In the legal profession, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of having a mentor. Law school teaches you to understand and apply the law, but it does not prepare you adequately to practice law. For my mentees, understanding the complex business of law includes exposure to court hearings, depositions, client meetings and mediations. This is how they learn the intricacies of the job requirements, including how to prepare for hearings and meetings, note taking and what to wear.

I've been committed to pro bono work and mentoring since the start of my career in the late 1980s. For the past 15 years, I've taught at the Eleanor R. Cristol and Judge A. Jay Cristol Bankruptcy Pro Bono Assistance Clinic at the University of Miami. To gain practical experience with real matters in bankruptcy court, students are placed with mentor bankruptcy attorneys in the community and assigned diverse cases, including Chapter 7, Chapter 13, contested matters and adversary proceedings. It's rewarding work, and I enjoy sharing my courtroom and firm experience with law students.

I'm also dedicated to mentoring and as I tell my mentees and students: It's like the famous Eagles song, “Hotel California”—“You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” I ensure that I'm always available to help students, both during law school and after graduation, and I consistently work with the new attorneys at the firm.

In the early days of my career as a attorney, I was lucky enough to accompany a seasoned partner to court almost every time he appeared. Observing firsthand the different styles of lawyering contributed to the cultivation and development of my own personal style. For me, it's about paying it forward to the next generation.

Young lawyers joining a firm should not only ask for a partner mentor but also request an associate mentor. A mentee may be more comfortable speaking to a nonpartner about certain issues, and it's important to learn how to interact with other lawyers. When first starting out, learn how to juggle the work required. Never say “no” to work. As a young associate, make sure to be seen by everyone, as out of sight often means out of mind. I teach my mentees to stay grounded by maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

With developments in technology, seasoned lawyers are on 24/7, with less time to devote to mentoring young lawyers. While associates are under pressure to bill hours and bring in business, it is important to not let mentors off the hook. Young attorneys must be assertive and ask their mentors to be included in depositions and court appearances. Even if it is not billable time, the best way to learn is always to observe and experience.

A key piece of advice for today's legal environment: be civil. One of the most challenging aspects of practicing law is the lack of civility among lawyers. While it is not unusual for litigants to be uncivil toward one another, in many instances, the lawyers have entered that arena as well. If you just greet this incivility with very pleasant banter it diffuses most situations.

In the words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “You can disagree without being disagreeable.”

Allison R. Day, a shareholder at Genovese Joblove & Battista, focuses her practice in all areas of bankruptcy, business reorganization and creditors' rights. She recently spoke at a Legal Services of Greater Miami Young Professional Council assembly. She can be reached at [email protected].