As the newest partner at Weltman, Weinberg, and Reis Co., LPA, I was approached to share my experiences as a first-year shareholder. I always jokingly say, “the only difference between being an attorney and a shareholder is that I get copied on a lot more emails.” Jokes aside (and although it’s true), here are the top three things I can reflect on in the first year as a shareholder.
Getting on the road to success.
The desire to become a shareholder was not perpetually on my mind. I knew it was attainable, and eventually, the opportunity may present itself, but I didn’t know when, so I didn’t think about it too much or let it consume my mind. Instead, I focused on my job and did what was expected of me. I made sure to do my work to the best of my ability and figured things would fall into place in due time. There are no secrets to success at Weltman - everything is very transparent. The firm, your department managing shareholder, your department manager, and the staff are all put in place to help you succeed. From top to bottom, you need to utilize the tools and guidance that are given to you. In addition, there are annual developmental checkpoints at the end of every year with the year-end reviews. I always approached those as a roadmap to my growth as an attorney and ascent within the firm. You have a golden opportunity to sit there with the top decision-makers of the firm and assess your strengths and weaknesses. I think some people may view those as negative experiences, but I always saw it as an opportunity to grow and made sure I hit my goals for the following year. Not necessarily just to become a shareholder but to be a better attorney.
Increasing your involvement.
As a new shareholder in the firm, the biggest change is that you now have a seat at the table in making business decisions. Even as a non-shareholder, you should always have an avenue to voice concerns or suggestions regarding the firm to management, but now you ARE the management. This can be a bit of an adjustment. I think in my first year, I took the time to see how things operated and digested a lot of information before I spoke up. It can be slightly overwhelming, but as mentioned before, we are all here to see each other succeed. Other shareholders would give good advice, and no one turned me away when I had questions, regardless of how silly or inconsequential they may have been.
Staying humble.
You got here by being yourself. So why change? It’s easier to keep being you than someone else. I want my co-workers and clients to know that I’m the same person they worked with for all these years. I’m still approachable, and the quality of service is still there. Becoming a shareholder isn’t the end of the road, it’s just another beginning. There’s the ability to move upward when you get here. Heading up different committees and organizations and taking on bigger roles in management. Being a new shareholder is just the beginning.
If you have questions and/or want to connect, please contact Milos at any time.
This blog is not a solicitation for business and it is not intended to constitute legal advice on specific matters, create an attorney-client relationship or be legally binding in any way.
If you have questions and/or want to connect, please contact Milos at any time.
This blog is not a solicitation for business and it is not intended to constitute legal advice on specific matters, create an attorney-client relationship or be legally binding in any way.
