Client Development Bad Advice I Received

Developing the Next Generation of Rainmakers Client Development: Bad Advice I Received Did you ever see the movie: The Graduate? If you saw it you likely remember the opening scene when Benjamin, (played by Dustin Hoffman) is given career advice in one word: “Plastics.” When I was a young lawyer I did not have a coach, but I did have several senior lawyers who gave me advice. Some times the advice was helpful. For example, I was told that clients want lawyers with “confidence inspiring personalities.” Other times the advice was not helpful for me, and failed to recognize that I was different than the lawyer offering the advice. Here are 10 examples of advice I received that did not fit or work for me. What is the point? You will likely receive advice from many senior lawyers. Most of them will have your best interests at heart. But, the advice you receive will likely be based on what worked for them. Take the parts of advice that fit you and use it and disregard the rest. One final thought since it is on my mind: And here’s to you Mrs. Robinson. I practiced law for 37 years developing a national construction law practice representing some of the top highway and transportation construction contractors in the US.