Writing Skills is Measured at Thelen Reid
I don’t know about you, but I find it a mite odd 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. It’s really 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 there’s 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.”
It’s odd that the firm would post that at all, much less at the Careers section of its site. It tells visitors — we don’t care about communication skills.
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?
6 August 2008 at 14:50
Joe, take another look at that quote. It says, “we don’t think writing skills are important. We really don’t.” That’s lousy advertising for a law firm.