There have been a significant number of posts and comments lately concerning impostor syndrome. Those experiencing it should know a few things (contd.)

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First, you are not alone. The phenomenon is common in all forms and areas of practice and at all levels. Partners and managers will also feel it when faced with tasks they are not familiar with which can happen with surprising regularity. I personally experience it most often during client interactions, wondering if they will see through the charade. The key to overcoming impostor syndrome is familiarity. We don't feel like frauds when we tie our shoes because that is an old and well ingrained skill. We don't feel like frauds when we send a text to our friends because we've been doing it repeatedly. After enough exposures, you'll stop feeling like a fraud when you prep that run of the mill discovery motion, or whatever the heck kind of regular documents you transactional types do (maybe a lease or something? Idk I'm a litigator). Keep in mind that as you continue to practice law you will become more and more familiar with what scares you today and that familiarity will bring confidence with it.

Second. We refer to what we do as attorneys as "practicing law." I don't think that is a mistake. Law is something we constantly and continually practice, always trying to get better. We are required to attend CLE's to continually develop our knowledge, and our day to day tasks develop our skills. Even the oldest partner at your firm is still practicing the law. Cut yourself some slack as you build skills through repeated practice.

Third. Ask for help. Partners and senior associates were once entry level fresh faced associates and we remember what it was like. Ask us for help, for constructive criticism. Take the constructive criticism - we are trying to help you be better lawyers. We are largely genuinely happy to help. A common saying is that "there are no stupid questions." That isn't strictly true. But even for the questions that are stupid, I would rather field a hundred stupid questions than find out a junior made a stupid assumption because they didn't want to ask. If I get a stupid question or find a stupid assumption on the twentieth time you;ve done a type of assignment, I'll be annoyed that you didn't come to me with that question on the first few times you did it. Ask for help and you'll usually get it.

In sign off, as a former boss of mine was fond of saying: Go forth and litigate, or sue someone, or defend someone, or write a contract or whatever the heck it is that you do. But most importantly, go forth and bill.

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