Because attorneys are so busy, you may need to be proactive about seeking feedback on your work. Some organizations and firms will have a structured program that includes mid-summer and end of summer reviews. Others will have no formal review process. If there is no process in place, you should seek out feedback from the assigning attorney. If your assigning attorney is receptive to the idea, consider scheduling periodic meetings to develop a relationship with him/her, discuss the status of your projects, and seek feedback on your work.
If you do receive criticism, own up to your mistakes, be grateful for the constructive criticism, resolve to improve, and then actually improve. Do not get defensive. Ask questions about the feedback in a non-defensive way that shows your interest in improving your work product going forward. Be up front, say: “I want to make sure I can fix this problem.” Or, “I can see where I made a mistake. I’d like to have a chance to work with you again so that you can see my improvement.” It is ok to ask, “How can I prevent this in the future?” Make use of your mentors or other young attorneys for advice as to how to address any criticisms and improve your work product.
You may find that once you turn in an assignment, you never hear another word about it. Upon receiving your project, attorneys will often just take over the work, fix any mistakes you have made, and complete the project themselves. If your organization uses a shared document management system, you should look back to see the finished product and self-evaluate whether you did a good job or missed the mark.
Strive to establish a reputation as someone who acknowledges mistakes and enthusiastically works to address them. Feel free to contact the Career Center if you have any questions regarding how to seek or respond to feedback.