Knowledge is ever enough, knowing about trends, old facts, strategies about time management and productivity, and ongoing trends. A lawyer should be equipped with all such information from the right sources. Running a legal practice is difficult, exhausting, yet lawyers manage to maintain the task with ease.
Ever wondered what information you need to run a successful and ever-growing law practice, how you can maintain your time, productivity hacks, and how to make sure that you have good mental health? There are thousands of books out there covering all such topics to make your life and work more streamlined and less exhausting by giving you knowledge. The question arises: how do you know which book to read and which one is worth reading?
This blog is going to cover 18 books for categories such as books for new lawyers, books on how to start a law firm, classic book selections, time management, and productivity books, and books on mental health for lawyers that are a must-read for every lawyer.
Books for New Lawyers
1. The New Lawyer’s Handbook by Karen Thalacker
When you have just graduated from law school, you know how to write, talk, and handle things like a lawyer. But there are certain things you can only learn through experience. In this case, this book is best, this book teaches everything you need to know about working in law. Need advice on handling clients. This book got you back.
2. The Young Lawyer’s Jungle Book: A Survival Guide by Thane Messinger
A classic book published in 1999 and it’s hard to ignore this masterpiece, this book bridges the gap between law school and being a full-fledged practitioner. Messinger includes humor and shares thoughtful insights about workplace tips, how to build relationships with senior attorneys, and other important aspects of being a lawyer.
3. The Marble and the Sculptor: From Law School to Law Practice by Keith Lee
This book takes a modern approach for guiding legal professionals from law school to the actual legal world. The author provides a guide to how to be successful both in life and as a lawyer. This teaches you everything from how to choose classes while you are in college to how to write a good CV for landing on your first job
Best Books for Lawyers on How to Start a Law Firm
1. The Small Firm Roadmap
Published by Lawyerist, this book gives you critical insight and helps you gain clarity about and around your career, what should be your law firm goals and how you can set them up for success and identify successful strategies for law firm growth and success
2. The E-Myth Revisited
With this book, you’ll gain a clear understanding of working on your business and in business, both are completely different topics and this book will help you in differentiating them, too. The author discusses the fatal assumptions and barriers that one might face while starting their own business.
3. How to Start & Build a Law Practice By Jay Foonberg
Although this is a bit outdated, these classic books have helped many in the legal industry to build their successful law practices. Foonberg shares his treasure of experience over the years. He shares tips on how one can select the right location, setup fees, how to get new clients, and other such important aspects of starting a law firm.
4. The Client-Centered Law Firm: How to Succeed in an Experience-Driven World By Jack Newton
Covering the what, why, and how of running a client-centered practice, with examples from law firms leading this revolution as well as practical strategies for implementation, The Client-Centered Law Firm is a rallying call to unlock the enormous demand in the legal market by providing client-centered experiences, improving internal processes, and raising the bottom line.
Classic Books for Lawyers
1. And the Dead Shall Rise by Steve Oney
The author recounts the case of Mary Phagan’s murder and accused Leo Frank’s commutation and lynching, a case that’s been the subject of many Hollywood productions. It’s an illuminating case on America’s history and tells a gripping narrative while he goes over all the facts of the case. It’s worth a read for anyone in the legal profession.
2. How to Argue & Win Every Time: At Home, At Work, In Court, Everywhere, Everyday
This book is not about how to set up a winning argument but providing the best evidence, or the best case. It is about getting what you want by communicating effectively with others like tips and strategies. The author believes that everyone is capable of making the winning argument.
3. The Story of My Life by Clarence Darrow
This is the story of Clarence Darrow, a famous corporate, labor, and criminal lawyer. It’s an intimate autobiography where Darrow goes into some of his most celebrated cases, including the Chicago “thrill” murder case with Leopold and Loeb. Written in his style, it’s mandatory and worth reading for any lawyer interested in getting some perspective and insights into some landmark cases.
4. To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee
No doubt this is one of the best books for lawyers and a list would not be complete without this classic work of American literature. Book’s main character, Atticus Finch, has become a role model for many lawyers—there’s even a monument in his honor at a courthouse in Monroeville, Alabama.
Best books for Lawyers on Productivity
1. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
What has been hailed as one of the most influential business books of all time, Allen’s bible of productivity, may be what you need to stay on top of business and life. Getting things shows great ways and tactics how you can deal with your business without the stress and nail your productivity.
2. Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina
Taking a more scientific approach to productivity, the author shares how brain science can affect the way we work and live. In each chapter, he goes over a brain rule–confirmed findings of how our brains work–and provides actionable advice to employ them in our daily lives.
3. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.
This book provides tips and ideas for solving personal and professional problems, providing a path for fair and moral living that allows any individual to adapt to changes and take advantage of opportunities.
Best Books for Lawyers in Mental Health
1. The Anxious Lawyer: An 8-Week Guide to a Joyful and Satisfying Law Practice Through Mindfulness and Meditation by Jeena Cho
With Science giving validation to mindfulness and meditation, interest in such topics has skyrocketed as lawyers value logic and practicality. The Anxious Lawyer gives relief in meditation as practicing lawyers.
2. Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom By Rick Hanson and Richard Mendius
The legal sector is exhausting, giving yourself time to experience happiness, peace, and wisdom. Learn how your thoughts can change your brain. You’ll set yourself up for success in life and your practice.
3. The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
Struggling with negative thoughts? It’s common as the legal field is not an easy one, this book is different, worth giving it a try, this international bestseller gives tips you need to reinvigorate your life and start thinking more positively about yourself, your career, and life.
4. Awaken the Giant Within By Tony Robbins
Trying to motivate yourself but can’t, then this book is for you to read, it will give you the push that you need. It will motivate you to get everything in order, from your relationships, to your work, your life, and your mental health.
5. The Happy Lawyer: Making a Good Life in the Law by Nancy Levit and Douglas O. Linder
Being law is stressful, asking yourself if you are doing the right thing is a common question among lawyers. Take out time for yourself and ask why you are unhappy. The Happy Lawyer covers all such topics, going from very detailed why you are unhappy and giving you a pathway to what you should do to make yourself happy in law.
Summing Up
The legal profession is ever-growing with new trends and newer ways of how to run a law practice are introduced more than often. To equip yourself with more knowledge will benefit your personal growth and your law firm growth too. We have selected some picks in this blog for those lawyers who are struggling with their mental health too. I hope this blog helps you in bringing up a list for yourself of all the books you want to read in the upcoming days.
