Marty Sadler, insurance litigator with Litchfield Cavo in Houston, joins us on today's show! Marty talks about managing up, maintaining your humanity, and the importance of poise in an interview.
His firm/practice
22 offices across the nation
full service firm
Houston office (15 lawyers) mostly does insurance work (he does 1st party and many in his office do third party)
Texas lawyers needed for so much of the weather-generated work (hurricanes/hail/wind) that Texas generates
New Texas Supreme Court opinion in Hinojos (v. State Farm) - related to payment of claims after an appraisal. Used to be that if you paid promptly, you avoided all the statutory delay interest penalties. The SC took that away.
COVID update (9/29/21)
With 22 offices there are 22 different COVID situations; every office doing their own thing
Houston office: people can decide how much they want to work in the office v. at home
Marty has only been back in the office once since March 2020; and that one time was by order of a Federal Judge for a hearing!
Very few in-person hearings; no trials since the start of COVID
Expects he will work in a hybrid office format for the rest of his career
What have we lost (or will lose) moving more to relationship online v in-person?
Advice to lawyers in practice
Attention to detail is the most salient element for success as a young lawyer
Learn how to "manage up" in your professional relationships
Don't just react
Communicate with your partners as to what your workload is like and ask for the priority order of the projects
Talk to other associates and see how they work with their partners/supervisors
Resources:
https://www.idealist.org/en/careers/managing-uphttps://www.wsj.com/articles/what-does-it-mean-to-manage-up-11608242276https://www.attorneyatwork.com/managing-up/Push to product
He can't revise a motion that you haven't given him, or that is missing large pieces
He wants to see the work twice: once as a framework of the work early that he can edit, and then a polished form of the product later
Partners may have a different process, so again it is important for you to get to know what each partner you work for expects/requires. Also have to manage the calendar to allow for the entire process to work before filing
On business development
Learn how to be a lawyer first
You don't have to be 50 to get your first referral; young lawyers have an opportunity to get cases early in their careers
On work/life balance
You can always work longer/harder, so you can become consumed in being a lawyer
You have to figure out a way to remember you are a human being first
Don't go home to the family as a lawyer
Advice to Lawyers On The Lateral Market
He likes to see some judicial intern/clerk experience if you are a new lawyer so you have been in the courtroom
Writing samples are helpful
Show poise in the interview; comfortable and confident when things change on them
Find ways to talk about what you bring to the firm and how you will help the firm
Final Thoughts
If you are an associate, the best thing you can do to improve your career is to make yourself indispensable to your partner(s). Will increase your client contact, chances to do depositions, etc.
Rapid Fire Questions
Name one trait/characteristic you most want to see in an associate: poise
What habit has been key to your success: attention to detail
Favorite app/productivity tool: Word
What would be listed first on the interest...
