11/14/2024
For the second year in a row, I had the honor of guest lecturing for Suffolk Law’s Immigration Law course, presenting on two of my favorite topics: Law Practice Management and Legal Technology.
As an immigration lawyer, last week was rough, but it also reminded me of the importance of collaboration, teamwork, and community engagement.
I started the class by handing out a variety of candy, and I asked the students to choose their favorites. I told the students that each piece of candy represented a different quality that makes up an effective lawyer. They could pick all the same type of candy or a variety. The only rule was to pick their favorites from the options given. There were no wrong answers.
Once everyone picked out their candy, I told the class: Just like there is no right answer to which candy you picked, there is no exact formula to being an effective lawyer. Lean into the characteristics that are your strength - pick the candy that you love the most - and don’t let anyone tell you what it takes to be an excellent lawyer.
Struggling to find your first-choice opportunities? Didn’t get your first-choice candy, but your classmate across the room did? Use your legal skills to negotiate your way to getting your first choice.
Then, we picked what many consider to be the opposite of candy: celery. I used celery as an example of the things that you absolutely should not do as a lawyer, and we talked about what those are. But as long as you stay away from the celery, who is to say what makes up the best candy, I mean, the best characteristics of a lawyer?
Thank you to the Suffolk Law students for being such an engaged audience. The legal profession is lucky to have you join our Bar!
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