Editor's Note
When in journalism school no one really explained that different types of publications existed for us to work at. Many journalism professors promoted the mentality that we need to work at the biggest newspapers or magazines. Some of the very newspapers and magazines we tried to get hired at in 2000 now, a dozen years later, face hefty economic challenges and may not seem like the best bet for today's graduating journalism students. Journalism schools, on a whole, need to do a better job promoting to their students that there is no one set career path these days to being a journalist — newspapers and magazines come in many sizes and with many focuses, such as the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer with their legal focus.
I wonder if the same could hold true for graduating law students. I wonder if all law schools encourage their students to consider law firms of different sizes. Maybe today's graduating law students simply want a job at whatever law firm will hire them. But I bet that 10 years ago, working at the largest law firms seemed like the best goal.
This month's issue focuses on midsize firms. When I started working at Chicago Lawyer in 2006 a lot of talk circulated that the legal community would swallow up midsize firms. By the time we reached 2012 midsize firms would become extinct. But that, of course, didn't happen. In some cases, midsize firms became a better option for certain clients who wanted to work with top lawyers for lower billable hour rates. Midsize firms also became a viable option for those lawyers who wanted a different career experience. Just as different size publications exist for different types of journalists, different size law firms exist for different types of lawyers.
Roy Strom, our new reporter, wrote about midsize firms' philosophies on such areas as recruiting, salaries, retention and practice areas. Roy wrote this story because some of our readers expressed an interest in reading how other law firms handle these areas. Freelance reporter Robert Loerzel focused his story on those midsize firms that handle intellectual property and how they carve out a place in the local legal world.
I've added several new columns to the magazine. McDermott Will & Emery partner Latonia Haney Keith will write every other month about pro bono work from the law firm perspective. Her first "Above & Beyond" column appears this month.
Jeffrey Simon, whom I met when I organized an Attorneys in Transition event several years ago, will write about managing finances. He wanted me to tell you that he is a two-year winner (2010/2011) of the "Five Star Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager Award" by Chicago magazine. He shares that he "is part of an elite group, representing less than 2 percent of the wealth managers in the Chicagoland area. Jeff works with attorneys and their families, helping them handle the unique challenges of financial success. Jeff empowers his clients to take control of their money. They work together to prioritize, organize and simplify their financial life to take care of the people they love and enjoy the things they like to do while reducing the stress and worry." He can be reached at (312) 559-1704 or jeffrey.c.simon@rbc.com.
Corboy & Demetrio lawyers Tom Demetrio and Ken Lumb will write every other month about medical malpractice issues in their "MedMal Matters" column. This month's column discusses how some doctors and medical workers text while monitoring patients and the legal issues that may exist.
This month also starts our yearlong series about innovative members of the legal community. Each month we will profile a lawyer who goes beyond the practice of law to implement change and inspire others. The first story by freelance writer Christine Kraly focuses on lawyer Andrea Kramer and the work she does to promote equality. This series will also include a regular set of questions about what inspires these inspiring lawyers. I heard Kramer speak at a Women's Bar event and she really inspired me. I think she will do the same for you.
Assistant editor Amanda Robert will continue to write a story each month. This month's story talks about mental health issues and how lawyers work with these issues either in their own lives, their practices or with their colleagues.
Lastly, I'm looking for stylish male and female lawyers who really know how to dress. You see these individuals walk into a courtroom or boardroom and you immediately wonder, "Where did he get that suit?" or "I wonder if they have that dress in my size?" If you are one of these people or you know of someone in the Chicago area legal community who fits the description, e-mail me. I hope to profile some of them.