Unwritten Rules of Legal Practice
Lawyers generally prefer to have the rules laid out in black and white so they can apply some literal interpretation…
…but life isn’t always like that. So in a bid to assist the ones who don’t pick up rules that exist in the ether, here are some pointers from slaw:
Rule #78 It is impossible to send an e-mail longer than two paragraphs without a typo.
Rule #765 A managing partner should never walk the halls in stocking feet.
Rule #189 Docketing “twittering” to client development is sure to invite ridicule.
Rule #685 Don’t hang a picture of yourself wearing a bathing suit in your office.
Rule #441 If you’re under 50 and using a fountain pen you’re trying too hard.
Rule #210 Make funny faces and adoring comments when a new baby visits no matter what you’re thinking.
Rule #923 Telling colleagues their voice message is out of date is not an act to win friends.
N.B. it is not an exhaustive list (clue: see numbering) – here are some of our own:
Rule #1 — Only use “Reply to All” if there’s an alien invasion; even then, is it really necessary?
Rule #540 — Partners don’t make ’suggested’ amendments.
Rule #732 — A four day week means you can be absent from the office for one day a week; who said anything about billable hours?
Feel free to add your own…
February 2, 2010
rule 1 dont shit where you eat
February 2, 2010
Rule#13 – Leave the clock ticking when you take a toilet break.
February 2, 2010
As a trainee, using your managing partner’s special coffee cup is never really ‘ok’
February 3, 2010
Rule#32: Copy and paste some standard spiel into the narrative for recording non-chargeable time, as a smokescreen for what is essentially procrastination and sending emails to friends
February 3, 2010
Rule#9 dress down Friday is not an excuse for ‘trendies’ to hold a fashion parade
February 5, 2010
Rule#2 – Don’t go out on Thursday nights to a ‘club’ get steaming drunk and throw your business cards around like confetti. Seriously.