After nearly a decade at the same biglaw firm, I have picked up a few tips that I keep right next to my desk. Every time I make a mistake — and this happens often — I write a new message on a post-it note and add it to the mistake pile that sits less than a foot away from me.

1. Always understand what deliverables are expected.
2. Make the life of your boss easier.
3. Better to include something than to make it look like you forgot.
4. Send pre-made alternatives — a Plan A, B, and C — when you don’t know what’s expected.
5. You work for the client.
6. Don’t say no without offering a yes.
7. Communicate expectations.
8. Are you attaching something?
9. Is it the correct attachment?
10. Print everything out — you catch mistakes on paper you can’t see on a screen.
11. Double-check your own work and what your administrative support does for you.
12. Over-deliver and under-promise. If someone asks for something by Monday morning, don’t send it Friday night.
13. Never act above your rank. No task is too small for you.
14. Break the whole down into component parts.
15. When you’re heated, take a deep breath before responding.
16. Show enthusiasm for the success of a partner.
17. Be dependable. Higher-ups appreciate a response within an hour. Set expectations early.
18. Always google before asking someone above you.
19. Meet professionals in your field and learn from them.
20. Always think critically. Don’t blindly complete a task without understanding why.
21. Work on transitions between paragraphs.
22. Write from the reader’s perspective. Don’t bury the lede.
23. Don’t talk about being a good associate — be one.
24. Communicate your deadlines — or suffer the consequences.
25. Remember that it is all just a job. Know your goals and you will be happier.

The Attachment Story

Third week at the firm. My first private equity closing. Things were going well — meaning I hadn’t yet created the mistake pile. That changed around 8pm the night we transmitted signatures. The senior associate emailed me: “Please double-check version numbers in the future when you complete the sign-off package.”

I had sent an out-of-date closing document to opposing counsel. Luckily it was fixable. But I couldn’t let it go for days. Lesson learned. Now it’s numbers 8 and 9 on the mistake pile.

Related reading

• How to Survive Your First Year
• The Summer Associate Survival Guide
• How to Plan Your Lateral Move

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If you want to work through any of this one-on-one — whether you’re a junior associate, gearing up to lateral, or somewhere in between — the first 15 minutes are free. More here.