PWP Young Lawyers Panel List of Discussion Topics
(Fall 2015)
1. Tell us about your career path and what led to your current position.
2. What’s a typical day like for you?
3. Looking back, what do you know now about practicing law that you wish you had
realized when you graduated law school? How does that translate into advice you would
give a new attorney?
4. Do you have an employer-appointed mentor and/or other mentors?
a. Would either of these individuals be someone with whom you would be
comfortable discussing ethical or professionalism issues?
b. What types of issues do you routinely discuss with your mentor?
5. What organizations are you involved in and how have they helped you become a better or
more balanced lawyer?
6. How important is a new lawyer’s reputation and how can a newer attorney best cultivate
their reputation?
7. What advice could you give to a new attorney when encountering another more
experienced attorney who was acting uncivil or unprofessional? How have you handled
these encounters?
8. Think back to some examples of professionalism issues or ethical issues that you have
encountered in your practice.
a. Have you ever said or done something that you later had second thoughts about or
regretted and how did you handle the situation?
b. How did you and/or other attorneys with whom you work handle unprofessional
or unethical situations?
9. What would you do if you were asked to do something you knew to be unethical or
unprofessional?
a. If this has actually happened to you, how did you handle this situation?
10. Have you been involved with a case in which you morally oppose or disagree with a
position that you are asked to take? If so, how do you handle this situation?
11. Describe a time when you made a mistake and explain the steps you used to correct the
matter. What did you learn from the experience?
12. Do you have any other words of wisdom that you’d like to share with newer attorneys?