How to Avoid Blame and Improve Performance in Small Law Firm Jobs

Description

• Harrison advises that when working for someone else, it doesn't matter if your legal analysis is right or wrong.
• Arguing your point of view is okay, but digging your heels in and making someone mad won't benefit you.
• Making enemies at a firm can lead to being iced out and losing work opportunities.
• It's best to get along with others and avoid creating a negative reputation.
• Going to a place with a lot of work can help you avoid being poorly reviewed and feeling pressure.

Transcript

Transcript:

It doesn't matter if your legal analysis is correct or wrong. When working for someone else, it doesn't matter if you're right or they're right. You can take your point of view and argue, but if you dig your feet in, you will just make the person mad. This pays you, even though you're told your legal analysis is wrong.

And you're right. You can offer additional proof, but there's nothing where you need to dig your heels in and realize that you need to get along with a person. I just think that when you make one enemy at a firm too, what happens? They will often just be iced out and told you're bad news so that other people won't give you work.

You can get away with this in some places, but for the most part, it isn't easy. So the only way to put yourself in, not in the situation, is to go somewhere where there's a lot of work. The thing to understand is anytime you go someplace where there's only a little work. You're going to be poorly reviewed, and you're going to feel a lot of pressure, and you can't get away.