
Leading As Lawyers Blog
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A Place for the Discussion of Leadership and Leadership Development for Lawyers, Law Students and Legal Educators
Leading As Lawyers Blog
1w ago
The most precious resource we have as humans is time, and as a leader, it is all the more valuable. For lawyers, managing time is something that is constantly at the forefront of life (thank you, billable hours). But how can we as lawyers, law students, and leaders make sure we take full advantage of our most valuable asset? While there is no perfect formula on how to make the most of your time, there are five things I like to remind myself that you may find helpful too ..read more
Leading As Lawyers Blog
2M ago
In leadership, our greatest tool is our ability to connect – to see beyond titles, labels, and surface-level interactions. We often overlook one of the most fundamental human experiences: the power of a name. What does it mean to be named? Is a name simply an identifier, or can it be a mission, a promise, a reflection of potential? It challenges us to think deeply about identity, origin, and meaning. A person’s name is more than a simple label – it's a bridge of connection, a narrative thread that weaves individual identity into the broader tapestry of community. When we share the story behind ..read more
Leading As Lawyers Blog
3M ago
The most rewarding part of law school by far has been my leadership experience through Law Women. Law Women was founded at the University of Tennessee College of Law more than fifty years ago in 1973. The organization’s mission is simple: empower women and encourage them to pursue leadership in their future career, no matter what path they take as an attorney. Within this broad goal lies a focus on networking, mentorship, career opportunities, academic success, and education about issues specific to women in the legal field ..read more
Leading As Lawyers Blog
4M ago
Last week I had the privilege of writing for Lawyers as Leaders. In my prior post, which you should read, I proposed a working definition for leadership as a social process defined by relationships wherein individuals work together to achieve a goal that would otherwise be unachievable on their own. Everyone in an organization or civil society engages with that process differently. This week I am returning to build off that definition and the responsibilities it imposes on our profession. Anyone who knows me well is aware that I am a bit of a Francophile. At my high school, students were requi ..read more
Leading As Lawyers Blog
4M ago
Intellectual Property (IP) law is more than a specialized area of legal practice. It is a dynamic field that cultivates and demands essential leadership skills. As IP law evolves, so must the competencies of its practitioners. Drawing on my experiences as a J.D. candidate at the University of Tennessee College of Law along with my education, research, and practical experiences, I have found that excelling in IP law fosters critical leadership qualities. I have also found that institutions like The Institute for Professional Leadership at UT Law are uniquely positioned to develop these skills ..read more
Leading As Lawyers Blog
5M ago
When I decided that I wanted to go to law school, my main motivation was that I wanted to help people. At the time, I was a a junior in college, and I didn’t really know what helping people meant yet. I had seen also sorts of documentaries about the Innocence Project and watched movies like “Dark Waters” and “Erin Brockovich.” Helping people at this magnitude seemed so unattainable, so it was hard to picture what helping people would look like after three years in law school ..read more
Leading As Lawyers Blog
5M ago
Change isn’t permanent, but change is. This insight did not come from Socrates, Plato, Confucius, or Camus. The rock group who claims this phrase is Rush, who slipped “change isn’t permanent, but change is” into the 1981 hit Tom Sawyer. I remember this because my father pointed out the line many years ago. And I have never forgotten it. Memory. The concept of memory has caused great joy and frustration lately. Interestingly, we will deal with our memory and relationship with it throughout life. And on a consistency, more so than death and taxes. But wh ..read more
Leading As Lawyers Blog
5M ago
If you type “success” into a Google search bar, many suggestions will come up. Quotes, definitions, success for women, success for men, success memes—overall, a ton of qualifiers and articles about different research into what success looks like and stories of all kinds of people who have achieved it. But what is success, really? If you are reading this you are probably very familiar with the old lawyer adage, “It depends,” and in this case, it really does depend. On you. On your goals, your ambitions, what you are passionate about, what drives you, how you want to show up in the world a ..read more
Leading As Lawyers Blog
6M ago
Few experiences in law school have compared to the feeling of turning left on Titan’s Way and seeing the finish line packed with family, friends, and spectators after 26.2 miles of running. Some of my friends called me crazy for running a marathon in the middle of finals week, only three days before our Business Associations exam. They might have been right about that, but after reflecting on my experience, I know that training for my first marathon has made me a better law student, leader, and hopefully, a better future lawyer. Here are my three main takeaways ..read more
Leading As Lawyers Blog
6M ago
The corporate culture, like a wine's terroir, shapes the organization's essence. It encompasses leadership style, values, communication norms, and environment, impacting employees and products. Strong cultures lead to engaged, satisfied, and productive teams. Leaders should regularly assess and enhance the culture, while employees can contribute to a positive workplace environment ..read more