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w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5 37 Here's an area where having a more senior ally in the firm — a mentor, friend, long-time assistant — can really help you manage. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for guidance. Lesson 21: It really is a meritocracy, so work hard Being willing to load up on files will pay off because those who work hard- est advance further, notes Daigneault. "They will also get extra mentorship," she says. "The reality is the principals are also working long hours." You also have to help yourself. While the senior partners and asso- ciates are a safety net because they, too, are responsible for your work, make sure you've made the effort and checked and proofread before submit- ting anything. It'll go a long way to winning respect and, more important- ly, forgiveness when you do screw up. And you will. Lesson 22: Mentors are people, too Yes, you need a mentor. Maybe more than one. But, as Daigneault says, don't abuse your welcome. "It's one of my pet peeves," she says. "I talked to kids and they have three or four mentors, they collect them like baseball cards. It's not about you. Any relationship is a two- way relationship and it's always a joy to teach someone who is getting it, and thankful for the time and not cavalier with the time." Lesson 23: There's more to communicating than texting While Gen Y is enamoured with tex- ting, not everyone wants to keep their face buried in their BlackBerry or iPhone. "Texting is OK, but many people prefer face time, or even just a phone call," Salmon says. "You have to learn how they want to communicate." Lesson 24: Learn how to network "I think some of the challenges are around the softer skills coming in," says Vivene Salmon, corporate counsel at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and part of the OBA's young lawyers group. "How to network and develop communication skills. I came from a family of non-law- yers, so I had to develop those skills." Indeed, she says, an OBA seminar around networking offered tips on how to exit a conversation gracefully. "It was really practical advice." Because business issues are legal issues. So if you want to get ahead in business, get the degree that gets you there faster. ONE YEAR – PART - TIME – NO THESIS FOR L AWYERS AND NON - LAWYERS law.utoronto.ca/ExecutiveLLM GPLLM Global Professional Master of Laws [Get a Master of Laws] Untitled-1 1 2015-02-25 8:38 AM