ABA Journal

I find it hilarious that law partners and business leaders, who rely on the power of delegation and reports as a matter of course, might disparage collaboration. I guess some folks can only deal with a relationship when they’re the one in charge. Getting input from an equal is apparently incomprehensible.

By P. Bryson on 2012 06 19, 10:32 am CDT

Thank you for sharing this article. A model collaborative relationship was exemplified by Charles Hamilton Houston (Dean of Howard University Law School and NAACP Litigation Director) and Justice Thurgood Marshall. The two committed their life work to dismantling the Jim Crow laws.

By Artika Tyner on 2012 06 22, 7:05 am CDT

Bill & Hillary
Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Gilbert & Sullivan

Some proof that you don’t have to like everything about each other in order to collaboratively produce remarkable results.

By Elizabeth on 2012 06 22, 8:58 am CDT

The law school I graduated from, fifteen years back, had already started teaching “collaborative law” in Family Law section, and actively promoted it as an alternative. Over the years, I have seen it used where appropriate in other areas of the law. In my opinion, the pendulum should not swing from one end to the other. American culture of fierce independence and the nature of American law as “confrontational” served some good purposes. The not so good purposes replaced by ethically evaluated collaborative techniques would be a good change.
Tarzan & Jane?—-hahaha.

By Saki on 2012 06 22, 9:37 am CDT

I would add Lennon/McCartney.

By Neal Anderson on 2012 06 22, 10:31 am CDT

Astaire and Astaire, Astaire and Rogers and several other partners - if we think of songwriters, dancers, musicians there are many though Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Noel Coward and Stephen Sondheim did well on their own. The thing that wasn’t mentioned is that collaboration with partners that complement you and with whom you have good chemistry is FUN, often exhilarating and brings a lot of work satisfaction. I know some lawyers like to have fun, don’t they?

By Phyllis Weiss Haserot on 2012 06 22, 2:13 pm CDT