Boston, MA - Last week, former Goodwin Procter associates, Dan Hart, Anne Trinque, Andrew Dodge, and Jon Dinwoodey, returned to the firm for a lively discussion with associates and summer associates about what they had learned, and what they wished they had learned, during their time at Goodwin. All four panelists are now in-house counsel at private investment firms.
The alumni panelists shared several valuable skills that they learned at Goodwin Procter, which have served them well ever since. At the top of the list were how to organize and prioritize, balance a large workload, and operate effectively under pressure when handling several urgent demands. One alumnus even explained how these lessons have carried over into every aspect of his life by recounting how he recently managed to get from his house to his seat on the airplane in 27 minutes, without experiencing the slightest change in heart rate!
REITs, derivatives, debt, tax, and ERISA issues were among the list of things that the panelists wish they had learned more about while practicing at Goodwin.
The panelists also shared their thoughts on what outside counsel can do in the early stages of practice to become a client's "go to" lawyer and trusted advisor. Advising associates and summer associates to always be "customer-service oriented", the panelists suggested that the best outside counsel are reliable, knowledgeable, and thorough, and most importantly, listen carefully to their clients, and respond thoughtfully to their specific questions and concerns.
"Law school doesn't teach you what it's all about," said Anne Trinque, an associate at GMO LLC. "You should try different experiences to see how things connect, and realize that the skills you obtain in one area will translate into a different area, as well."
The panelists concluded the evening's discussion by encouraging the attendees to always challenge themselves in new ways, and to take advantage of the opportunities at Goodwin Procter.