Society, as a whole, is recognizing that diversity is important. But, it is so easy to say you want to promote diversity. Increasing diversity is easier said than done, and I think part of the problem is that many are not comfortable talking about diversity or the real issues that people of various races and cultures face.
Now that you’re a lawyer, why did you choose to become a lawyer? Some of us can answer definitively, and others scratch their heads and hesitate with a blank stare. Let me offer my thoughts on the subject: They go back to an indelible incident back in kindergarten. Yes, it…
Motivational writers and “transformational” leaders talk a lot about “mindfulness” and “spirituality.” Having been a lawyer for over 40 years, I often questioned whether that type of philosophy was useful in my life. After all, being a lawyer was always about study, work, client and community relationships. I was a…
The ABA Journal’s Aug. 7 Your Voice piece, “Conservative student says law school biases infringe on his right to free speech,” by Gonzaga University School of Law student Austin Phelps, has kept the conversation going after lively responses to Gonzaga Professor Jeffrey Omari’s first column on free speech, racism and…
Imagine that you and your law partner, along with two opposition lawyers, are in an appellate courtroom for an appeal brought by a cake shop. As expected, all four of you are dressed in conservative business suits. In responding to a question from the bench, one of the other lawyers…
“Most people won’t use the internet to hire a lawyer.” When a colleague of mine first shared this view back in 2005, I assumed that it was the exception and not the rule. Surely, lawyers understood that their next clients would go online to find answers to their questions, get…
On a summer night in 1984, I left my uniformed patrol job at the University of California at Berkeley Police Department and walked home alone in darkness. I was a 19-year-old sophomore. At the threshold of my apartment, a man assaulted me at knifepoint. After a soul-chilling struggle, I managed…
As a third-year law student, I have the concerns that any other 3L has: getting my reading assignments done before class starts, completing internship work, passing the bar exam and finding gainful employment. In addition, when I don my “Make America Great Again” hat, I add the concerns of ostracization…
When leaders behave badly, their conduct is often hidden in plain sight and insulated by enablers. So, it’s only fair to ask: When a corporate executive misbehaves, what did the board of directors know and when did they know it?
The legal profession is a noble one. But is that the impression the public has of lawyers? What images generally come to mind? Let’s start with Noah’s Ark. A biblical theme park called Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky, is suing its insurers for insufficient coverage of rain-related losses. The centerpiece…
The ABA Journal wants to host and facilitate conversations among lawyers about their profession. We are now accepting thoughtful, non-promotional articles and commentary by unpaid contributors.
