20 Things I wish I knew when I got my bar card ...

This year marks the 20th anniversary of my career as an attorney.  When I started this journey in my 20s I would have never anticipated the twists and turns my career would take, the risks I would jump head first in, and the support I have found in the unlikeliest of places. Hindsight is 20/20 but I get to share mine with you. So here are 20 things I wish I knew when I got my bar card.

1. Don’t corner yourself into an area of law. When I was young I dreamed of being an international lawyer. I did not know what an international lawyer was but I knew I wanted to be one. I can call myself one today but I also have been a bankruptcy lawyer, a civil litigator, a family lawyer, a probate lawyer, and a real estate lawyer. I am always open and curious about different areas of the law. I learned I loved finding the loopholes in the bankruptcy code and I got excited to close real estate deals. This has shaped me as a General Counsel and I have a well rounded knowledge of the law which I am still expanding with each role.
2. Apply for every opportunity, grant, clerkship, fellowship, fee waiver. I applied for every ad I saw in law school and for that reason I was awarded a summer fellowship, a law clerk internship, and didn't pay for my bar study review courses. I continued this through my career and have been awarded numerous fellowships, free conferences, even a night with federal judges at the Art Institute of Chicago after hours. You will be amazed at the minimal competition you have because people just don’t apply and these interactions will help make new connections. 
3. Maximize your learning. If your employer throws you into a new field of law, ask them to pay for a certification or course. Why spend so much time researching without anything to show for it?  With this perspective I became a solicitor in England & Wales and just received my IAPP/US certification in privacy. That piece of paper will last you beyond your tenure at that company.
4. Learn what your boundaries are and stick to them.  I know you want to impress and show that you can live off a cracker and 3 hours of sleep. I don’t mean that you should reject work or new projects but you should learn to say no when it infringes on your personal time, health, and well being. When you are called after surgery to answer questions (true story)! You will look back and regret those times you did not speak up and communicate your boundaries. You teach people how to treat you. 
5. Save your money. Before you start enjoying your new salary, have 3 to 6 months of expenses saved up. I hope it never happens to you but there may be a day when your integrity is on the line and you need to leave immediately. It will hurt like hell when you can’t because you don’t have enough money saved.
6. Review your employer annually and act accordingly. The same way they review your performance, you need to review them. Did they honor the promises they made at hiring? Do you feel valued, inspired, and compensated? Communicate this with them and ask them what their action plan is for you. Don’t let years go by in a job that is no longer serving you.
7. Advocate for yourself. Other people are not thinking about you as much as you think they are. Ask for the raise or promotion, raise your hand for the project, speak up on your career plans. No one else will advocate for you the way you can. I have had good bosses who did not advocate for me the way I needed them to. Because of that I missed promotions and exposure. Be vocal about the things you want to do in the company and your career. When the opportunity comes up the right person may be in the room to nominate you. If you keep things to yourself no one will know how to support you. Keep an ongoing list of all your accomplishments, including collaborations and soft skills learned, it will come in handy. 
8. Expand your network. I grew up from humble beginnings as a 1st generation Latina and the 1st in my family to go to college let alone law school. I didn't have any mentors or people around me to introduce me to other attorneys or professionals. I am also an introvert when it comes to meeting new people and get major social anxiety. It got better when I acknowledged this about myself and started to learn how to open up and let people in. I also learned to give myself some slack. I have a rule that I need to introduce myself to three people at an event and if within an hour I haven't made a connection I can leave. I have never had to leave, I normally connect with someone that I can chat with. Ask people questions about what they do or bounce an issue off of them. I believe people inherently like to help and can also be hoping someone else starts the conversation.
9. Keep in contact with your law school friends. For one it's really cool to see Mickey who got drunk at the Ratt become a judge but I have also found that we are somewhat trauma bonded from law school and whenever I need something they always try to help or refer me to someone that can with no questions asked and vice versa. As we have gone into different fields it's become an amazing and colorful network.
10. Learn how to overcome Imposter Syndrome. It happens more when you don't grow up with role models that you can humanize. But it's not you, it's the system of biases and barriers that hold marginalized groups back.  I didn't even know  there was a name for that feeling until about 10 years into my career when it started coming out in news articles. Take a look around the room and remember that you didn’t appear in this room by magic. You were invited because you damned well earned it. Take stock of the people in the room, you will find that you are more than comparable. 
11. When you don't understand, ask questions. If you are given a task and it's not clear, ask the questions. There will be times you will have a supervisor who will be elusive, vague, and annoyed. When that happens, ask their secretary what they mean. Ask another coworker. Ask for examples. Your time is valuable and if there is a way to be more efficient try to find it. This is also a good time to ask your network. I am blessed to be part of a couple of women attorney groups who have been invaluable in my growth.
12. Be the Project Manager of your life.  You need to schedule your personal, family, friends, wellness, hobbies into your calendar and respect it.  When you are starting out as an attorney this sounds impossible.  Truthfully, you will not get a balance everyday or every week for that matter but you have to try to find time for yourself. You can always do more work but your brain needs rest. Burn out is a real thing and you don’t want to be 28 and hate being a lawyer when it hasn’t even gotten good yet.
13. Self- development is a lifelong journey.  Read books, listen to podcasts, take seminars. Personal and professional improvement is critical; it empowers you to improve your skills, knowledge, and mindset, leading to a more fulfilling and successful life. 
14. Trust your gut. Sometimes it's just not the right job or the honeymoon is unexpectedly over. I don’t mean quit tomorrow but learn to accept when things are done. When you have outgrown your stay and you are not being valued anymore. That may be in 5 years, that may be in 5 months. That’s ok, you didn't fail, it just wasn't the right fit anymore. Every- single- time this has happened to me I had a better opportunity waiting for me.
15. Be authentic. You are unique. I think we try to fit in and sometimes don’t realize how much other people enjoy the things about us that we are trying to suppress. I had my own practice for 12 years and the common compliment from my clients is that I was down to earth and made them feel comfortable. I treated them like a neighbor. There will be spaces where you feel you have to straighten your hair or not wear the hoops but wear them anyway. You will at least not be forgettable.
16. Work on your brand. Start by understanding yourself better. Identify your strengths, skills, passions, and values. Assess what makes you unique and what you want to be known for. Create a consistent and authentic image for yourself which includes your name and a professional profile picture.  Establish a strong online presence through a personal website or blog, and through profiles on professional social media platforms like LinkedIn. Regularly update your online presence with valuable content related to your expertise. 
17. Take up Space. Sit at the table, get comfortable, be seen, and speak up. Ask for resources, ask questions. Be a force. 
18. Stop apologizing. For the love of all things don’t apologize. Do not start emails or conversations with I am sorry for bothering you or I am sorry I know you're busy. As a matter of fact, remove “ I am sorry” from your vocabulary. If you bump into someone just say excuse me. Your time is as valuable as theirs and everyone is busy if you need to ask a question to complete your task that is part of their job too.
19. Get help. It's ok to not be ok. It’s okay to get into your career and have doubts of whether this was a good choice. Get a therapist, a life coach, or a supportive circle of friends that know what you are going through and know that life is about the journey. Today you may feel overwhelmed and stressed out but it will pass.
20. Choose wisely. If you choose to join forces without another being, just know that picking a partner is one of the most important decisions you may make that will affect your career. You can’t be short-sided and you shouldn’t marry potential without aligning your core values and future plans. Communicate about what that looks like for each of you before any commitment is made. 

When you have reached the top, send the elevator back down- Edith Piaf

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