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AALM: In terms of retaining cli- ents, what single act do you believe is most e ective?
Shank: “EQ,” which means emo- tional intelligence. In order to foster a good relationship with and loyalty from your client, it is important to make your client feel valued and un- derstood. Clients, at the end of the day, are people. ey want to feel heard, and they want you to be on their side despite the odds. Excellent lawyers are good technicians who relate to their clients and anticipate their needs. Lawyers who act intui- tively and actively work to understand their client and his or her needs are the lawyers who are more likely to re- tain the clients.
AALM: What advice would you of- fer a newly licensed attorney?
Shank: As a newly licensed attor- ney, your rst legal job sets the foun- dation of your legal career. In seeking your rst job, your opportunities for training and mentoring are far more important than the amount of your salary. Find the rm with attorneys who share your same values. For me, some of these values are work ethic, collegiality, approach to the problem- solving, and treatment of clients.
AALM: How do you work to main- tain balance between your home life and work life? What single tip would you o er a young lawyer?
Shank: e rst 20 years of my life I did this poorly. At one point, I hired a business coach who taught me to how delegate better and more e ec- tively. It made a big di erence in both my practice and satisfaction. I suggest trying to not take on too much early in your career. And, if you’re anything like me, you put a lot of pressure on yourself to be a ne lawyer, which starts early on in your career. e pro- fession itself is a stressful profession. Especially in litigation, you have peo-
ple putting pressure on you – clients, opposing counsel, judges, and your- self. ere has to be a way to de-stress and make time for yourself. Find a hobby or activity that you enjoy do- ing, and make time to do it, whether that’s barefoot waterskiing or making time for dear friends.
AALM: How important is culture when selecting the law rm you work with?
Shank: I nd culture very impor- tant, particularly for a young lawyer. I believe that it is crucial to nd a law rm where you feel comfort- able working and where you receive proper training and mentoring. Also, nd people whom you enjoy working with and work well with. I joined my current rm, Diamond McCarthy, last April—and part of what attracted me to the rm was the opportunity to work with a lot of former attorneys from Hughes & Luce, and I loved my time there. My friends from Hughes & Luce were kind enough to invite me to come to Diamond McCarthy, so I did.
AALM: What aws do you see in the legal community? How would you recommend that they be improved or eradicated?
Shank: e adversarial nature of the profession, particularly when there is no objective to be served. I have noticed people arguing for the sake of arguing, and people taking conditions that seem untenable. Also, lack of civility within the profession— it has improved since the 1980s, but I do think that recently, this issue has worsened. I blame that partially on the media; political viewpoints aside, when people are on TV or radio shows where they are taking opposing points of view, they try to shout each other down, and I think that carries over into the legal profession. How- ever, I am impressed with what local bar associations have done to improve
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these issues and I suggest that we con- tinue with and increase those e orts. If more attorneys get involved in their local bar associations, there’s a greater probability that a collaborative envi- ronment will result.
AALM: What is one experience you believe is essential for every attorney? Shank: Training and mentoring. A mentor is a valuable tool to a young attorney, and this person may not al- ways be in your rst job. Sometimes, you may never actually work with this person, but serendipitously come across them in your legal career. No matter how you nd them, under- stand that they’re giving you their valuable time for your bene t. Find these people and work with them— they’ll encourage you, provide you with helpful practice tips, and listen to you. A good mentor will provide you with the constructive criticism and advice necessary to hone your skills
as a young lawyer.
AALM: Would you encourage at-
torneys to become involved in legal association?
Shank: As a person who served in many roles in bar and legal asso- ciations, I would strongly encourage attorneys to become involved. is presents opportunities to share with your colleagues, learn from them, and make contacts. Any association that you join where you have much in common with others involved will be bene cial.
AALM: How do you stay in touch with past and current clients?
Shank: I am a big fan of recog- nizing peoples’ birthdays. Everyone appreciates that. Again, clients are people, and people, at the end of the day, want to feel appreciated. Even the small act of calling an old client on his birthday to wish him well goes a long way. Sometimes, the small things add up and surpass the big things.
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