SEC probe exposed in email flub | $600K overbilling claim settled | Houston sued over rape kit backlog

ABA Journal latest headlines

Trump administration waives shipping law to allow more deliveries to Puerto Rico

September 28, 2017, 8:55 am CDT

Boy writes letter advising bankruptcy court that closing Toys R Us would be 'bad for kids'

September 28, 2017, 7:45 am CDT

Law firm's automatic deletion of spam emails is blamed for failure to file timely appeal

September 28, 2017, 7:00 am CDT

Sexually assaulted woman files civil rights action against city of Houston over rape kit backlog

September 27, 2017, 5:30 pm CDT

Duane Morris settles with client who said firm went $600K over budget

September 27, 2017, 5:08 pm CDT

National African-American museum unveils displays of Justices Thomas, Marshall

September 27, 2017, 4:22 pm CDT

Hispanics still treated differently during traffic stops in county once policed under Arpaio: audit

September 27, 2017, 3:23 pm CDT

Oops! WilmerHale email to reporter reveals apparent SEC probe into PepsiCo GC's departure

September 27, 2017, 10:59 am CDT

How long did it take for you to feel like you were a good lawyer?

September 27, 2017, 10:00 am CDT

Supreme Court stays execution to consider granting cert on juror bias claim

September 27, 2017, 9:22 am CDT

In the Magazine

From the October 2017 Issue

Leading Law Firms for Women

Program helps law firms see progress in gender diversity--but is it enough?

Mandating Diversity

Law firms borrow a concept from the NFL to address lack of diversity in their leadership ranks

Question of the Week

How long did it take for you to feel like you were a good lawyer?

At the Law21 Blog this month, legal market analyst Jordan Furlong asked LinkedIn followers who started their careers as law firm associates how many years of practice it took them to feel like "a reasonably competent and confident lawyer." The median answer? Five years.

"What those results also affirmed for me was a strong suspicion I've harbored for years now--that expecting new law firm associates to perform billable work is kind of ludicrous," Furlong wrote.

This week, we'd like to put the same question to you (although you need not have started your career as a law firm associate): How long did it take for you to feel like you were a good lawyer? Please also share the law job you had at the start of your career--whether you were a law firm associate or doing something else. And do you think new law firm associates should be performing billable work?

Answer in the comments.

Read the answers to last week's question: What phrases do you hate hearing when talking to colleagues?

Featured answer:

Posted by Whithertoo: "'So ...' begins the response to a question posed. It has become maddeningly ubiquitous, especially among millennials; almost as universal and maddening as 'where are you at?' Just watch a little television for ample examples of both."