The playbook for new lawyers that actually works with David Brown

Behind the Bar with David Brown — Ascent Employment Law In this episode, Susan sits down with employment lawyer and Ascent Employment Law co-founder David Brown for an honest, grounded, and deeply practical conversation about building your legal career with intention. David shares his unconventional articling story, the power of relationships, how to navigate discomfort, and why young lawyers should be both “house cats” and “alley cats” in their early years.Whether you’re a law student, an articling student, or a new associate trying to find your footing, this episode gives you guidance you can act on today.What you’ll learn in this episodeHow David created an articling role for himself through strategic relationship-buildingWhy discomfort is part of the profession—and how to lean into itThe truth about networking (and why it’s a muscle, not a personality trait)How to think like an entrepreneur early in your careerWhat to do if you’re in the wrong firm or wrong practice areaThe “house cat vs. alley cat” model for succeeding as a junior lawyerHow values shape firm culture—and how Ascent built a values-led practice from day oneEpisode notes:David Brown LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmjbrown/Ascent Employment Law website: https://ascentemploymentlaw.ca/