Tips for Lawyers Podcast

How much Initiative is Too Much?

Chris Hargreaves: Lawyer (attorney) — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 09:41:00 +1000

We all want to do the job properly and comprehensively, but at what point should you draw the line when it comes to chasing down the answer to every thought you have in a given task?

How can Young Lawyers Work more Efficiently?

Chris Hargreaves: Lawyer (attorney) — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 09:40:00 +1000

It's a common issue for young lawyers - it just seems like everything takes much longer than it "should". So how can we be working towards more efficiency in our practice?

Should Lawyers Write with Contractions?

Chris Hargreaves: Lawyer (attorney) — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 09:39:00 +1000

In "legal writing" (whatever that means) should we be using contractions? Some seem to be firmly against, and others much more casual about it all.

How to Write a better Advice

Chris Hargreaves: Lawyer (attorney) — Sat, 06 May 2023 20:13:00 +1000

Many young lawyers come out of law school with a lot of knowledge and

the ability to put together a sound legal opinion on a given topic.

But when it comes to communicating that to the client... it all goes to

hell in a handbasket.

You Need to Ditch these Law School Habits

Chris Hargreaves: Lawyer (attorney) — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 19:33:00 +1000

During law school you developed some tactics, habits and strategies designed to work within the system and maximise your results.

Some of them aren't going to translate well into legal practice.

Listen to find out more!

Careful Who you Take Wellness Advice From

Chris Hargreaves: Lawyer (attorney) — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 14:47:00 +1000

Should you take advice from people who haven't themselves thrived in the legal profession?

Law is Hard – Deal with It

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 08:28:59 +1000

I get it – bad things do happen in a legal career, and there are certainly some aspects that need “fixing”. But the truth is, even if we fix everything we can, a legal career is still going to be challenging at intellectual, emotional and spiritual levels. So if you’re not up for that, or […]

How to Write Shorter Letters

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 21:42:55 +1000

Your letters are too long. Time to fix it. Your letters are too long. Time to fix it.

Are Young Lawyers Incompetent at Business?

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 01:37:18 +1000

And, more importantly, does it have to be that way? By applying a simple change in the way you perceive your decisions, you can start to ensure that you are working towards being a more valuable contributor to your firm every day. And, more importantly, does it have to be that way? By applying a […]

Does your Drafting Achieve its Purpose?

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 04:49:41 +1000

Audience, Purpose, Tone and Brevity – you’ve heard me say it before, and you probably will again. These are the key elements of excellent legal drafting. So how can we ensure that the purpose of our legal drafting is well defined, and that what we produce achieves that purpose? Let’s chat about that in this […]

Getting your Tone Right

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 01:29:19 +1000

Legal drafting isn’t just a way of throwing clever words on a page in a particular order. It’s about the right words, for the right situation, to achieve the desired purpose for the recipient. And a big part of that involves getting the right tone in your communication – if every piece of correspondence you […]

What to Do When You’re Not Busy

Chris Hargreaves — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 02:24:49 +1000

As lawyers we’re busy a lot, and some lawyers declare their busy-ness even when they’re not. But for young lawyers the first time they experience a period of relatively low workload can actually be a bit daunting. What should you be doing with that time if nobody has any work to give you? Do you […]

Are you Dissatisfied with your Legal Career?

Chris Hargreaves — Sat, 18 May 2019 01:09:27 +1000

It’s 100% guaranteed to happen – you hit “that point” where you start wondering whether this is all that a legal career has to offer. The question is: what are you going to do with that feeling? It’s 100% guaranteed to happen – you hit “that point” where you start wondering whether this is all […]

Are you Ready to Start your Own Firm?

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 02 May 2019 05:20:48 +1000

Many young lawyers aspire to start their own firm. But beyond finances, business, marketing and legal knowledge there is one big question you need to tackle before you make the decision. Let’s talk about that. Many young lawyers aspire to start their own firm. But beyond finances, business, marketing and legal knowledge there is one […]

Careful Who you Copy

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 05:29:20 +1000

With all the advice, information and help available for young lawyers, it would be easy to try and suck up everything like an enormous sponge. I’m not totally convinced that’s a good idea. With all the advice, information and help available for young lawyers, it would be easy to try and suck up everything like […]

Delusions of Justice

Chris Hargreaves — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 23:45:57 +1000

We need to be clear about something – we don’t work in a justice system, we work in a legal system. There are a few reasons I want to make that distinction… which you’ll find out in this episode.We need to be clear about something – we don’t work in a justice system, we work […]

What’s the Rut and How can You Avoid It?

Chris Hargreaves — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 03:05:42 +1000

Falling into a rut isn’t always a bad thing, unless you don’t know you’re in it. In this episode I talk about how you can decide if the rut is right for you, and some tips to help avoid a path leading to frustration and despair in your legal career.Falling into a rut isn’t always […]

Don’t Get Overwhelmed By Learning Skills… Do This Instead

Chris Hargreaves — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 19:24:12 +1000

With 30 days of legal skills in a row it would be easy to get overwhelmed by a massive “to do” list of things that you need to achieve instantly. But think back to where we started – that’s not how it works. In this last lesson for the series we talk about how to […]

Can you Really Design a Legal Career That You’ll Love

Chris Hargreaves — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 19:22:47 +1000

Yes. Yes you can. But you probably want more details than that, right?Yes. Yes you can. But you probably want more details than that, right?

Do you Know What Clients Hate?

Chris Hargreaves — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 19:21:23 +1000

In this episode we’re going to have a chat about one of the things that clients hate the most – and yet, it’s one of the most common practises among lawyers. Mostly because we’re afraid of dealing with it.In this episode we’re going to have a chat about one of the things that clients hate […]

Clients Have Great Expectations… But What Are They?

Chris Hargreaves — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 19:20:03 +1000

Much of what we do as lawyers involves managing expectations – both in terms of what assumptions are made, what’s communicated, and how we go about delivering on what’s been promised. And it’s not that easy. Much of what we do as lawyers involves managing expectations – both in terms of what assumptions are made, […]

Clients Don’t Always Come First

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 19:18:34 +1000

While clients might be the point, we also need to ensure that the role of our clients stays in perspective. We serve, and we serve to the best of our abilities. But there are times when clients shouldn’t really be at the top of your list.While clients might be the point, we also need to […]

Your Clients – The Legal Skill that Isn’t a Legal Skill

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 19:17:05 +1000

I don’t count people as “skills” but let’s face it – clients are really the whole point of this legal career you’ve chosen, right?I don’t count people as “skills” but let’s face it – clients are really the whole point of this legal career you’ve chosen, right?

Track Your Efforts as a Young Lawyer

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 19:15:11 +1000

It can be hard to think that you’ve had a good year, unless you actually take the time to jot down the ways you’ve improved and your successes over time. You might be surprised to see just how far you’ve come.It can be hard to think that you’ve had a good year, unless you actually […]

Strategies for Young Lawyers to Add to Business Success

Chris Hargreaves — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 19:14:05 +1000

Even as a young lawyer there are some very simple strategies you can use to help the business along… and hopefully stand out as a real contributor in the meantime.Even as a young lawyer there are some very simple strategies you can use to help the business along… and hopefully stand out as a real […]

Pulling the Levers of Law Firm Profit

Chris Hargreaves — Sun, 22 Jul 2018 19:13:07 +1000

Once you know what the levers are, you need to know how they work together. Otherwise you end up spoiling your meal. Once you know what the levers are, you need to know how they work together. Otherwise you end up spoiling your meal.

The Three Critical Elements of Law Firm Profit

Chris Hargreaves — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 19:59:05 +1000

We’ve already touched the surface of law firms making money, and now we’re going to look at the pieces. We’ve already touched the surface of law firms making money, and now we’re going to look at the pieces.

The Business of Law – Why It Matters

Chris Hargreaves — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 19:55:10 +1000

Even if you’re going to work a community services firm, you still need to understand the commercial impact of every decision you make. We’re going to skim the surface a bit of some core business concepts around how law firms actually make (or don’t) money. Even if you’re going to work a community services […]

How Can You Add Value To Your Prospective Clients?

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 19:52:55 +1000

This is where a lot of lawyers get confused. They feel like the only value they have to offer is with their legal skills, and they don’t want to use those outside the context of a client relationship. But there are a tonne of ways you can add value. You just need to turn your […]

Where Do Your Clients Hang Out? (and are you there?)

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 19:51:40 +1000

We’ve gone to the trouble of figuring out who your clients are… and now we need to find them. No it’s not a trick – you literally need to hunt down the places where your clients hang out. Find out how in this episode.We’ve gone to the trouble of figuring out who your clients are… […]

Who Do you Want as a Client?

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 19:55:00 +1000

Answer: probably anyway who will take you. But that’s not an ideal strategy to adopt when it comes to most forms of relationship building. So let’s take a moment and figure out who it is that we actually want to act for. Answer: probably anyway who will take you. But that’s not an ideal strategy […]

Principles, Strategies and Tools of Marketing

Chris Hargreaves — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 19:52:07 +1000

LinkedIn isn’t a marketing strategy. Nor is Twitter, nor are networking events. These things are tools that you use, but not strategies to achieve goals. Let’s talk about the difference between principles, strategies and and tools… and why you should care.LinkedIn isn’t a marketing strategy. Nor is Twitter, nor are networking events. These things are […]

Marketing is Relationship

Chris Hargreaves — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 00:40:54 +1000

If the word “marketing” sends shivers down your spine, then I understand. But perhaps it’s because you think of marketing as this big, bad thing that you have to do. Instead – what if you just changed your point of view about what it really means?If the word “marketing” sends shivers down your spine, then […]

Pick Up the Phone

Chris Hargreaves — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 19:43:39 +1000

There is a time for writing things, of course. But there’s a time when putting things in writing is inferior to just picking up the phone. Yes. Seriously. There is a time for writing things, of course. But there’s a time when putting things in writing is inferior to just picking up the phone. Yes. […]

The Critical Parts of Effective Legal Writing

Chris Hargreaves — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 19:31:03 +1000

If you want to write something, then consider this critical aspects is going to help you no matter what it is you’re trying to write.If you want to write something, then consider this critical aspects is going to help you no matter what it is you’re trying to write.

Learning to Listen

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 19:28:07 +1000

It would be easy to think that everything is about how we express ourselves. But sometimes the most powerful parts of communication are the aspects of listening.It would be easy to think that everything is about how we express ourselves. But sometimes the most powerful parts of communication are the aspects of listening.

Undoing the Damage of Law School Writing Styles

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 19:53:27 +1000

Law school hasn’t done you any favours when it comes to writing properly. And while that might not be deliberate, it’s certainly tangible and it’s important to fix. Let’s get started on that right away.Law school hasn’t done you any favours when it comes to writing properly. And while that might not be deliberate, it’s […]

The Elements of Effective Communication for Lawyers

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 23:41:57 +1000

Of course, communication is communication – if you master it as a lawyer, then you’ll probably be good at it across the board. But because so much of our job hinges upon our ability to communicate well… it’s pretty important.Of course, communication is communication – if you master it as a lawyer, then you’ll probably […]

Mastering the Performance Review (or at least, not wasting it)

Chris Hargreaves — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 19:39:57 +1000

None of us like performance reviews very much. But at the very least we can hope to use them to best advantage.None of us like performance reviews very much. But at the very least we can hope to use them to best advantage.

Productivity and Focus

Chris Hargreaves — Sun, 08 Jul 2018 19:34:46 +1000

These are some of the most important characteristics of a lawyer – productivity and focus. If you can’t get these nailed down, then many things will elude you. These are some of the most important characteristics of a lawyer – productivity and focus. If you can’t get these nailed down, then many things will elude […]

If You’re Going to be Awesome…

Chris Hargreaves — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 19:32:18 +1000

Then you need to embrace the fact that your awesomeness involves a series of little steps. Every. Single. Day. The ability to develop good habits can’t be underestimated – master it, and you master everything.Then you need to embrace the fact that your awesomeness involves a series of little steps. Every. Single. Day. The ability […]

Losers, Cruisers and Dynamos

Chris Hargreaves — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 19:29:55 +1000

There are three types of professional – losers, cruisers and dynamos… Which are you?There are three types of professional – losers, cruisers and dynamos… Which are you?

We Can’t Ignore Wellness

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 19:39:34 +1000

If we’re going to do a massive series on legal skills, then we can’t simply avoid the most basic skill: looking after yourself.If we’re going to do a massive series on legal skills, then we can’t simply avoid the most basic skill: looking after yourself.

The Basics of Personal Professional Growth

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 19:23:46 +1000

You’ve gotta start somewhere, and this is the best place to do it – personal, professional, growth.You’ve gotta start somewhere, and this is the best place to do it – personal, professional, growth.

The 4 Legal Skillsets to Focus On in Your Career

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 19:37:39 +1000

If pressed, I can lump pretty much anything into one of these four areas – and you can too! Focus on these basic foundations and you’ll be well placed moving into the future. If pressed, I can lump pretty much anything into one of these four areas – and you can too! Focus on these […]

Constant Improvement

Chris Hargreaves — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 20:16:29 +1000

If you’re going to commit to developing your legal skills, then you need to appreciate the best way to go about it. If you’re going to approach it like trying to deadlift 300Kg on your first attempt – you’re going to fail.If you’re going to commit to developing your legal skills, then you need to […]

Why Focus on Legal Skills Rather than Learning Law?

Chris Hargreaves — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 20:09:42 +1000

It would be easy to convince ourselves that lawyers just need to know laws, statues and cases right? But it’s far from the truth. And, for most young lawyers, focusing on simply learning more law is probably a bad idea.It would be easy to convince ourselves that lawyers just need to know laws, statues and […]

Introducing 30 Legal Skills in 30 Days

Chris Hargreaves — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 20:01:32 +1000

If you’ve been around for long here, you know that it’s all about legal skills. Time to up the ante – we’re going for 30 skills in 30 days. Each day an actionable tip, hint or some homework to build your legal skills significantly across a month. Are you going to play along?If you’ve been […]

A Culture of Learning

Chris Hargreaves — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 07:22:05 +1000

How do you view your opportunities for continuing legal education? As a necessary evil? Or as an amazing chance to do something better? Let’s chat about the attitude we have to learning, and how we might make the most of the chances we have.How do you view your opportunities for continuing legal education? As a […]

What Order to Do Your Work In?

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 07:31:56 +1000

You’ve got a large job that’s made up of lots of different pieces. If you listened to the last episode then you know how to figure out what to do. The next question is: when do you do each thing? That’s what we’ll find out in this episode!You’ve got a large job that’s made up […]

A Simple Strategy for Complex Legal Problems

Chris Hargreaves — Sun, 27 May 2018 08:29:57 +1000

If the task you’ve been given is more complicated than you’ve done before, or perhaps in a novel area, then it can get a bit overwhelming trying to come up with the right solution to the issue. However, much like building a house, larger tasks are almost always just made up of a series of […]

Don’t Do Law Unless you Want to Be a Lawyer

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 04:29:03 +1000

Yep, it’s happened again. I’ve written about it but nothing quite makes you feel as good as having a decent rant about a topic. So here’s the gist – the Prime Minister of Australia says that people shouldn’t study law unless they want to be a lawyer. The legal education institutions around the Country didn’t […]

Bad Bosses in Law and How to Respond to Them

Chris Hargreaves — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 10:27:49 +1000

No matter what you do, at some point in your legal career you’re likely going to have a boss. They might be fantastic. But they might not be. And if you’ve got a boss who has a few deficiencies (which, let’s be honest, all of us do) then the best thing you can do if […]

Honing your Craft as a Lawyer

Chris Hargreaves — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 22:56:15 +1000

It wasn’t too long ago where someone wanting to learn would apprentice themselves to a master of the craft in question. But what about lawyers? How are you honing your craft, and have you considered how you will seek to attain mastery in your field? Let’s have a talk about the process of honing, a […]

Two Massive Holes in Law School Education… That you can Fix

Chris Hargreaves — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 07:29:47 +1000

You already know that law school hasn’t got you “practice ready”. But the next question you should be asking is: what do I need to focus on from day 1? In this episode we’re going to discuss the two biggest holes in law school education from a big picture perspective.You already know that law school […]

What the Heck IS Work/Life Balance

Chris Hargreaves — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 05:29:49 +1000

We keeping talking about it – and everyone just nods, smiles and says “yep – I want that some more”. GIVE ME MORE WORK/LIFE BALANCE! But what is it that you actually want? Tell me! (Yes – tell me what you want, what you really really want). Because work/life balance is a meaningless catch phrase. […]

How do you Advise on Risk – and Why?

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 11:29:00 +1000

Lawyers have a curious relationship with risk. On the one hand we are trained (and sometimes paid) to identify risk to our clients. But what’s the upshot of that advice? Should we be telling our clients which contracts to sign, what deals to do, or that the risk is unacceptable? And how does our approach […]

How to Get Stuff Done

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 22:13:42 +1000

No productivity hacks today – just some solid advice on how to execute faster. If you want to get things done in record time you’ve got to have some kind of system that lets you do it. Not just random activity – but productive focus. Let’s get into it – and happy lawyering!No productivity hacks […]

The Value of Human Connection

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 09:36:52 +1000

Law school teaches you many useful things, but ultimately it takes place inside a fictitious vacuum. Specifically, it ignores the commercial aspects of legal practice and the human element of legal practice. If you’re going to thrive as a lawyer then you will need to understand, embrace and demonstrate that you hold people in high […]

Are you Trying to Sound Too Professional All the Time?

Chris Hargreaves — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 00:19:04 +1000

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but lawyers have a bit of an obsession with sounding professional. We use words that other people don’t use. We develop arguments in a clinical and structured way. We have a form and style to our writing and speaking that other people simply don’t. The question of the day […]

Focus versus Flexibility – Which is More Important?

Chris Hargreaves — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 00:31:26 +1000

You already know that focus is important, right? Me too. But so is flexibility if you’re going to manage to function in real life. How are you going to manage the tension between the two? Focus requires you to keep going on task A, but tasks B and C have started to become a problem […]

Are Robots Going to Replace the Legal Profession?

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 03:02:33 +1000

Talking about how artificial intelligence and robots are going to replace big parts of the legal profession is all the rage – so I thought I should have an opinion about it. In this podcast we’ll discuss: how technology is already replacing some lawyers; which lawyers need to worry most about robots disrupting their practice; […]

Are you Making the Most of your Mentor?

Chris Hargreaves — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 09:37:45 +1000

So many firms have failing mentoring programs for young lawyers. There’s a reason, and you can’t pin it entirely on the firms or the mentors – it’s often YOU who don’t know how to make the most of the mentoring relationship. Let’s stop that right now – and learn how to leverage this extremely valuable […]

Is the Law for Everyone?

Chris Hargreaves — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 11:05:13 +1000

Some people actually shouldn’t be lawyers. That’s not an indictment on them, nor on the profession – they just shouldn’t be here. The danger comes when people try to force themselves into something where they don’t belong. Don’t do it. Beyond that, we need to explore WHY people leave the profession – not just why […]

The 5 Stages of your Legal Career

Chris Hargreaves — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 22:13:56 +1000

It’s not like your legal career is a static thing where you simply start, do stuff, then finish. It’s a vibrant living creature where your role from day to day is going to change, adjust and shift depending on how senior you are, your experience and your level of self-awareness. Let’s take a look today […]

Become a Fully Integrated Human Being

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 21:10:47 +1000

If you’re not functioning as a person, then you’re not functioning as a lawyer either. In this episode we take a look at: why I don’t like the phrase “work/life balance” what we should be talking about instead the importance of self-awareness the categories of your life that need to matter how you can start […]

Social Media Mastery with Mitch Jackson

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 21:48:49 +1000

Ever wanted to know how you as a lawyer can develop a serious, effective, social media strategy to build your network and generate more work? Here’s how. In this episode, Mitch Jackson and I take you through a comprehensive look at the state of Social Media for lawyers, and how you as a lawyer can […]

How to Deal with Distractions

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 07:28:36 +1000

How often do you plan out your day, only to find that within 5 minutes of arriving at work your “plan” has gone down the drain? If you’re like everyone else – it’s pretty common. But beyond that, you’ve also got to deal with the normal distractions that occur through the day, like: “could you […]

Generous Productivity for Lawyers – It’s Not About YOU

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 09:12:31 +1000

So many self-help books, articles, ideas and courses focus entirely on you. YOUR focus. YOUR productivity. YOUR outcomes. But that’s not how the real world works. Sure – you need to be productive. But ultimate productivity for lawyers comes from the team – the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. And that […]

Stop Looking for a Job as a Lawyer

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 00:50:45 +1000

If you are on the hunt for a job as a lawyer and are struggling, then I want to encourage you to do something: stop it. Stop looking for a legal job. And start doing something else instead. Find out why in this podcast. Happy Lawyering!If you are on the hunt for a job as […]

It’s About Permission to Provide Value

Chris Hargreaves — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 01:28:25 +1000

Most people understand that they want to get lots of connections and build their network – but they’re not really sure why. Take a look at your business card collection, or your pile of contacts, or your connection list on LinkedIn – do you really know what they are for? In this episode I outline: […]

100 Percent Guaranteed Failure

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 09:07:34 +1000

Welcome to the world of legal practice! The fact is that you’re going to make a mistake. Maybe small, but probably over time it’s going to be big. What’s going to happen? What are you going to do? That’s the subject of this episode. Related Resources this podcast on video the article related to this […]

Which of these 5 Letter Writing Techniques are you Failing At?

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 21:44:09 +1000

Letter writing is a critical component of legal practice, and a skill that you’re going to have to exercise every single day. But when the time comes to actually put pen to paper, a lot of lawyers find themselves struggling to produce a quality product in a reasonable time. These 5 strategies will help you […]

Are you Spending Time, or Investing Time?

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 12:40:46 +1000

It’s a pretty obvious choice – are you spending time, or investing it? For many, the options don’t seem to exist. They think they have no time, no margin, no ability to make the choices that are going to change their lives. But they’re wrong. You just need to do two things. Other Versions of […]

Are you going All In on your Legal Career?

Chris Hargreaves — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 00:53:05 +1000

Are you going all in on your legal career, or are you not invested? Here’s the truth – most lawyers don’t want to be in their jobs. That’s depressing and stupid. If you’re going to be a real lawyer with real passion – then you’ve got to stop playing, and go ALL IN. Other Version […]

Why Don’t Law Firms see Returns from Social Media?

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 06:41:10 +1000

If you listened to the last episode then you’ll know that things are changing – in particular, I’m adding in a video element to the podcast – which kind of makes it not a podcast anymore. Therefore – welcome to the Tips for Lawyers show! In this episode we’re going to explore why so many […]

Changes are Afoot!

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 11:25:21 +1000

If you’ve been paying attention then you might have noticed that HUGE things are happening in the life of me. That said – you’re probably not that interested in my life, but those changes are going to affect you – hopefully in a good way. In this episode I explore some of the things that […]

The Polite Fiction of Work/Life Balance

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 09:21:28 +1000

Today we explore the unspoken myth – that when firms talk about “work/life” balance in their advertising material, they don’t necessarily mean what you think they mean. In another extract from Moving Beyond Law School Theory, uncle Andrew has a few choice words to say about just what work/life balance really means, and what that […]

Practical Legal Training – Tedious and Cumbersome?

Chris Hargreaves — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 03:02:23 +1000

There’s an ongoing debate between universities, firms, training groups, lawyers and students. It’s connected with the virtues, or otherwise, of practical legal training. Are graduates as prepared as they should be for legal practice? Are law firms pulling their weight in the training department? Should articles of clerkship come back? This podcast episode will take […]

How to Settle in to a New Law Firm

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 09:56:17 +1000

It can be a nerve wracking process, settling in to a new law firm as a brand new employee lawyer. However, there are a number of things you can do to help you settle in, get to know people, and ultimately solidify your position in the firm. In this episode we explore what you can […]

Too Many Law Students, and Not Enough Jobs?

Chris Hargreaves — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 08:28:32 +1000

It’s one of the most common discussion points that comes up – are there simply too many law students, and not enough jobs? But in reality, that’s not the main issue. Most people don’t care how saturated the profession is as some fascinating intellectual discussion. Rather, they care about one question: how can they get […]

Real Lawyers Are Expert Communicators

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 09:04:58 +1000

Real lawyers communicate. There’s no getting around it, you just have to be great. But it’s more than just speaking, writing, and getting your own opinions out there. Communication isn’t one way – it’s two-way. In reality you are a translator – you take information, consume it, and then put it out there for others […]

Real Lawyers Are Self Aware

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 10:13:50 +1000

Some of the most obnoxious kinds of lawyers I know are those who simply refuse to acknowledge certain truths about themselves. But, far beyond just being annoying to others, a lack of self-awareness can be genuinely damaging to your legal career, your personal growth, and your ability to command a team of people. It impacts […]

Real Lawyers Aren’t Perfectionists

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 05:15:11 +1000

It would be easy to suggest that lawyers have to be perfect in everything they do. After all, being perfect normally avoids you getting sued for negligence. But life is rarely as simplistic as that, and for many lawyers they are hamstrung in their endeavours by a pathological need to tinker with everything until it’s […]

Real Lawyers Have… Integrity

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 09:46:45 +1000

In this first podcast of my new series “Real Lawyers” I take a look at integrity. It is number 1 on the list for a variety of reasons, but at its core it is because everything else flows from a sense of integrity. But what does integrity look like? Does it look like Hilary Clinton […]

Should Lawyers Do Masters Degrees?

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 03:15:12 +1000

It comes up quite a lot. Should young lawyers go beyond their Bachelor of Laws and expand into the heady world of a masters degree? Of course, there are (as always) a lot of factors to weigh up. So let’s take a look at this important question, before you go spending a bunch of time […]

Are you using the “hope” learning method?

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 21:35:12 +1000

Many young lawyers today go into the profession with no clear idea about what they can do to improve. They rely entirely upon what I have decided to call the “hope” method. They Hope that: someone will assist them they’ll get better at their job over time their annual reviews will be positive and helpful […]

You Have More Time than you Think

Chris Hargreaves — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 09:35:32 +1000

I just do not have the time. Where do you find the time? How could I do that? These and more like them come up pretty often once people learn that I have a young family, work full time, run 2.75 websites, have 2 youtube channels and a podcast. I also enjoy woodworking, gardening, reading […]

High Stakes, High Pressure – That’s the Game

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 12:13:55 +1000

In the reality of legal practice, you will absolutely 100 percent guaranteed come to a period of extreme pressure. You know the times I mean. It is when the weight is bearing down on you from all directions. You have a million things at work to do, a thousand priorities to juggle, your personal life […]

Time Management Skills for Lawyers

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 10:15:59 +1000

We have a lot of things to do as lawyers, but we are not always the best at managing what to do when. It takes a strategic approach to properly allocate our work, and sometimes that involves some tough decision making. In this podcast I explore the realities of time management for lawyers, and offer […]

5 Marketing Essentials for Young Lawyers

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 11:28:43 +1000

Marketing and networking is absolutely essential for young lawyers who want to excel in their careers. However, it’s a bit of a large area – after all, what can you do as a young lawyer to expand your reach that doesn’t cost a fortune? Well, in this podcast I look at 5 absolutely essential strategies that […]

Effective Client Communication Techniques

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 10:55:31 +1000

As part of my series on effective communication techniques. Keep your communications succinct Use the right mode of communication Strike the right tone Avoid repetition unless it’s helpful or necessary Know your client Resources related to this podcast on client communication techniques Client interviews and how to succeed with them Happy Lawering!As part of my series […]

Are you Committed to Constant Professional Growth?

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 21:53:19 +1000

There are some fundamentals that all lawyers need to embrace, and the starting point for all of them is a commitment to ongoing professional growth. That doesn’t mean you occasionally read a book on your holidays. It doesn’t mean you bulk watch Suits on the weekend. It means that every day, you need to consistently […]

Is a 20 Hour Work Day either Normal or Necessary?

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 08:44:27 +1000

As lawyers, it is pretty much accepted that we are going to work long hours. But is that the only reality of legal practice? Is it necessary to work massive hours to get ahead in your legal career, or can you make a go of it while still making a conscious decision to avoid such […]

Patience is Not Always a Virtue

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 11:51:24 +1000

Patience is commonly extolled as a great virtue, and most of the time it is. However, as lawyers we are prone to deceiving ourselves – we say that we’re being patient, but in reality we are being something else. In this podcast I look at the question: when is patience not really a virtue? The […]

How to Craft a Persuasive Message

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 11:27:28 +1000

In the last two episodes I have looked at some fundamentals of persuasion, albeit perhaps in a way that’s different to what you might have thought. We have looked at how useful persuasion is in legal practice in episode 39, and then in episode 40 I considered some of the underlying issues that you need […]

More Persuasion for Lawyers – The Connection Element

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:22:10 +1000

In this second of my three part podcast series on persuasion for lawyers, I talk about the importance of the connection element when it comes to persuasion. Persuasion does not happen inside a vacuum. Rather, it happens within the context of a relationship. Whether or not you are aware of it, there is always an […]

How to be Persuasive – Part 1

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 22:16:21 +1000

Persuasion in the legal profession is unavoidable. You must be able to persuade someone of your point of view. But have you ever really delved into why you need to do that, and the opportunities to use persuasion within your legal practice? In the first episode on how to be persuasive I’ll be talking about […]

Some Thoughts On Integrity

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 10:06:21 +1000

Integrity is an interesting discussion point for lawyers. Everyone, at some fundamental level, agrees with the concept that integrity is a necessary element for any lawyer in practice. But we seem to hone in on integrity as if it only exists within the “big” issues. Don’t steal from the client. Don’t break the law. Don’t […]

Why do you Do what you Do?

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 12:27:19 +1000

It’s a crucial question that all lawyers need to ask themselves, but many leave things a bit late – why is it that you do what you do? Is it money? Prestige? Power? Nerdishness? Desire to help? Problem solving? You’re not sure? Well let’s take a few minutes today to focus you on just that […]

5 Requirements for Working Effectively with your Secretary

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 09:55:42 +1000

Despite the increased tendency towards autonomy, many lawyers and law firms still rely heavily on support staff for leverage. The result is that there is an entire team of individuals who perform crucial functions within a firm that the lawyers simply don’t get involve in. In particular, the relationship you have with your secretary/legal assistant/PA […]

Why Your Legal Bills Don’t Get Paid

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 12:30:56 +1000

Even as junior lawyers, the moment you have a single file under your control you start to concern yourself with one big issue – getting your bills paid. I have found that there are some people who manage to always get paid, and others who seem to have a constant problem with debtors. There are […]

How to Be a Happy Lawyer

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 26 May 2015 08:43:43 +1000

The word “happy” can seem a little trite, but it can be a vital missing element to legal practice in the lives of many young lawyers. In a profession replete with stress and mental illness, having a few strategies on hand to keep you in a positive frame of mind can be extremely beneficial over […]

7 Essential Habits that you Need to Start Right Now

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 19 May 2015 12:15:28 +1000

Today my message is this: there is no time like the present. Every day I see young lawyers putting off decisions, habits and lessons that they need to adopt earlier. I know this, because many of these I look back and wish that I had done years ago. Instead, I am now playing catch up. […]

5 Ways that Lawyers should Act like Entrepreneurs

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 12 May 2015 09:57:03 +1000

There are many ways that young lawyers have been trained which are actually adverse to their overall chance for success. One way is their inability to embrace the possibilities that come with thinking like an entrepreneur. However, once you get over whatever stigma you have about the word, acting like a new business owner and […]

Is your Personal Brand More important than your Firm’s Brand?

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 05 May 2015 20:01:47 +1000

There is a natural tension in legal practice when you work for a law firm. When you develop relationships and build your brand, are you doing it for yourself? Or for your firm? Obviously your firm would like you to do it for them, but is that really the best way? On the one hand, […]

Playing to your Strengths as a Lawyer

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:14:06 +1000

Playing to your strengths, or working on your weaknesses? That’s the question in today’s podcast. While I address it, I give you a little insight into my own strengths (at least, according to the test I just did) and a bit of information about why you need to do something similar, and how you need […]

3 Ways Young Lawyers can Disrupt the System for the Better

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 19:32:20 +1000

Have you ever considered that you have been trained to specifically avoid engaging in any activity that looks to the future, rather than referring to the past? Well you have. In effect, the methods you have been taught in terms of finding the right legal answer, while suited to that task, are completely unsuited to […]

Who Bears the Onus to Train Law Students and New Lawyers?

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 19:35:00 +1000

A Lawyers Weekly article contained quote after quote of management level lawyers saying, in effect, that it was too expensive and not worth their time to train lawyers. On they went to say, effectively, that young lawyers should be skilling up themselves if they were going to be employable. After hunting to make sure this […]

Get your Audience Raving about your Next Presentation (AKA – How to Give a Good Presentation)

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 19:32:41 +1000

Giving a good presentation can be a burden, and many lawyers don’t have the training or inclination to do something that is memorable, educational and has a lasting impact. Sounds like an opportunity, doesn’t it? And you’d be right. Developing a great presentation takes a lot of effort, but is absolutely worth it. Microsoft PowerPoint […]

Writing Articles? The Wrapping Matters!

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 07:21:40 +1000

Lawyers write a lot of articles – it’s just a fact of life. As a result, it’s a little amazing to me that lawyers have basically no training (any many express no interest) in actually having their articles read. You know – the audience, right? They actually matter? Our job doesn’t end when we have […]

Either Take Some Risks or Stay in the Cage – it’s Up to You

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 07:00:56 +1000

Are you a bird in search of a cage? Recently an article by Seth Godin really caught the attention of a number of Tips for Lawyers readers. I couldn’t help wonder why. Is it because that’s how you feel? Desiring to get out that door and spread your wings, but when faced with the opportunity […]

6 Tricks for a more Productive Morning

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 21:15:07 +1000

We’d all like to have it, wouldn’t we? That feeling of control, serenity, energy and positivity going in to each day. Of course, the usual advice is to eat well, don’t drink too much coffee, exercise sleep right, and leap out of bed full of beans. But that advice is for other people. It might […]

“I hate Being a Lawyer” and other lies we tell ourselves

Chris Hargreaves — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 12:25:56 +1000

Some of the most frequently Googled things which lead people to this website are phrases like “I hate being a lawyer” and “Why do lawyers hate their jobs”. Does that disturb you? It sure disturbs me. It leads people to one of my articles about why lawyers hate their jobs, and so I wanted to drill […]

How to Build your Network From Day 1

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 04:07:34 +1000

You know you’re supposed to build a network, but you’re not sure why, or how. As a young lawyer the process of building a network of relevant, meaningful industry contacts can be daunting. As a result, we let our fear and uncertainty get in the way, stopping us from working on it from the outset. […]

How to Start Working on your Personal Brand NOW

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 12:04:19 +1000

All lawyers have a personal brand, one way or another. But is it the one that they actually want to have? How do you want to be perceived? Clever? Arrogant? Funny? Silly? Engaging? Aloof? Perhaps you know you need a personal brand but you’re afraid of putting yourself out there? What are the risks? What […]

Goal Setting and Promotion Strategy

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 11:48:57 +1000

You’ve probably decided on some aspirations right? Set some bold targets? Well that’s not enough. You’ve got to set goals that are meaningful, optimistic, achievable but most of all you’ve got to drill down to things that you can actually do, not just an aspirational target that you probably won’t bother working on until you […]

Is Social Media a Complete Waste of Time for Lawyers?

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 11:51:49 +1000

One of the most common things I come across amongst lawyers is a perception that using social media for business development is a complete waste of time. It’s an interesting perspective, because all the same people are happy to waste a tonne of time on Facebook for personal reasons – they just haven’t figured out […]

What are the Essentials of Legal Practice (and what are you doing about them)?

Chris Hargreaves — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 12:40:22 +1000

What do you view as the essential elements of legal practice? Well in this podcast I discuss what I see as the four main pillars of legal practice, with a preview for you of the Essentials Library. The Essentials Library is a compilation of material that I’ve put together to take young lawyers through the […]

Is Going Overseas Good for your Legal Career?

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 11:21:22 +1000

It’s the yearning of many young lawyer – to travel overseas, earn money, eat good food and generally explore the world while not going broke in the process. But as we start to convince ourselves that overseas travel is a good idea, a few little white lies begin to creep in. Sorting the truth from […]

Are you Worthless In your Own Mind?

Chris Hargreaves — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 11:49:48 +1000

One of the transitions that all young lawyers need to make after they start in the profession is to begin to understand their sense of worth. In today’s podcast episode I explore how young lawyers can begin to appreciate their worth through three major areas of legal practice. Attitude to Legal Practice First I take […]

Perfectionism is Killing your Career

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 10:38:35 +1000

Lawyers have an overarching problem. We’re all fundamentally defective when it comes to our own ability to progress our careers. The problem is fear of not being perfect. You see, our training requires us to be so averse to something going wrong, that we ultimately end up paranoid with fear about doing anything at all. […]

Ways to Do Well in a Job Interview

Chris Hargreaves — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 09:42:37 +1000

In the ever increasing job market that’s not too favourable to young lawyers, we’re seeing a never ending string of clones applying for jobs. Endless resumes full of identical grades, achievements and desires. False promises about dedication to the field. One trick ponies. People who just happen to have volunteered only in law, worked only […]

How to React to People Who Hate Lawyers

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:14:49 +1000

Closing off on our series about people who hate lawyers, in this podcast I talk about how I suggest reacting to the “anti lawyer” approach that some people have. Specifically, I talk about: What to do when Uncle Bob tells you at a family barbecue how much he hates lawyers; The Zorro Circle; Why people who […]

Why Does Everyone Hate Lawyers?

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:13:09 +1000

Lawyers have a special place in the community. At their highest, the legal professional is a trusted advisor, assisting their client in all aspects of their decision making in business. However, variously, lawyers are also the butt of jokes, the object of skepticism or hatred, and viewed as a necessarily evil. We can be told […]

Better Business Skills for Lawyers

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:11:11 +1000

Today’s podcast is an ode to my new Better Business Skills course. For my dedicated podcast listeners I’ve put the entire first day of the course into podcast format so you can hear what it’s all about, why you should consider it, and hopefully get a few tips and tricks here and there. IMPORTANT NOTE […]

Are you an Imposter?

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:09:34 +1000

In episode 10 of the Tips for Lawyers podcast I talk about “imposter syndrome” and how it might apply to lawyers. What is imposter syndrome? It’s that feeling you get when you are in a situation that’s beyond what you see as your capacity. It might be where you don’t have the capacity to deal […]

How to Write an Advice

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:07:25 +1000

Legal Writing is not a very sexy topic. However, your legal career really hinges on your ability to communicate complex legal principles in a way that allows clients to understand it, and in a way that addresses their questions. So often we fill up our legal advices with unnecessary fluff, resulting in unhappy clients who […]

Legal Careers should Add Value

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:05:16 +1000

Your legal career is pretty important to you, and I understand that. So the question in today’s podcast is how you go about adding value to your legal career and advance your career prospects in the process. I raised one aspect (profit) briefly in this post recently, but here I cover a range of different […]

Performance Reviews – why we hate them, and how to fix it

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:03:02 +1000

In my time as a lawyer I’ve yet to come across anyone who genuinely loves performance reviews. In reality, most people can’t stand performance reviews. From the moment they get their self-assessment form, until the time it’s over and everything has been submitted, performance reviews are a time of stress, angst and worry. Add to that […]

8 Reasons to Improve your Legalese

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:01:07 +1000

It’s essential for lawyers to develop their legalese properly. In this podcast I provide 8 pieces of wisdom to really get your legalese on the right path. Specifically in this podcast you will learn: Why clients need to appreciate how smart you are, and how using legalese can really help you in that respect Why your […]

How to Work a Room (networking for new lawyers)

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:59:22 +1000

Attending a function and trying to meet and network with new people for business doesn’t fill many new lawyers with joy. In this episode of the podcast I talk about some tips for working a room, including: Getting over your fears What to do with your mobile phone Finding out about the others in attendance […]

What is Firm Culture, and What do you Do About it?

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:57:22 +1000

In this podcast I tell you what you need to know about law firm culture. Law Firms have been talking about their “great culture” now for a while, but I’m not totally convinced whether anyone actually knows what they mean when they are discussing it. Oh – they’ve got a “great culture” or “their culture […]

A little procrastination goes a long way

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:54:11 +1000

Show Notes Procrastination is to productivity as rust is to iron. It erodes, eats away, and ultimately destroys your ability to be productive. So I made a podcast about it. In this episode you will learn: Why I didn’t tell you how to find the show notes earlier; Some of the main causes of procrastination […]

Forming New Habits

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:48:30 +1000

Tips for Lawyers Podcast Episode 2 – Show Notes In episode 2 of the Tips for Lawyers podcast I talk about forming new habits. What does that mean? Well we deal with: Why I’m talking about changing habits in a podcast that’s supposed to be about lawyers; How people are made up of a bundle […]

The Podcast Begins!!!

Chris Hargreaves — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 03:27:10 +1000

Tips for Lawyers Podcast Episode 1 – Show Notes Finally. FINALLY!!!! Yes, I’ve been talking about it for a while, but this is the first Tips for Lawyers podcast. I hope you get something out of it – if you’re a long term reader, you might find you know a lot of the stuff in […]