Advice for the New Lawyer

Alumna offers career pointers for students

by Kelsey Schreiberg

A USC Gould alumna returned to campus recently and shared what life is like in a law firm. Elizabeth Barcohana ’07, a litigator at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP in downtown Los Angeles, kicked off the first of a two-part series geared toward advising students on how to succeed in their summer and first-year associate positions. The Career Services Office hosted the lunchtime event.

Elizabeth Barcohana ’07

Barcohana’s presentation focused on several key areas integral to working in a firm: the billable hour, the importance of professional etiquette and advancing one’s career.

“You have to take responsibility for your own career,” Barcohana said.

Lawyers working in large law firms are required to log billable hours, which are tracked in six-minute increments. The work may include writing memos, drafting motions, researching or going to court. The more detailed young associates are at describing their tasks, the better the clients will understand how they are billed.

“At the end of every day, get in the habit of entering your time, and be specific about what you researched, who you spoke with, and what each memo was regarding,” Barcohana advised.

Even though it takes a younger associate longer to accomplish what a mid-level or senior associate can do, new graduates should record their time accurately, she said. Associates should communicate if they are having trouble, and cultivate relationships with partners and associates.

“If you are not sure about where the priority is, ask,” Barcohana said.

Barcohana also said that maintaining a professional digital presence is very important. This includes an annually updated bio describing one’s education, area of practice, publications and lectures, memberships and awards.

To market oneself, Barcohana offered the following advice:

“Prepare tailored pitch materials, join bar associations, attend networking events, exchange business cards, and follow up with people you meet because you never know where business will come from.”

To position themselves well for the future, new associates should keep track of new business they bring in, connect with mentors, and be open to new opportunities.

“With a USC law education, you are prepared to handle any assignment you are given,” Barcohana said.