The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) has published guidelines for electronic ID cards to be used by European lawyers. Each Member State would issue cards embedded with an electronic chip to its lawyers, enabling lawyers to operate easily throughout Europe. The CCBE, which represents over 700,000 lawyers from the European Union and European Economic Area through bars and law societies, produces the existing CCBE ID cards. However, it hopes to enhance cross-border interoperability by adding the electronic chips to the cards for better tracking. As envisioned, any lawyer with such card would have met minimum technical standards agreed by all the Member States.
Many thanks to Aaron Schildhaus, liasion from the ABA’s Section of International Law to the CCBE, for drawing this to my attention.
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Long distance work: that’s the essence of an international practice. One primary challenge is how to stay connected to clients, co-workers and bosses across the miles.
Harvard Business Online recently posted an article about pleasing bosses long distance titled Remote Leadership: Meeting the Challenge of Working for a Virtual Boss by Michael Watkins. Tips include building a good working relationship with a boss in person early on, no matter how far away you are located: after all, ”there is no way you can make a personal connection and lay the foundation for a strong working relationship solely through electronic means.”
Watkins also recommends regularly connecting with a virtual boss, and using more personal means of communicating, like phone calls rather than just email. In other words, he recognizes and touts the importance of building a strong personal connection with a virtual boss through personal interaction.
The same advice applies to working with clients virtually. Lawyers must find the time to connect with their clients across the miles and in different time zones–and discipline themselves to do so regularly and effectively. Otherwise they risk having to reestablish lost client relationships, as discussed in my August 24, 2007 post on reactivating former clients with in person contact.
I ran across an article by professional speaker Tom Antion with tips for integrating humor into international presentations. (Ignore the flashing graphics at the top of the page and scroll down for the tips.) Humor is very culture specific, so do your research!
Do you have a mentor? Are you mentoring a younger lawyer? Mentoring can be magic–both for the mentor and mentee.
As I discussed in my recent article on Strategies for Staying Successful as a Partner for the ABA’s Law Practice Magazine, it is critical to develop a support system within your place of employment. Whether you work at a large firm or have a solo practice, or whether you are a corporate counsel or a government employee, having a mentor as part of your overall support system can really help your star to rise.
As my article explains, “…no one can do it all on their own so it is also important to develop a good support system of people ready to help you grow your practice and continually learn more. If you do not have a mentor, seek one out.”
Ask your mentor for recommendations about:
1. Committees and other leadership opportunities;
2. Career direction;
3. Introductions to potential clients or other resources;
4. Tips for enhancing your work experience and knowledge base;
5. Unbiased, confidential, “tough-love” feedback; and
6. Career insights gained by your mentor as an experienced international practitioner.
As an international lawyer, it will be invaluable to have input from a more senior attorney about the rules of the road. The finer points of a successful global law practice–such as the finesse required for global rainmaking–require experience and in sights that a more seasoned international lawyer can provide. Seasoned practitioners also provide cultural tips, such as Do’s and Dont’s when Doing Business in Dubai or Dakar or Dublin.
If you can’t find a mentor in your place of employment, look for one through a bar, industry or alumni association. Recently retired international lawyers can also be marvelous resources.
Similarly, you should willingly mentor more junior practitioners as they grow their international practices. Not only will this enhance the pool of more junior lawyers from which you can draw, but it will also create goodwill between you and the junior attorneys. As they progress up the career ladder, they will appreciate your mentoring–long after you have ceased to work together.
For tips on how to be successful as a partner, read my latest article in the July/August 2007 issue of the ABA’s Law Practice Magazine titled It’s Only Just Begun: Strategies for Staying Successful as a New Partner. Despite the title, both new and experienced partners can benefit from these tips.
