust with the right people

…then you will rise. Fast.

But if you don’t take these steps seriously—if you assume your resume or potential will carry you—you may find yourself on the wrong side of a performance review, wondering what happened. I’ve seen both outcomes more times than I can count.

Choose wisely. Your first few months at a firm can change the entire trajectory of your legal career.

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About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

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About BCG Attorney Search

BCG Attorney Search matches attorneys and law firms with unparalleled expertise and drive, while achieving results. Known globally for its success in locating and placing attorneys in law firms of all sizes, BCG Attorney Search has placed thousands of attorneys in law firms in thousands of different law firms around the country. Unlike other legal placement firms, BCG Attorney Search brings massive resources of over 150 employees to its placement efforts locating positions and opportunities its competitors simply cannot. Every legal recruiter at BCG Attorney Search is a former successful attorney who attended a top law school, worked in top law firms and brought massive drive and commitment to their work. BCG Attorney Search legal recruiters take your legal career seriously and understand attorneys. For more information, please visit www.BCGSearch.com.