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NAME: Amy W. Schulman
TITLE: Partner
FIRM: Piper Rudnick LLP
PRACTICE AREA: Large-scale Litigation
Biggest influence or mentor:
(1) My grandfather was a Federal judge and
was passionate about his work, so it was never drudgery
for him. I feel the same way. I still spend a lot of
time thinking about the kind of lawyer I want to be,
using my grandfather’s approach as a model. This
type of self-reflection is especially important for
women to do.
(2) I’ve had lots of mentors. Being successful
requires you to draw information, both positive and
negative, from lots of people you encounter.
Most important lesson learned:
Not to be afraid to pick yourself up when you do something
wrong and do it again, do it better, do it differently.
When you drive to be perfect and yet recognize that
no one is, it’s important to be open to learning
from your mistakes. I’ve had to learn that consciously.
Many women are paralyzed because we are afraid to make
a mistake.
Proudest accomplishment:
Building an interesting, rewarding practice with a cadre
of wonderful, talented lawyers whom I’ve hired
and trained. I have the practice I do because we function
as a team.
Goal yet to be achieved:
(1) To implement, on a larger scale, my ideas about
the central role alternative resolution strategies can
play in litigation.
(2) To have the tremendous satisfaction of seeing lawyers
I work with be in my position in 10 years
If you were starting out as a lawyer today,
what would you do differently:
I wouldn’t do a single thing differently –
I’m so happy about where I am.
Best career advice for young women lawyers:
Take yourself seriously, don’t be afraid, work
hard, and find your own voice.
Percentage of time devoted to marketing:
I never think of myself as “marketing.”
Rainmaking tip:
I don’t have a secret that I’m not sharing.
My rainmaking success comes from two things: my conviction
that I can be really helpful to clients and my ability
to offer them a valuable service. Rainmaking sounds
like you’re selling something. What you have to
want is not business, but what the business represents:
to help clients with something they need done and can’t
do without you, or at least, not as easily. Concentrate
on becoming the best lawyer you can be in your field.
Rainmaking advice for young women lawyers:
There’s no right style of rainmaking—find your
own voice.
List words that best describe you:
Intense, thoughtful, optimistic, curious, relentless,
energetic.
You really love what you do. Why?
For me, it was never an option not to love what I do,
because work is so much of what gives life meaning.
Being a rainmaker is just shorthand for being good at
what you do and having a number of clients who recognize
that. You don’t get there unless you are wholeheartedly,
passionately committed to what you do.
Top
Interviewed by: Rachelle J. Canter, Ph.D.
ABA Women Rainmakers is a national forum enabling women
to network and develop business opportunities. By understanding
how to develop business, women can exert greater control
over their careers and integrate their personal lives
successfully with the practice of law. For more information
on LPM Women Rainmakers, visit www.womenrainmakers.org.
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