Integrating Into A New Firm
You’ve done it! You’ve nailed the interview, the callback, and cleared conflicts, and now you’re joining your new firm. Whether in your first week or first few months - integrating into a new firm, while exciting, can be an intimidating endeavor. You want to be authentic and make a great impression, but you’re drinking out of a firehose and balancing learning, contributing, and remembering everyone’s names.
Our team of legal recruiters (most having been in your very shoes as former practicing attorneys) have counseled hundreds of associates well into their first few months as a new hire. Here are our tips to successfully integrate into your new law firm.
To start: Give yourself some grace
You’re new! Don’t forget. It’s easy in this stage to be hard on yourself for making ‘simple’ mistakes, or repeating a mistake you made the day before. Remind yourself that you’re a competent, thoughtful, intelligent individual and that you were hired for a reason. You’re simply learning something new and it’ll take time to commit all of your learnings to memory.
Also remember that all of your colleagues have been in your very shoes - partners included. They were all once the new hire, asking dozens of questions daily and stumbling over new systems and names and chains of command. Trust that they are being far less critical of you than you are of yourself (despite what your inner critic may be telling you). You’re doing an incredible job - give yourself a pat on the back. Before you know it this will all be second nature.
Week 1: Get to know your office
We’re confident your firm will have everything in this list prepared, but never hurts to have your Week 1 needs ready and top of mind:
Be sure to be introduced to your office’s professional staff, your assistants (as applicable), practice group, and partners.
Ensure your email address is ready upon arrival to get your office and clients accustomed to reaching you.
Retrieve a list of your firm’s office locations and phone numbers for any necessary communications.
Receive information on your firm’s billing and financial practices.
Your new firm may likely host an orientation, or a week-1 onboarding schedule which covers all the above. Should any be missed you’ll be ready to inquire.
Facetime is back post-COVID
With more firms returning to the office on a hybrid schedule, you have the perfect opportunity to make a great in-person first impression. If your office offers optional in-office days, we recommend visiting the office more often than working from home for your first 90 days.
Working from home provides comfort and often a higher degree of productivity and focus, but what you might gain in concentration you’ll lose in valuable interpersonal connections. That 20 minute conversation in the kitchen with a fellow associate or firm partner won’t happen over google chat or zoom, and those are often the moments you build a meaningful connection with colleagues and mentors that one day lead to new opportunities.
Building a rapport with your new firm in-person is truly invaluable - it cements interpersonal trust and accountability in a way remote work simply cannot replace. So make the most of in-office days, at least in your first few months of hire.
Get to know your professional staff
Your administrative staff is here to support you. Wherever you can - lean on your office’s administrative and professional staff for help in answering general questions vs. leaning on your lateral colleagues.
Of course if it’s a question only an attorney can answer, ask away. But if you have a general question about the office, require IT support, or need to know the chain of command to get an email to the right person - your administrative staff not only has the answers to these questions and more, they’re eager to help you.
Plan for partnership now
If you’re looking to make partner at this new firm, you’re best to start as soon as possible. What areas of experience, skill sets, and qualities does your new firm consider when qualifying associates for partnership? Discover and implement these factors into your work as best you can, and make plans to actively seek opportunities to do so over the next few years.
Also, get to know the partners at your firm. Engage with them genuinely, and build a reputation as someone who is reliable and gets things done. Make a great impression through your hard work and will be top of mind when opportunities arise.
We also encourage you to read our post, What to Expect When You’re Expecting to Make Partner for more tips and insights on moving into a partner role.
Building rapport outside of work: why it matters
Building rapport via social engagements outside the office is often a fast track to being recognized and valued in your professional environment.
To echo our earlier sentiment on in-office face time - engaging with colleagues in-person is often essential for getting noticed. Showing your personality to your colleagues and higher ups makes you more relatable and approachable when you’re back in the office. And as is often the case - taking the time to build personal relationships with your teammates outside of the office, will keep you top of mind to join and contribute to new projects and cases in the office.
As your energy and personal obligations allow, you’ll want to say yes to as many team lunches and happy hours as you can within your first quarter and year of work. This is where interpersonal magic happens - where memories are built and relationships kindle, and we urge you to capitalize on this opportunity!
Final thoughts
Integrating into a new law firm can be intimidating - and we’ve been there! Give yourself patience and some well deserved encouragement - you’ve made it this far and in no time you’ll be a series regular in the office. So enjoy these early moments because they are soon to pass!
If you are interested in Swan Legal Search and our recruiting & preparation services we would love to hear from you. Contact us here.