A Civility-Based Model for New Lawyers - by James Harris Fierberg (Paperback)

About the Book

While new law school graduates are pretty well versed in black letter law, they often lack the interpersonal and psychological skills that are imperative to a successful legal career. This book challenges the new lawyer to view themselves through the lens of their colleagues and clients and also to be aware of the basic behavioral norms that are the basis of a successful practice.

Book Synopsis

This book is a must read for new law graduates before they start to take on the issues of their clients. It stresses the critical behavioral qualities that will help or hinder their ability to credibly undertake the client's issues, separate and apart from all of the psychological baggage that they have accumulated over the years. Hiring partners of firms will also find this book useful in helping their new hires to get off on the right foot as they undertake whatever form of mentoring provided. Finally, with the mastery of these interpersonal skills and an understanding of the issues discussed in this book, a rewarding career and personal contribution to a viable road for enhanced civility must follow.

About the Author

James H. Fierberg spent 40 years as a commercial litigator in Massachusetts and Florida, practicing at the highest levels. A graduate of Boston State College and Western New England University School of Law, he also served as a Florida Supreme Court certified civil mediator and law professor for more than a decade. Throughout his career, he focused on the critical task of mentoring new lawyers and is proud that so many have gone on to have successful careers. After teaching law for 10 years in Miami, he retired in 2015 and has continued to work as a consultant to lawyers from his home in the deep mountains of Western North Carolina and as a teacher at Western Carolina University and Southwestern Community College, as well as continuing to provide resources for new lawyers in need of mentoring.