Writing Skills is Measured at Thelen Reid
I don’t know about you, but I find it a mite odd (sophomoric) when a law firm — especially a great big one — bothers to list each and every instance of someone at the firm being quoted in a newspaper or magazine. I find it especially odd when the list includes quotes that appeared in some small-town newspaper with a circulation of several hundred, or when the most recently published quote is four or five years old.
But I find nothing odd about the importance firms place on quotes from their attorneys, especially when those quotes appear in major papers like the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal, or widely-circulated magazines like Business Week or Forbes. Those quotes can attract business; or they can drive it away.
And so, most big firms have guidelines and procedures for dealing with journalists. Some even offer their partners training on how to respond to questions from journalists. All well and good.
Now, consider this quote from an associate at Thelen Reid (posted at the Careers section of the firm’s Web site):
“Thelen is a law firm that places a premium on professional development and where firm contribution and good citizenry is measured by more than just the billable hour. The fostering of personal relationships among associates, staff and partners is not uncommon, which makes for a supportive and collegial environment to develop your skill-set as a legal practitioner.”
What’s odd about this quote? Most large firms advertise that they only hire associates with “strong writing and speaking skills.” The quote says that’s not the case at Thelen Reid.
30 April 2008 at 18:50
And the problem is what? That the junior associate should have said “where firm contribution and good citizenry ARE measured”?
Is that such a big deal?
1 May 2008 at 12:26
Joe, take another look at that quote. What is “firm contribution?” Is that like “sturdy contribution” or “strong contribution?” Is it the opposite of “weak or feeble contribution?”
How does the firm measure “good citizenry?” What can that possibly mean? Does the quoted attorney not realize what “citizenry” means?
“The fostering of personal relationships is not uncommon.” What is that supposed to mean?
It’s certainly not a good quote. The attorney comes off as having poor communication skills. And whoever decided to post this quote so prominently in the Careers section . . . . What could that person have been thinking?
Did the people in human resources approve this quote?
Keeping this quote posted at the site makes it seem as if the firm’s management can’t be bothered with details (or with important things, like making sure the firm’s attorneys are seen as good communicators).
So no . . . what’s wrong with this quote is much more than a singular/plural disagreement.