Breakfast welcome at the State Bar of Michigan's annual Young Lawyers Section Summit on May 31, 2014. An informal mix of real life advice for new and young lawyers, from communicating with clients, colleagues and other people, to interviewing, productivity and building on successes.

1. A Career Building Buffet:
20 Tips in 20 Minutes!
For the SBM YLS 2014 Summit
Elizabeth Jolliffe, JD, CPCC
www.YourBenchmarkCoach.com
734 663 7905

2. 1. Golden Rule
• Treat everyone well.
• Especially those who
can make it harder or
easier for you.
• They know more than
you do.
• The power of

3. 2. Promises

4. 2. Promises
• Under promise and over deliver.
• Surprise them.
• Return calls promptly. Do this.
• Report even when nothing to report.
• Act on that guilty feeling.

5. 3. Reading People
• Learn this skill
• Body language
• Communication style
• Communication method
• Give them what they want
• Ask them or others

6. 4. Observe Others
• Watch the Good & Bad
• Learn & Apply
• Be Yourself

7. 5. Self Assessment
• What image do you present?
• Would you hire yourself?
• Would you refer yourself?
• What do you want to be your reputation?
• Be the lawyer you would want to hire
and/or refer.

8. 6. Become Slightly Famous*
• Why
• For what
• To whom
• How
*Check out this concept in Steven Van Yoder’s book Get
Slightly Famous.

9. What is In Your Sweet Spot?
Interests
Needs or
Opportunities
Skills or
Experience
Sweet Spot

10. Target Marketing Wheel
Niche or Focused
Legal Services
Strategic
Marketing Tactics
Follow Up
Confidence &
Belief in Target
Mktg
Legal Knowledge
& Skills
A “Go To”
Reputation
Target Market &
Referral Sources
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
1 0
Name:
Date:
Consistency
& Persistency w/ Tactics
Seeing the center of the wheel as “0” and the outer edge as “10”, rank your level of satisfaction with each area by drawing a
curved line to create a new outer edge. Give each pie piece the applicable number value as well. The new perimeter of the
circle represents your marketing wheel. In several sections, write two action steps you will take to raise the value a few
levels, and include due dates.
Elizabeth Jolliffe, J.D., Career Management & Business Development Coach For Lawyers , (734) 663-7905
elizabeth@yourbenchmarkcoach.com www.yourbenchmarkcoach.com

11. 7. Confidence
• Nervous: Better than you think you are.
• Never nervous?

12. 8. Interviewing
• Tell me about yourself
• Trigger stories
• Cover letters: how do you fit the job
• Stand in their shoes
• How vs What you say
• Dirty secret: “fit”
• Salary question

13. 9. Job Search Wheel
Details of Your
Search Plan
Follow Up
Interviewing Skills
& Cover Letters
Focus
Confidence
Legal Knowledge
& Skills
Networking /
Relationship
Building /
Contacts
Energy
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
1 0
Name:
Date:
Seeing the center of the wheel as “0” and the outer edge as “10”, rank your level of satisfaction with each area by drawing a
curved line to create a new outer edge. Give each pie piece the applicable number value as well. The new perimeter of the
circle represents your job search wheel. On each section, write 2 steps you will take to raise the value a few levels, and
include your due dates.
Elizabeth Jolliffe, J.D., Career Management & Business Development Coach For Lawyers , (734) 663-7905
www.YourBenchmarkCoach.com elizabeth@yourbenchmarkcoach.com

14. 10. The “Client” is Always Right*
and other tips
• “Yes and…” vs “No but…”
• ASK what a success would be for them
• Treat their money like it’s your money
• Stand in their shoes

15. 11. New Matters

16. 12. Self Promotion

17. Self Promotion Wheel
Legal Knowledge
& Skills
Understanding
What
Stops You
Champions &
Ambassadors
Referrals
& Testimonials
Online Presence
Elevator Speech
Niche or
“Focused” Legal
Services
A “Go To”
Reputation
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
1 0
Name:
Date:
Seeing the center of the wheel as “0” and the outer edge as “10”, rank your level of satisfaction with each area by drawing a
curved line to create a new outer edge. Give each pie piece the applicable number value as well. The new perimeter of the
circle represents your self promotion wheel. This exercise measures your level of satisfaction in these areas on the day you
work through this exercise.
Elizabeth Jolliffe, J.D., Career Management & Business Development Coach For Lawyers , (734) 663-7905
elizabeth@yourbenchmarkcoach.com www.yourbenchmarkcoach.com

18. 13. Stay in Touch

19. 14. Networking
• Networking = relationship building
• Use your relationship skills
• Build it before you need it. Start now.

20. Networking cont’d.
• Event networking:
 Prepare, go w/ a purpose & a plan
 Act like a host
 Focus on the other person; how
can I help him/her?
 Follow up. Huh?

21. 15. Bar Associations
• Why
• Which ones
• Then what

22. 16. Powerful Q’s
• What am I afraid of?
• What more do I need to know to be able to
make a decision?
• “Insanity” – what do I keep doing….?

23. More Q’s
• How does this activity fit in my plan?
• What do I really want?
• What is most important?
• What do I need to do first?
• By when will I do it?

24. 17. Your Values
• Know them
• Use them to make decisions
• How aligned is your practice or life w/ each
value? (on a scale of 1-10)
• Your definition of success

25. 18. Success Patterns:
You at Your Best
• Recall at least 3 times in the last 5 years, or
longer, when you felt you were at your best,
most powerful, firing on all cylinders, etc.
• Write a detailed description of your role,
responsibilities, personal values, strengths,
the subject matter, people context/contact,
physical environment, etc. in each.
• When you have finished, look for themes &
patterns. What do you see?

26. 19.

27. 20. Wheel of Life
Physical
Environment
Money
Career
Family and
Friends
Significant
Other/Romance
Personal Growth
Fun & Recreation
Health
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
1 0
Name:
Date:
Seeing the center of the wheel as “0” and the outer edge as “10”, rank your level of satisfaction with each area by drawing a
curved line to create a new outer edge. Give each pie piece the applicable number value as well. The new perimeter of the
circle represents your wheel of life. This exercise measures your level of satisfaction in these areas on the day you work
through this exercise.
Elizabeth Jolliffe, J.D., Career Management & Business Development Coach For Lawyers, (734) 663-7905
www.YourBenchmarkCoach.com elizabeth@yourbenchmarkcoach.com

28. Thank you and good luck!
Elizabeth Jolliffe, JD, CPCC
Your Benchmark Coach
www.yourbenchmarkcoach.com