Excellence in the workplace : legal & life skills in a nutshell

A people-skills book for new lawyers, law students, paralegals, and pre-law students. Identifies skills lawyers need; addresses getting practical lawyering skills and help you need--on the job and in law school. Chapters on emotional intelligence, diversity, meetings, time management, managing writing and research assignments, meeting with clients, working with your supervisor, supervising others. How to get feedback, cope with stress and conflict, seek balance, master public speaking and oral communication. Addresses the first day, shyness, meals, dress, cultural differences, networking, judgment, values, ethics, e-mail, and e-professionalism, building a career plan, career office resources, deciding if a job is right for you, negotiating salary, law firm economics, managing money. Advice from employers, insights from students. Excellent advice for new professionals in any field.

Everything you need to know -- Dressing the part -- The social graces -- Overcoming shyness -- The art (or horror) of networking -- Making most of meetings -- Working well with others -- The art of being supervised (gracefully) -- The art of supervising -- Working with support staff -- Managing written assignments -- Research -- A writing checklist: remember your reader -- Feedback -- In-person communication -- E-mail uses and abuses -- Formal and informal presentations -- Making the most of meetings -- Time management and procrastination -- Managing stress -- Handling conflicts at work -- How adults learn: and why it matters -- Emotional intelligence: the key to excellence -- Workplace diversity -- Finding balance in your work and life -- What skills do lawyers need? -- Judgments, values, and professional ethics -- For law students: perspectives on returning to school -- Get a mentor: expand your world -- First-year career plan: a guided exercise -- Deciding whether the job is right for you -- Salary negotiations -- How to get practical skills in law school -- Career office resources -- Money matters -- Law firm economics: understanding the business side of the profession.