As a young lawyer, you are beginning to shape a reputation that will accompany you throughout your career. Through the years, colleagues and adversaries will assess not only your competence, but also your professionalism. It is no mistake that those attorneys who adhere to specific values and principles within the realm of advocacy find themselves highly sought after by clients, and strongly recommended by their colleagues. Take advantage of the opportunity you have to become known as a consummate professional. You will find your practice less contentious, more productive, and increasingly satisfying. As you focus on this practice of professionalism, keep the following things in mind:

1. Make your word your bond. As you deal with your client, your colleague, your adversary, and the court, remember your duty of candor. When you make a promise, keep your word, regardless of the consequences. Your honesty, over time, will provide credibility that will benefit you throughout your practice. On the other hand, a reputation of dishonesty, or of failing to honor promises made, will significantly undermine your effectiveness.

2. What goes around, comes around. Regardless of your practice area, your "opposing" counsel will, on one or more occasion, request an accommodation of some form or fashion. Your colleague may ask you to grant an extension, reschedule a meeting or deposition, stipulate to specific terms, or to the admissibility of certain documents. In most cases, you can grant such a request without compromising your client's position in any way. In fact, you will certainly find yourself needing and seeking similar accommodations in the future. Do not ask anything of your adversary that you would not provide in return. Similarly, resist the temptation to inconvenience or otherwise burden the other side by denying a reasonable request. Should you do so, you may soon find yourself shouldering a similar burden.

3. Learn, understand and follow the rules. A key component of professionalism is knowing and following the rules and guidelines that govern our conduct throughout our practice. These rules include not only the state and federal rules of civil/criminal procedure, appellate procedure and evidence, but additional procedural and substantive codes and statutes, as well as the disciplinary rules. If you have not read the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and the Texas Lawyer's Creed, do so immediately. Use these resources as a guide to govern your conduct. Generally speaking, if you are not sure, after reading the rules, whether you should proceed in taking certain action, you are better served by refraining from conduct that could place you and your client in jeopardy. Stay attuned to revisions in the rules and guidelines, and adjust your practice accordingly.

4. Serve, and invest in, your profession. Each day, countless citizens pass along their favorite lawyer joke. Less often, however, does the general public convey a story of an attorney's contribution to the profession or the community. Every young lawyer has the opportunity to reshape the manner in which the public views us and our profession. We can do so by giving back to our community through our gifts and service, by handling pro bono matters on a regular basis, and by committing our time to professional and bar organizations that serve the public and improve our profession. Individually, and collectively, you can make a difference.

The Texas Lawyer's Creed: A Mandate for Professionalism, as promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, notes that "professionalism requires more than merely avoiding the violation of laws and rules," and details our duties as professionals to our legal system, our clients, our fellow attorneys, and the court. The Texas Lawyer's Creed is available on the State Bar of Texas website (www.texasbar.com/newsinfo/aboutstatebar/barrules/creed.asp). As the Creed demonstrates, our commitment to advocacy does not require us to compromise our professionalism. In fact, the opposite is true. As you build your practice, you have the opportunity to define how your fellow lawyers perceive you, and the manner in which others will treat you. Your commitment to professionalism, and your adherence to the highest standards throughout your practice, will serve you (and your clients) well for years to come.