2025 Up & Coming Awards: Collen Steffen

Find a mentor who genuinely believes in you.

Stay curious. You do not have to figure out your entire career right now.

Never stop learning. The law and practice are constantly changing.

Focus on what you can control. You will rarely be the most experienced or knowledgeable person in the room, but

Know your cases better than anyone else in the room. Show up prepared, be the most informed person and let

Take opportunities to learn substantive skills, manage areas of a case or manage an entire case, etc. as early and

Treat everything as a learning opportunity, no matter how big or small. Always be on time and be as responsive

Don’t chase the money.

Find good mentors who will give you honest feedback and advice, and will help you resolve problems you encounter in

Get as much experience as you possibly can. Internships, talking to other lawyers, observing different cases will help you confirm

At each stage of your career, remember that your reputation and integrity are everything. Lead with honesty and zealously advocate,

There’s no such thing as being over prepared. What you lack in experience will pay off tenfold in preparation and

Find a practice area that makes you excited to go to work each day.

Observe experienced attorneys as much as possible. I’ve learned different techniques by watching others handle depositions, argue in Court, and

Promptly communicate with your clients. Keep them in the loop even when you haven’t accomplished something new. Your communication reflects

Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know something. Integrity includes being honest about not knowing everything. Admitting when you

Winston Churchill: ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” Just keep

Take time to enjoy the process, get to know your colleagues as well as opposing counsel, and try to find

Be nice to everyone — you never know who you’re talking to. You can do this job; be patient with

“Get reps.” The only way to grow and develop as an attorney is by doing. This can be going to

Embrace teamwork; maintain a level-headed and realistic sense of importance in the larger firm ecosystem; practice effective listening; check one’s

Focus on mastering fundamentals and building reputation through advocacy and integrity. Don’t cling to rigid scripts — the law is

When interviewing for a new position, don’t ask about the billable requirement. It gives the impression that you want to

Find an area of law you’re passionate about. This work is demanding with intense hours, but when you care deeply

Work hard (harder than you may want) early in your career. The best thing I did was put in extra

Be curious, not just competent.

Read books — especially outside your field.

Be a sponge. Seek mentorship wherever you can and always be willing to learn.

Be thankful when you get opportunities to do things you have never done before.

Do not be afraid to ask questions or reach out for help. Seeking guidance is not a weakness. It is

Treat every senior associate and partner like they are your clients. Take feedback seriously, show you’ve learned from it, and

Do not underestimate the value of professionalism and patience. Your career is a long game and relationships are key. Some

Take time to connect with colleagues, supervisors and clients. This career can be challenging, but strong relationships make difficult times

Why I chose my practice area.

Respect the people you work with. And the people who work for you. And constantly be grateful and show thanks

Be detail-oriented and devote substantial time to developing your technical craft, but make sure to maintain and develop friendships and

Focus on building strong relationships and a solid reputation from Day One. Your network will open doors, and your reputation

Stay curious, stay humble and always be prepared. Early in your career, your reputation is built on responsiveness, reliability and

Though I do think being a lawyer is just a job in some respects, the oath we took upon admission

Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself in adversarial situations. Older attorneys try to act tough to get you