![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/RamosFrank_Web.png?resize=880%2C587&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
Frank Ramos is a partner at Goldberg Segalla in Miami, where he practices commercial litigation, products, and catastrophic personal injury.\u00a0You can follow him on\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>, where he has about 80,000 followers<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n The post What I\u2019ve Learned: Random Thoughts For Young Lawyers<\/a> appeared first on Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a column in Esquire titled \u201cWhat I\u2019ve Learned\u201d where famous people share what life has taught them.\u00a0\u00a0About 15 years ago, I wrote my own \u201cWhat I\u2019ve Learned\u201d piece for a legal publication. Here I go again.<\/p>\n My first boss told me, \u201cDon\u2019t make the client\u2019s problem your problem.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0I think about that a lot.<\/p>\n Come early\u00a0to\u00a0work.\u00a0\u00a0Gives you time to settle in for the day.<\/p>\n Every morning, skim your calendar for the week.\u00a0\u00a0Once a week, check your calendar for the month.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Double-check\u00a0all your events and deadlines are properly calendared.\u00a0\u00a0The cases are yours, not your legal assistant\u2019s.<\/p>\n Get the paid version of Grammarly, even if you\u00a0have to pay for it yourself.<\/p>\n Always use the\u00a0active\u00a0voice.\u00a0\u00a0Strong nouns, strong verbs.\u00a0\u00a0Few adverbs and adjectives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Join Toastmasters.\u00a0\u00a0Take an improv class.\u00a0\u00a0Volunteer to speak.<\/p>\n Get published.\u00a0\u00a0Start small. Try to write 200-300 words\u00a0every day. One day,\u00a0you may write a book.<\/p>\n Exercise.\u00a0\u00a0Eat well.\u00a0\u00a0Go to bed on time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Join LinkedIn.\u00a0\u00a0Work on your profile.\u00a0\u00a0Post regularly on a topic you know about and enjoy.<\/p>\n Treat your boss like your client.<\/p>\n If you screw up, own\u00a0it.\u00a0\u00a0Develop a solution and discuss it with your supervisor to determine the best approach for handling\u00a0it.\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t hide your mistake or try to cover it up.<\/p>\n Go to lunch with your colleagues.\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t always eat at your desk.<\/p>\n Working from home is a privilege, not a right.\u00a0\u00a0The earlier you are in your profession, the more office time you need for your professional development.<\/p>\n Get\u00a0a hobby.<\/p>\n Feed your village and tribe.\u00a0\u00a0We all need a team around us, supporting us, and we do\u00a0it for them.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t compromise your principles, values, or ethics for the sake of a firm or a\u00a0client.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t ever do anything that jeopardizes your ticket.<\/p>\n No one is coming to save you.<\/p>\n Your career is your responsibility.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t burn bridges.<\/p>\n Pay it forward.\u00a0Always.<\/p>\n Read a book or take a class on etiquette.<\/p>\n An open bar is not an invitation to overconsume.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t\u00a0overstay your welcome at an event, in an organization,\u00a0or at a firm.<\/p>\n Read.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Don\u2019t\u00a0doom\u00a0scroll.<\/p>\n There\u2019s always another great show to watch. Turn off the television.<\/p>\n Listen more.\u00a0\u00a0Talk less.<\/p>\n Spend money on a good office chair, a good mattress,\u00a0and good shoes.\u00a0\u00a0Your\u00a0middle-aged\u00a0self will thank you.<\/p>\n On your deathbed, you won\u2019t regret\u00a0not billing\u00a0more hours.<\/p>\n Take an investment class.<\/p>\n Try\u00a0writing\u00a0poetry.<\/p>\n Jury selection is deselection.<\/p>\n Get involved.\u00a0\u00a0Volunteer.\u00a0\u00a0Do pro bono.<\/p>\n If your firm won\u2019t invest in your development, it\u2019s on you.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-1501984741-300x231.jpg?resize=300%2C231&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
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