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| Harjot Atwal |
Let me tell you something I wish someone had told me when I first started law school 14 years ago: Your grades are not necessarily an indicator of your future success. Writing was way more important for me.
I found law school to be very difficult. I previously wrote here about how I gained over 100 pounds in law school due to poor coping mechanisms. Basically, there were times when I felt like everyone was smarter than I was. I feared that I would never get a solid grasp of the materials. I tried to memorize everything like I did in high school and undergrad (to great success previously), but all of a sudden it wasn’t working. It seemed like there was too much to learn, that my brain didn’t work as fast as other students’ minds during exams, that I would be doomed to get poor grades and this would make me undesirable in the legal job market.
Interestingly, I have now worked at eight different law firms and companies (before starting my own law firm), and none of the jobs I actually got involved decision-makers asking to see my grades.
Of course, I applied to and interviewed at other places where they asked to see my grades, and my grades improved quite a bit in 2L and 3L, once I was able to take courses that were primarily graded on the strength of my writing in academic research papers rather than exams. But, I know now that I stressed unnecessarily and probably caused myself some self-destructive heartache I didn’t need or deserve.
Here’s how my jobs played out. The law clerk job I got before and during law school, as well as my articling position and first lawyer job, I got through my mom’s connections. Family can always be super helpful.
The next lawyer position I obtained was by taking a family mediation class at York University and developing a friendship with one of my senior lawyer classmates. After that, I applied for a position posted on Indeed, and the principal lawyer needed someone to help while he was going to be away from his practice for six months.
While I had to demonstrate I knew what was I doing in terms of real estate law in those last three jobs (except for the one where I was a “fish out of water” as a clerk before law school), the hardest interview I ever had came next. Somehow, out of pure luck and auspicious timing, I googled the firm that produced the Document Registration Guide that my articling principal suggested I buy, and it had an opening for a commercial real estate lawyer. It was a big deal. By the grace of holy forces, I had an opportunity to move from firms with one to two lawyers to a firm with over 40 lawyers (and 100 total employees and/or partners).
I only had three days to prepare. So, I spent that time reading everything that my (hopefully) new boss had written and posted on his profile on that firm’s website. Surprise, surprise! Much of that came up in the interview, and the reading helped me answer his more technical questions (as I had mostly done residential real estate law to that point, and the commercial side of things was not exactly in my wheelhouse). Thankfully, I hit the strike zone and landed this awesome job that taught me more about real estate law than any other position I have ever had. No grades. No reference letters. Just an interview and my new boss being impressed that I had been working in real estate law for eight years by that point (considering I started before law school).
At this firm, I was encouraged to write lots of articles. It’s how I began my journey of writing so much for Law360 Canada. I’ve also published in CondoVoice Magazine, Real Estate Magazine, Suhaag Magazine and Canadian Lawyer Magazine. Over the last five years, I have published 50-plus legal articles.
That’s why I like the quote about “aim[ing] for understanding.” If you have to drill down on a subject or case to the point where you can write an article about it, your understanding of that topic will be (pretty nearly) crystal clear. I can’t remember everything I have written off the top of my head as I gave up trying to memorize things long ago. But, law students know it’s all about issue-spotting and being able to find the relevant information and analysis quickly. Nowadays, if I hear something related to an article I have written, I know exactly where to go to refresh my memory.
So, rather than worrying about grades, I would recommend that law students start writing ASAP. You don’t have to be an expert or extremely knowledgeable about a topic to start writing. If you feel unsure of yourself at first, pick a narrow topic and learn it very thoroughly. There are plenty of cases that are only eight to 10 pages long, and you don’t even have to write about the whole case if you dig deep into a specific issue. A “pro tip” is that you are also less likely to make mistakes that way. Then, proofread and publish.
For the last three jobs I got, I know they were impressed by the sheer volume of my writing. All of my articles featured prominently on my resume, and we discussed them at length during my interviews.
You can, of course, distinguish yourself in other ways in the legal job market. Getting legal job experience early on is key as discussed. Other practical hands-on experience like working for a legal clinic (see: Osgoode’s Community & Legal Aid Services Program, for example) also looks great.
For me, I just loved writing since I was a kid. These days, I write more creative poems than legal articles (as I eventually learned better coping mechanisms). Somehow, that love also embellished my career.
Harjot Atwal is a real estate lawyer. In 2023, he opened up his own shop, Atwal Law Firm. You can reach him via email at harjot@atwallawfirm.ca, by phone at 905-264-8926 or on LinkedIn.
The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the views of the author’s firm, its clients, Law360 Canada, LexisNexis Canada or any of its or their respective affiliates. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.
Interested in writing for us? To learn more about how you can add your voice to Law360 Canada contact Analysis Editor Peter Carter at peter.carter@lexisnexis.ca or call 647-776-6740.