Category Archives: Professional Skills

New Edition! Thinking Like a Writer: A Lawyer’s Guide to Effective Writing and Editing

PLI Press is proud to announce the publication of Thinking Like a Writer: A Lawyer’s Guide to Effective Writing and Editing (Fourth Edition).

A longtime favorite among PLI customers, this book provides practical advice to help lawyers strengthen their writing skills by “thinking like a writer” as effectively as they already think like a lawyer. It highlights guiding principles for writing clearly about complicated material and establishing credibility with demanding readers, and then turns those principles into specific techniques that apply to many types of documents and audiences.

  • Part I introduces the approach and principles that can guide lawyers in “thinking like a writer.”
  • Part II applies the guiding principles to a document’s organization.
  • Part III applies guiding principles to specific types of legal writing: letters, memoranda, and emails; briefs; and judicial opinions.
  • Part IV applies the principles to the smaller scale of paragraphs and sentences.
  • Part V applies the principles to the editing process, for both self-editing and editing the work of others.

Throughout, chapters include before-and-after examples to demonstrate how writing and editing can be improved by following the advice offered in the book.

Order a print copy today.

PLI PLUS subscribers can access this title through their subscription.

New Title! Stepping It Up: A Guide for Mid-Level Law Firm Associates

PLI Press recently published Stepping It Up: A Guide for Mid-Level Law Firm Associates, the latest title in the career development series.

Aimed at associates in their third to sixth years of practice, this book provides guidance on how people in large firms can successfully make the transition from junior associate—by “stepping up” their performance to meet the increasing expectations that partners have of associates with several years of experience. Chapters are written by various legal professionals, including law firm chiefs, in-house counsel and senior associates, who share their experiences and perspectives, along with clear examples, of what is expected of mid-level associates.

This book addresses a broad-range of skill development, including:

Order a print copy today.

PLI PLUS subscribers can access this title through their subscription.

New Title! Succession Planning and Retirement Strategies for Law Firms and Lawyers

PLI Press is pleased to announce the publication of a new treatise on professional skills:

Succession Planning and Retirement Strategies for Law Firms and Lawyers showcases the perspectives of both law firm management and individual partners in order to mitigate the discomfort of retirement conversations and help develop effective transition plans that meet the needs of all stakeholders.

Written by a certified career/life management coach with more than three decades of experience working with the legal profession, this book is designed to help all participants address assumptions, thoughts, and emotions around aging and retirement to influence transition outcomes in a positive manner. It contains numerous tools and exercises to help guide discussions and planning.

Among the specific topics covered are:

  • Strategic plans designed to launch retirement discussions
  • Aligning talent management strategies with life cycle
  • Impact of compensation and culture on succession planning
  • Mindset of aging partners
  • Designing post-practice life
  • Tending to physical, mental and emotional well-being
  • Collaborating for better outcomes

Order a print copy today.

PLI PLUS subscribers can access this title through their subscription.

New Title! An Associate’s First Year: A Guide to Thriving at a Law Firm

An Associate’s First Year: A Guide to Thriving at a Law Firm is a new published title from PLI Press.

There is more to thriving as a new law firm associate than doing great legal work. Associates must also demonstrate commitment to law firm values; capably manage up and down within their firm; successfully interact with people of different generations, cultures, and backgrounds; champion diversity and inclusion; work smartly and efficiently; contribute to innovation within their firms; manage their workloads; continually learn about their clients’ businesses; and so much more.

An Associate’s First Year, edited by Jennifer L. Bluestein and featuring contributions from more than a dozen experts—including partners, professional developments directors, law firm associates, and other legal industry professionals—provides new associates first-hand insights and guidance on:

Each chapter is full of practical suggestions to help new associates navigate their first year of practice at a law firm.

If you would like to order a print copy, please email libraryrelations@pli.edu.