3 lessons in lawyering from the theater

As a practicing attorney and a former actor, I have often asked myself the question Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. asked those in a crowded room at Harvard in 1886: "How can the laborious study of a dry and technical system, the greedy watch for clients and practice of shopkeepers’ arts, the mannerless conflicts over often sordid interests, make out a life?"

Apr 26, 2023 11:20 AM CDT

How Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ can shed light on legal bias

What’s the problem with Hamlet? A central preoccupation of the characters in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is deciphering what’s going on with the title character.

Feb 23, 2023 11:55 AM CST

What do we call a lawyer? A look at attorney titles

What do we call a lawyer? No, this is not a lawyer joke. I am referring to titles. It has not been one of my regrets that lawyers in the English-speaking world are not addressed with formal titles, as doctors are.

Jan 12, 2023 11:04 AM CST

Unbroken: A call for psychiatric disability initiatives in the legal profession

So many of us struggle in silence while striving for excellence, when only a helping hand and understanding—not only from family and friends but also from colleagues and those with leading positions in law firms—could guide our way to attain success as humans and as professionals.

Aug 25, 2022 8:45 AM CDT

8 types of clients you must manage in your legal practice

Very early in my legal career while practicing law in Jamaica, a client kept me on my toes with a criminal law matter. In one instance, it was clear I had not been given any written instructions about a matter and that client was getting increasingly agitated. A very senior lawyer sitting beside me passed me a note that simply said, “Get that in writing. You must always protect yourself.”

Aug 17, 2022 3:06 PM CDT

10 tips for lawyers to establish self-confidence and client compassion

Check out some tips to establish yourself as a competent and compassionate lawyer to potential clients, from North Carolina lawyer James Gray Robinson.

Jul 19, 2022 10:25 AM CDT

Who has a stake in holding companies legally responsible?

I am not crazy about the company. No, I don’t mean the people near me. Let me explain. I am retired from my practice, but I am still reflecting on what about the legal system bugs me.

Jul 13, 2022 3:00 PM CDT

Are legal lessons learned in the trenches more valuable than those learned in law school?

Is law school learning always practical? According to Albert Einstein, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”

Jun 16, 2022 8:46 AM CDT

Law firms hire experts from other disciplines to advise clients on risk and compliance

Law firms are hiring professionals, such as behavioral scientists, data experts, journalists and police officers, to help advise clients on risk and compliance.

Jun 2, 2022 3:00 PM CDT

7 tips to handle those ‘just one question’ potential clients

There is always going to be the "just one question" potential client who makes initial contact with you. Often, they may not paint the whole story for you, and you in turn may give advice on incomplete facts. In essence, you may well find yourself in a dilemma.

May 25, 2022 8:34 AM CDT

When it comes to the law, is justice always just?

What hath the law to do with justice? And if it does, to what extent does this connection influence our decision to become lawyers? Is the motivation instinctual?

May 11, 2022 8:40 AM CDT

A teenager is mistakenly impressed by her lawyer dad

When my daughter was in college back in the '90s, she knew I was a lawyer specializing in health law. She knew I had left private practice after 20 years to become general counsel of a large statewide hospital system. And she knew I spent my workdays at a desk reading, writing and talking on the phone.

Apr 27, 2022 12:38 PM CDT

How lawyers can optimize performance under pressure

From hostage rescuing and fast roping to skydiving and stress shooting, the United States Special Operations Forces has mastered the ability to remain cool under pressure.

Apr 18, 2022 2:00 PM CDT

How to communicate better with your clients

Communication. Do we sometimes get it wrong with clients—or otherwise? I learned a valuable lesson early on in my legal career while still an articling student. My boss and good mentor, Hank, invited me to lunch. After the meal, I ordered a cup of tea. As I like it a certain strength, I said to the waiter, one Jean Pierre, “Bag out, please.”

Apr 12, 2022 8:40 AM CDT

5 tips from a law school librarian for assigning research projects to interns

As a law school reference librarian, I field a lot of questions from law students working at internships, externships and summer jobs. Over the years, I’ve seen some recurring issues with the research assignments given to law students, and I thought it might be helpful to discuss some of them here.

Mar 28, 2022 8:39 AM CDT