focus on rounding out their legal tool kit with an ability to gain the respect of fel- low lawyers and clients alike. "Without relationships, your career is nothing," says MacKay. "People in the fi rm, as Warren Buff ett says, need to know you, like you, and trust you because that's who will get the work in the associate pool."
Dina Raphaël, a partner who runs La-
very de Billy's students program from her offi ce in Montreal, adds many young lawyers overlook the business develop- ment skills required for partnership. As- sociates hoping to become partners must show an interest in keeping the fi rm's cur- rent clients and reaching out to bring in
new ones. Th is point touches on an im- portant transition in any legal career. Th e early years of practice typically centre on "learning and doing," notes Raphaël. But aſt er a few years of getting a handle on things, associates are expected to go out, make pitches, and build a clientele. She says that was certainly her experience.
C ANADIAN Lawyer 4STUDENTS F ALL 2010 17
MARTIN O'NEILL
