Closing statements: What is the one habit you developed early in your legal career that has proven to be valuable over time?

"If a task will take you five minutes or less, do it right away. Even if it is something small, like scheduling a doctor’s appointment, etc., not having it on your mind or to-do list will free up energy that you can dedicate to something more substantial.”
- Vanessa Starke, owner/attorney at Starke Law Offices, LLC in Blue Springs

“Be early for every single court date or deposition, etc. Being on time is being late. I learned it in the military.”
- Mark Rudder, member at Law Office of Mark Rudder in St. Louis

“On the first day of orientation at Saint Louis University School of Law, a professor told us that our legal careers had already begun. She asked us to look at the people sitting on either side of us and reminded us that they would one day be our colleagues. She also shared a piece of advice I’ve carried with me ever since: It takes years to build a reputation for integrity, and only one poor decision to damage it. That perspective shaped how I approach every professional interaction. It instilled in me the habit of pausing to consider the long-term impact of my words and actions — and to consistently choose integrity, even when no one is watching.”
- Joy Holley, director of legal operations at Ameren Services Company in St. Louis

“Return all calls within 24 hours.”
- Jeanne Foster, Jeanne Foster LLC in Independence

“Return phone calls from clients and opposing counsel the same day, if possible. For clients, it builds good relations and customer satisfaction (an important factor in client word-of-mouth referrals). For counsel, it expedites progress on case management and makes counsel feel that you are taking the interaction seriously and not being disrespectful.”
- Kathleen Bird, retired lawyer in Smithville

“Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today for tomorrow will bring its own deluge of things to be handled. A corollary, big projects need to be timely calendared/scheduled for specific dates and times and then removed from your desk so that they do not act like weights dragging you under.”
- Hurley D. Mahan, lawyer at The Hurley D. Mahan Law Office, LLC in Clinton

We were wondering ... What’s an underrated skill in the legal profession, and why? … Share your answer by emailing Journal@MoBar.org or filling out a form at MoBar.org/Closing-Statements.