Andrew Kassner of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath. Courtesy photo

Andrew C. Kassner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath

What's the most important thing you've learned during the course of your career that you wish you knew as a young lawyer?

With the passage of time, two things became clear to me. First, the importance of your reputation in our profession. Being prepared, responsive, a good listener, and having a brand of being respectful and collaborative while at the same time being an advocate for one's clients and colleagues, especially under the pressures of a difficult case, unreasonable behavior by others, and impossible time constraints. These are old-school values in a fast-changing world, but your reputation is something you build throughout your career from the first day of practice. Second, other than devotion to family, building relationships over time is critical to a rewarding career in the law and a fulfilling life, whether it is with clients, opposing counsel, community organizations, your colleagues, or the bench.

Change in the legal field seems to be ever accelerating. What's the biggest change you've seen in the profession during your career?