In the whirlwind world of M&A, effective communication is as essential as a good cup of tea in autumn —but surprisingly, many Gen Z lawyers are afraid of picking up the phone!
I was having a coaching session with an experienced M&A lawyer who has witnessed the ever-evolving landscape of legal communication and can’t help but chuckle at the generational fracas over technology.
Once upon a time, they noted, emails were the newfangled craze that left the more traditional crowd gasping in horror.
To be honest, there was a time in my life when I had to check seven inboxes. Seven. And I gasped in horror at every notification!
Fast forward to today, and it seems the tables have turned: senior associates are championing phone calls while their younger counterparts would rather send a carrier pigeon than actually speak to someone.
“I’ve thought about drafting a little guide on how to answer the phone, as some of the younger associates seem to treat it like it’s a bomb about to go off,” the lawyer quips.
“When clarity is king, a good old-fashioned phone call can save the day. Clients expect us to be reachable, and that sometimes means putting down the fancy tech and just having a chat!”
They’ve also reported that many junior associates have become a tad shy about putting in the hours required for some deals.
While we can all agree that a good integration between work and life balance is the purpose —who doesn’t love having the time to pursue their passions?—there’s still a job to do, and it needs the proper diligence.
“If I were a Partner relying only on my juniors to handle my workload, I’d be ready to throw a right wobbly!“
A bit of hard work is par for the course, and I’ve met a lot of associates who are on the other side of the barricade.
They are ready to take care of such work but feel disconnected and can’t see the bigger picture. So why sacrificing?
The competitive vibe in some firms can make asking for help feel like asking for the last biscuit in the tin.
But let’s face it, collaboration is key! Mentoring and guidance are vital for fostering young talent.
“The best way to learn is to dive in and get your hands dirty. There often isn’t a textbook answer—sometimes you just have to wing it!”.
It’s the same person that admitted a few moments later that “If I had had you on my side at that time, I’d probably have become a Partner sooner and with a lot less effort.“
They said that they prefer having juniors in the office, where spontaneous banter can lead to those all-important ‘lightbulb’ moments.
“I encourage them to give it a go, but I must insist nothing leaves my office without a thorough once-over.“
Sadly, that’s not always the case in many firms, where trainees and juniors are often left with a lot of doubts on how to handle basic communication.
Does your firm embody virtuous practices in its approach to work and ethics?
If you feel like there is room for improvement, get in touch!
Giusy Falco, PCC ICF
Hello, I’m Giusy and I work with Corporate and M&A lawyers to build with them their ideal work-life integration.