“There are some people whose exuberance changes the character of a room for the better.  My friend and colleague Nick McCall was that kind of person.” Joan MacLeod Heminway Rick Rose Distinguished Professor of Law There are some people whose exuberance changes the character of a room for the better.  My friend and colleague Nick McCall was that kind of person.  His enthusiasm and energy—at times almost childlike—was contagious.  He was taken from our world much too soon.  He was a giver that still had so much to give . . . . Nick and I me ..read more

“You heard me right: “Ted Lasso” offers lawyers a good deal worth consideration.  The series is highly quotable, not just from Ted’s own pearls of wisdom but also for its other characters’ insights.”  By Jack H. (Nick) McCall While its original Apple TV run ended in May, “Ted Lasso”—with Jason Sudeikis in the title role as a college football coach, transplanted to lead a struggling English football (our  “soccer”) team—remains  highly popular.  PLOT-SPOILER ALERT: If you, like Marsha Watson, who as of writing this has not seen “Ted Lasso,” or if y ..read more

“Law school taught me I can do anything I put my mind to, when my mind is confident. The difference between 1L year and 2L year for me was the fact that I learned to give myself grace, and I took the pressure off myself.” Rachel Sojourner Dickerson, Esq. Fashion Strategist The first day of law school, I walked into the building scared to death. Imposter syndrome met me at the door. Imposter syndrome—“IS”—became one of my closet friends 1L year.  Wherever I went, IS was right there. I entered law school with an imaginary weight on my shoulders. I was a black girl. I was the firs ..read more

Joan Heminway – Rick Rose Distinguished Professor of Law Carson Blakely – 2023-24 Hardwick Fellow “ . . . The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny – it is the light that guides your way.” — Heraclitus 2024 has started off with a bang and promises to be a year of personal and professional transitions for many.  It is a presidential election year—with all that brings.  Capricious weather patterns have brought record snow here in Knoxville and other challenges locally and around the globe. Leading t ..read more

“I will never have the courage to lead in the way that Fran Ansley led.”  Joan MacLeod Heminway Rick Rose Distinguished Professor of Law Law leadership involves so many things; among them: foundational knowledge and experience, a sense of purpose, and the courageous pursuit of that purpose.  On the day that I write this, January 15, 2024, we lost a great lawyer leader: my UT Law colleague, Fran Ansley.  Fran embodied that knowledge, experience, purpose, and courage in almost everything she did, in and outside the classroom.  A tour of her scho ..read more

“Whatever negative, pessimistic content you are consuming, eliminate it cold turkey for a month and replace it with brilliant people’s thoughts and life’s work. By February, I believe you will see great improvements in your positivity.” W. Preston White Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Associate | University of Tennessee College of Law Class of 2023 “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”  – Sir Winston Churchill  As we tie a bow on 2023, you are likely making New Year’s resolutions. Starting that new low-ca ..read more

Nevertheless, leadership opportunities often allow us to make contributions to organizations we value, and not surprisingly, we will continue to embrace them. Given that, how do we equip ourselves to give our best in these roles? Part of the solution is managing ourselves to maintain our energy and focus.  Stephen E. Roth Vice-President and General Counsel at JTV For lawyers, leadership roles are add-ons to already demanding schedules. Consider this scenario. You have an active law practice; you’re in firm management and you’re married with two young kids.  You decide th ..read more

It is important to remember why you started, what your goals are, and the reasons behind all of your actions. Your end all be all, this is what you will have to fall back on, and reminding yourself of these foundations can renew your motivation and give you the extra push you need to get through the day. Isabelle Thibault University of Tennessee College of Law, Class of 2024 Leading is not easy.  If it was easy, everyone would be a leader. But alas, it is not. There are various courses, classes, and workshops to teach, strengthen, and sharpen leadership skills such as communicat ..read more

From the visionary leadership of Augustus Caesar to the adaptability of Julius Caesar, and the cautionary tales of erratic emperors, the Roman Empire is a rich tapestry of leadership lessons waiting to be unraveled and applied Carson Blakely Hardwick Fellow Ah, the Roman Empire. I can still vividly recall my younger days, eyes wide and glued to the History Channel’s Roman marathon, eagerly absorbing every detail of Roman history. The recent trend of girlfriends asking their boyfriends about how often they think about the Roman Empire? That has been my personal Super Bowl. My fiancée, b ..read more

Betty Rhoades Is there anyone out there who doesn’t recognize this superhero? Born on the secluded island of Themyscira, Princess Diana was raised among the warrior Amazons and shaped by a profound sense of duty to protect and serve others. When an American pilot crash-landed on her shores and spoke of the great conflict consuming the world, Diana left her paradise home, embraced her role as the legendary Wonder Woman, and became a symbol of hope and a champion for peace.  You may not have superhuman strength, the ability to fly, or a cool tool like the Lasso of Truth. But I assur ..read more