A Sweeter World?
Photo by Ron Lach at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | February 20, 2024 I was speaking to a university student the other day whom I will call Lara. Lara told me that she occasionally has a super nice dinner at her friend Kim’s expense. It seems that sometimes Kim meets a sugar daddy who treats her […]
Is Someone Out to Get You?
Photo by RDNE Stock project at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | February 19, 2023 Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you – Joseph Heller In some law firms there are politics among the partners. Someone wants to be the managing partner or win the compensation committee contest, and they need to accumulate friends […]
Worrying For Godot
By Murray Gottheil | January 30, 2024 Photo by Keira Burton at Pexels When I practiced law, I worried a lot. I worried about making a mistake on my files. I worried that I was too busy. I worried that I was not busy enough. I even worried for the people at my firm who were […]
Math at the End of Days
Photo by Ana Arantes at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | January 22, 2024 Let’s say that Mike is a partner at his firm. He stays for many years and builds a substantial client base. And while we are making things up, let’s assume that Mike has been a team player and introduced his clients to his partners […]
Believe Them the First Time
Photo by Antonio Friedemann at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | January 9, 2024 When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time – – – Maya Angelou I have observed that there are many pitifully unhappy folks in law whose irrational hopefulness is downright impressive in a kind of twisted and sad way. […]
Grilled Cheese, Please
Photo by Ahmed Rabea at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | January 3, 2024 There is a restaurant in Lakefield, Ontario called the Canoe & Paddle. On their regular menu is an “Ultimate Grilled Cheese”, which comes with smoked bacon, cheddar, asiago, tomato, and garlic butter. On its “Kids & Seniors” menu, the restaurant offers a grilled […]
Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Eight: The Chief Marketing Officer
By Murray Gottheil | December 27, 2023 Photo by Helena Lopes at Pixels Those of you who have been following this series know said that Part Seven was the final article in the series. It turns out that I lied. The purpose of the series is to set out the questions which articling students and new […]
Hawkers & Hookers
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | November 20, 2023 Young lawyers often do not realize, or want to accept, that they are in sales. “I am no salesperson” they think. “I am a professional.” Well, I have news for you. There are only two types of professionals. Those who cannot market themselves, […]
Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Seven: The Supervising Lawyer
Photo by Sora Shimazak at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | November 29, 2023 This is the last in a series about the questions articling students and new associates should ask when when deciding if they want to stay at their firm long-term. This time, I will speak about supervising lawyers (SL). I was an SL for […]
Law Firm Primer For Articling Students and New Associates – Part Six: The Law Clerks
Photo by Anna Shvets at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | November 25, 2023 This is the sixth in a series about information that articling students and new associates should have before deciding to stay at a firm for the long-term. Today it is about some of my favourite people in law firms – the law clerks […]