Sunday 11 May 2014

5 Things I Learned From Harvey Specter


Lets face it. I am a huge fan of a TV series called "Suits". It is a legal drama on American Televison channel - "USA". It features a successful lawyer "Harvey Specter" played by Gabriel Macht. Harvey Specter being a successful lawyer possesses some great abilities and I feel we can use it in the real life as well.

So here are the "5 Things I Learned From Harvey Specter". 

1) Never take "no" for an answer 

While practicing and working in different fields of law you will have to go through this phase where everyone is like "Oh, I don't agree. I'll not let you take that decision". Now all we need to do is to convince them in such a way that saying "No' becomes too difficult for them. Never approach a person without research and when you are with them present your points like a boss. 

2) Settling is what it takes to get job done

Moving to court and fighting is not the solution every time. Fighting in court results in waste of time and money. Sometimes all you need to do is to put a great deal on table and let the numbers do the talking. You have to convince opposition by hook or by crook that the proposed settlement benefits both. That's a real Harvey Specter thing! 

3) Doing "Good Work" isn't the whole job

There are some people are one the best person the profession has ever seen. What's great thing in them? 
They are good at their job and what? Okay you might be passionate about the work but if you don't socialize at all it's not going to workout. All the dinners and social meetings matter, at least for a lawyer. No don't expect me to write about benefits of  networking, socializing helps networking. 

4) It's not about caring, it's about winning

You can't help the opposition, even if they are right. You just have to stop caring. Caring is really not the thing for lawyers. Harvey Specter Quotes- "I'm against having emotions, not against using them"
Sometimes you have to just ignore the conduct of you client because he is your "CLIENT". 
In Season 3, there was a dialogue where Harvey owned it - "Do you want a lawyer who thinks you're innocent and loses or a lawyer who doesn't want to know and wins?"

5) Put person in the situation where he thinks he owes you one

I think every lawyer should have this weapon in his armory. Do him a favor and next time when you need it, go there like a boss. And the situation is not going to be there for you, you will have to generate such situation. Do a favor and don't settle down with a thank you.  Go ahead and ask them for favor and if they refuse, make them remember when you did it for them. 


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