BigLaw associates are often frustrated doing what feel like routine assignments when they feel ready to move into what they see as more challenging, complex and even more important work. But some of that work that seems tiresome is in fact an important opportunity to develop the judgment they will need for more senior work. Updating exhibit lists, drafting meeting agendas, checking citations, preparing chronologies, reviewing documents, and writing follow-up emails may feel repetitive, especially when someone else is advising the client, questioning the witness, or leading the discussion. But performing a task many times is not the same as mastering the judgment behind it.
I walk through 10 skills that associates should be developing through work that can easily be dismissed as mechanical. I explain why research is not complete when you have collected the cases, why verifying an AI-generated answer requires more than confirming that the cited authority exists, and why lawyers need enough context to understand how their piece of an agreement, filing, or transaction affects the rest of the matter. I also discuss how chronologies teach you to separate facts from assumptions, how meeting notes help you identify decisions and unresolved issues, and why effective emails should be organized around what the recipient needs to know or do rather than around how much work you performed.
I also explain why proofreading requires looking for what is missing, not simply correcting what is on the page; how deadline management depends on identifying inputs and dependencies early; and why reviewing a partner's revisions to your work can provide some of the most specific feedback available to you. Finally, I discuss how all of these skills affect your ability to delegate as you become more senior. The goal is not to remain stuck doing routine work indefinitely. It is to understand what judgment the work requires, exercise that judgment deliberately, and become ready for the more complex assignments and client responsibilities you want.
At a Glance
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01:20 Why associates become frustrated waiting for opportunities to do the "real work"
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02:43 Why performing an assignment repeatedly does not necessarily mean you have mastered it
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03:23 How familiar tasks develop judgment about facts, risks, decisions, and legal authority
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04:12 Why AI and other efficient tools increase the importance of knowing how to evaluate the result
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05:02 How to turn repetitive assignments into opportunities for deliberate development
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05:55 Skill 1: Distinguishing what matters from what merely exists
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07:27 Skill 2: Verifying information
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08:44 Skill 3: Understanding how your piece of the work fits into the larger matter
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09:35 Skill 4: Separating facts from assumptions
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11:07 Skill 5: Turning meetings and discussions into decisions and action
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12:08 Skill 6: Communicating based on what the recipient needs
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13:54 Skill 7: Recognizing omissions and inconsistencies in documents
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15:37 Skill 8: Managing dependencies and anticipating problems before deadlines
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16:30 Skill 9: Learning from how senior lawyers revise and use your work
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17:49 Skill 10: Taking responsibility for work you delegate to others or to AI
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19:10 How to use one routine assignment each week as deliberate practice
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20:06 The question associates should ask before deciding they have already mastered an assignment
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Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast
