Next month will mark my 10th year as a lawyer.
What better time to reflect on the last decade?
Like many new lawyers, I did not have everything mapped out when I was called to the bar. I began my career in family law and quickly learned two things: first, that family lawyers deserve every dollar they earn, and second, that I was not meant to be one of them.
Fortunately, I eventually found my way into business law, where I have happily remained ever since.
Looking back, some of the lessons that have stayed with me the most have very little to do with the law itself.
Work-life balance is not something you figure out once.
It is something you continually work on.
In this profession, the pendulum has a habit of swinging. There are periods where work takes over and periods where life demands more attention. The challenge is not achieving perfect balance; it is recognizing when things are out of alignment and making the adjustments needed to find your footing again.
As careers evolve and personal lives grow, so too does the definition of balance. What worked at one stage of life may not work at the next.
Relationships matter more than transactions.
The details of the files I worked on ten years ago have largely faded with time. The relationships have not.
Some of the most rewarding parts of practicing law have come from the relationships built along the way—with clients, colleagues, mentors, accountants, and yes, even opposing counsel. Trust is earned over time, often through countless small interactions rather than any single transaction.
At the end of the day, people may not remember every detail of a deal, but they will remember whether you were responsive, practical and someone they could count on.
Clients rarely need the most complicated answer. They need the clearest one.
Early in my career, I sometimes thought my value came from knowing the answer.
Over time, I realized my value often comes from helping clients understand the answer.
Clients are dealing with businesses, families, employees, opportunities and challenges. They do not need a legal textbook. They need practical advice that helps them make informed decisions and move forward with confidence.
Most problems can be solved.
When you are new to practice, every unexpected issue feels like an emergency. Early in my career, I was convinced that a missing signature page, a delayed lender response, or a last-minute title issue might bring an entire transaction crashing down.
Experience has taught me that while some problems are certainly difficult, most have a solution. It may require creativity, persistence, negotiation or patience, but there is usually a path forward.
The biggest difference between the lawyer I was ten years ago and the lawyer I am today is not that I encounter fewer problems—it is that I have learned that most problems are simply part of the job.
Success means more than your career.
For a long time, I measured success through professional accomplishments.
While those achievements still matter, I have come to appreciate that a successful career is only one part of a successful life. Family, friendships, health, travel, hobbies and experiences matter too.
Ten years in, I certainly do not have everything figured out. But I am grateful for the clients who trusted me, the mentors who guided me, the colleagues who supported me, and my family and friends who reminded me that there is more to life than work.
The older I get, the more I realize that a successful legal career is not measured solely by the deals you have closed, but by the life you have managed to build around them.
Here’s to the first ten years—and whatever comes next.
Robin K. Mann, Associate Lawyer