There are a lot of different definitions for accountability. In this article, we’re taking the word to mean “responsibility for your own decisions”. As an attorney, your decisions are incredibly important - you’re representing another entity and they’re placing their trust in your hands. There’s a lot you’re accountable for as an attorney, some of which you might not think of. You’re certainly accountable for how you handle a case, but there’s much more than that.

You are, for example, accountable for the cases you choose. You might argue that point. You might say senior staff at your firm decide which cases you end up with or that there are only so many different cases you can take. That’s a transfer of accountability. You can ask senior staff for the right to scout and take cases. You can refuse cases. You can quit the firm you’re at. Never forget that the power to choose to do something is coupled with the power to choose not to do something.

You’re also partly accountable for the actions taken by your firm. Let’s say your firm is about to engage in some activity you find questionable. You can’t be held solely responsible for the activity, but you can be held accountable for whether or not you said or did anything to dissuade the firm from undertaking what you believe to be a morally gray action.

You’re also accountable for your own health and well-being. A lot of people tend to focus too much on how they’re accountable to others, and in doing so, neglect self-care. That’s a bit paradoxical because when you’re not taking care of yourself, it becomes next to impossible to take care of others. That’s why it’s absolutely crucial to take time for yourself. Take a vacation. Learn a new skill. Meet up with friends. Take up a hobby. Have a day where you just watch Netflix and eat ice cream. We don’t know what your process is, but whatever it is, engage in it. You’ll come back feeling refreshed.

You’re also accountable for your knowledge and development, something we’ll discuss in our next post. Growth is an essential part of being an attorney because common law is, by its very nature, mutable. You need to keep up with the constant changes to the law and as the law changes, you need to change as well.

All the accountability you have in your work can occasionally conflict with your responsibilities outside of work. What do you do when you have a family emergency on the same day you’re slated to make a court appearance? You get in touch with us, so we can find you an appearance attorney; someone who is willing to be held accountable for their actions and will perform their duties with diligence and expertise.