In law, overstating one’s expertise has become something of an artform. The offensive abstractions of DLA Phillips Fox CEO Tony Crawford about his ‘emotional competency inventory’ are a more severe example of a malaise affecting most. Yet even armed with the expectation that a lawyer will customarily paralyse a listener with ‘I’m-elite’ ostentation, the Firm Spy could scarcely believe what we uncovered of lawyer Robert Ishak.
I’m the senior solicitor director of the practice, in effect the senior partner at William Roberts Lawyers
But Rob, isn’t William Roberts just you and your friend Bill?
Ishak’s meteoric rise to becoming the senior partner at WR can be traced to Marsdens Law Group where, at 26, Rob was already qualified to offer ‘tips for success’:
Robert’s Tips for Success: Passion & Dedication; Innovation; Honesty.
In another article about Ishak’s new firm William Roberts, Ishak offers a success tip for law students:
find a legal job no later than midway through your law degree.
Thanks Rob! We’ll pass that onto the thousands of students who have been idly waiting until the last moment to pounce on all the great jobs out there! But before they go off into the working world, how about some more helpful tips?
Success is based on …[an] ability to attract, develop and inspire legal talent.
The best trial advocates do more than [just] deliver devastatingly persuasive performances…
However, Ishak’s pièce de résistance must surely be the ‘devastatingly persuasive performance’ in AFRBoss Magazine (May 09) where, in another tipping frenzy, he helpfully asserts:
…you’ve got to dress the part to play the part…The look I’m trying to achieve is one of confidence and professionalism… My signature look is clean and crisp with a lively tie. I guess it is similar to Danny Crane [sic] from … Boston Legal. My shirts are made from scratch by Ganton. I pick the material, the cut, the collar and the cuffs… I like the larger neck. Always have polished shoes and be clean-shaven… The sort of watch a person wears, or if they don’t wear one, says something about that person.
Do you think it is important to have a ‘signature look’? What are your tips for success? Send the Firm Spy your news!
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what a (edited). lightweight to boot.
He takes style notes from a fictional character??? It is a TV show. Good thing he is not running a bar. Hard to get Ted Danson style hair with that mug.
Hey that’s my Lawyer! I was happy with the job he did, needless to say I’m only happy because he won and came in under estimated costs, which as we all know doesn’t often happen. I don’t think the firm is just 2 people, there was a whole army of solictors working on my case. As for giving styling tips I’m not sure about that, but he did look alot more presentable than most other solicitors I’ve dealt with.
Say what you want about him, but Robert Ishak is a f###### Legend. He is one of the most knowledgable and ethical solicitors I’ve ever met.
#4: the Firm Spy is inclined to agree. Anyone who can pull off a real life Denny Crane is a bloody legend.
William Roberts? Well I guess it sounds more traditional and prestigious than “Petrovski Ishak” or “Bill & Bob’s Lawyers”! Extra points for creativity