Opinions

It doesn't necessarily pay to be opinionated – or even right – at a big law firm. And nothing will make a humble associate less likely to make partner than being cleverly, brilliantly, right in public – when the partner is just plain wrong. No sense being Ms Smartypants if you make those in power look foolish and feel humiliated.

So what's a good lawyer to do? The answer, of course, is to be right – after all you must be good at your job – but let the partner take the credit. Graciously bow to their learning, politely point them in the right direction, and explain that it was all their idea in the first place.