Tips for Summer Associates to Help Develop Soft Skills

(Adopted from a tip by Mike Mallory – designed to be shared with Summer Associates, Junior Associates, or anyone on your team!)

It’s always a good time to reflect on soft skills – important at the initial phase of your career because they set the stage for how you will work in teams, adapt, and build trust with partners and colleagues, and eventually determine your overall value and potential for promotion beyond just your billable hours. Technical skills and a good interview may have gotten you in the door, now your strong communication, ability to collaborate, and positive attitude can help you navigate the human element of a law practice, making you a valuable, promotable member of your team.

This Law360 article provides guidance on one of the main things you do – asking for assignments. The tone and message of the article can also apply across your interactions:

Position yourself as broadly as possible, expressing enthusiasm and flexibility to help with whatever is needed. The ability to pick and choose assignments will come later. It may be necessary to get your foot in the door with small and unglamorous tasks to set the stage for more appealing opportunities in the future. The important thing is to get experience that builds your reputation as a team player who does outstanding work.

Stay visible and approachable. . . .

Ask A Mentor: How Can Associates Seek More Assignments?

Here are a few additional resources from Practical Guidance (a nonbillable resource) with soft skill guidance for Jr. Associates:

• Top 10 Secrets of Success from an Associate – three articles written by practicing Associates, each with a unique perspective
• Introduction to Associate Development Soft Skills – with guidance helpful in developing skills in negotiation, assertiveness, and time management
• 6 Tips for New Associates to Become Effective Communicators – topics such as being proactive, ways to communicate your work product, and other traits that can lead to success
• Professional Development, Practice Management, and Soft Skills Resource Kit – links you to relevant practice notes, short videos, and checklists with guidance on soft skills such as:
  • Communication
  • Negotiation
  • Presentation
• A Lawyer's Guide for Meet and Greets: 5 Tips – practical tips for preparing for and attending business development social gatherings
• Working from Home: 7 Tips for Law Firm Associates – recommendations on how to successfully navigate a hybrid work environment, with remote work now becoming commonplace 

Also, from Law360: 4 Ways Associates Can Ace Their Annual Review

Click here to subscribe to a weekly Practical Guidance newsletter in any of 21 practice areas, and check out the May 20, 2025 newsletter (highlighting soft skills for Jr. Associates to bridge the generation gap).

If you have any questions, please check with your account team, Knowledge & Research Consultant, or law school representative.