What Partners Want to Say

Most partners are not good at giving feedback. If they were, this
is what an upfront partner would tell you that he or she is looking for in a junior lawyer:
- Honesty.
If you've screwed up, I need to be the first to know. If you say
something is true, it must be true. We all make mistakes - I did when I
was your age and I am not immune today. The problem is not making a
mistake, it is failing to acknowledge and learn from it.
- Time recording.
It's not your job to decide if someone should pay for what you've spent
your time on. I need to know how long things take, or else I can't work
out profitability.
- Curiosity. If you don't ask,
you won't know. So ask me how the work assigned fits into the wider
client brief. Ask me why things are structured the way they are. And
keep current with world and business affairs so you can ask good
questions, not just legal ones.
- Attitude. I need you
to learn how to do new things. You need to be pro-active. What area do
you need to develop in most? Find work that stretches you in these
areas, and get feedback on your efforts. I may also ask you do boring
mundane stuff - that's life when you're junior (and even when you're
not so junior). Do it cheerfully. Then the next time some interesting
work comes through, you will be top of the list.

- Attention to detail.
You can get a First Class Honours with 70% right. I expect 100%. It's
what you're supposed to be good at, so if it's not your natural
preference, you need to spend more time on it.
- Ability to listen to instructions.
When I give you a piece of work, and tell you what to do, I expect it
to be done the way I said. Ask if you don't understand something. But
make sure you are asking the right questions. Take the time to think it
through for yourself as far as you can, then ask about the bits you
really don't get.
- Tenacity. When I'm busy I can appear
distracted, off-hand or even rude. Sorry. But that's life. Get over it,
smile, and get back to work.
By the way, apart from
time recording, these are the same qualities that the client looks for
in a partner. So it's worth developing them now.