This article originally appeared in the June 9 edition of The Legal Intelligencer
To survive and thrive as an associate you need to take control of your life, both professional and personal. Although I haven't been an associate for many years, I well remember those days. I have found that the following five steps have helped me to lead a more fulfilling, well-rounded and happy life, both as a lawyer and a person. I hope that you can incorporate some of these ideas into your own lives … if you're not doing so already.
STEP 1: Don't be passive - be an actor, not a reactor.
You were coddled and entertained as a summer associate. You received training and orientation as a new associate. You have a billable-hour target, a pro bono target, all kinds of pressures from partners and from family. You get assignments and deadlines; you are sent out of town. You often feel like a pinball, bouncing from partner to partner, project to project, pressure to pressure. You keep postponing planning
