by Julie Fleming Brown
This book answers the important question raised by U.S. Judge James Barr. The question is:
I am delving into whether there is support for the hypothesis that leadership skills developed and implemented by individual lawyers (even when not serving in bar organizations) can significantly impact and influence an entire legal community in such areas as (1) improved ethical and civility standards and performance, (2) more effective assimilation of new lawyers into the legal community, and (3) improved relations between bench and bar. In other words, I am at least curious about whether development of leadership skills by individual lawyers can positively impact the quality of lawyering in a legal community -- even when working outside the institutional (i.e., bar organization) context.
This book answers Judge Barr's question in the affirmative.
The second edition of Leadership for Lawyers was published in December 2007. It convincingly makes the case that leadership (and therefore leadership development training and coaching) offers solutions to many of the problems and challenges facing the profession, including high levels of attorney and client dissatisfaction, growing economic pressures on law firms, increasing lack of civility, and outdated law firm governance practices. Rubenstein, who was a trial lawyer for more than twenty-five years, has a good grasp of the challenges and explains clearly how the profession will benefit from widespread leadership development.
The basis premise of Leadership for Lawyers is that "when lawyers and all those who work in the legal profession begin to understand the basic theories of leadership and are better trained in the field of leadership development, they will become better leaders, will provide better legal services, and will create better law firms and legal organizations. As a consequence, the reputation of lawyers and the legal profession as a whole will improve." The thesis is exhaustively examined and proved throughout the book.
Rubenstein devotes some space to leadership theory and to the relationship between ethics, natural law, and leadership, as well as to how leadership development for lawyers might be structured. Recognizing that leadership theory is such a broad topic that it would be impossible to cover the field in a single book, lawyers who read through the sections on "Leadership Behavioral Styles" and "Ninety Brand of Leadership" will get a taste of leadership theory but not a firm grounding. The bibliography, however, includes a number of classic books on leadership that will provide a deeper understanding of how leaders may develop.
Notably, Rubenstein makes a significant contribution on theory by proposing the "leader of leaders" theory of leadership: "Leaders of followers are mainly problem solvers. Leaders of leaders establish platforms and seek to create an environment so that followers can act as leaders themselves, solve their own problems, and make excellent decisions consistent with the platform that the leader of leaders sets." This theory, which Rubenstein traces back to the Book of Exodus, should speak to lawyers particularly. It also illustrates the multiple levels of leadership that are present in the profession and that leadership depends on action and attitude, not merely a title.
I don't agree with everything in the book, of course. The chapter titled Women, Leadership, and the Legal Profession, written by Laura Rothacker, is a good addition to the discussion of women in law overall, but one sentence in it literally (I'm embarrassed to admit) had me screaming out loud in frustration and anger. That sentence is: "Women should be aware that the focus on billable hours represents an institutional form of discrimination against their achieving success and leadership roles." I'll address this elsewhere one of these days. Even that assertion, however, doesn't dim my enthusiasm for Leadership for Lawyers, though it did prompt me to read rather more critically than I might have otherwise.
Leadership for Lawyers is an important book for lawyers seeking ways to grow themselves and other lawyers because it establishes conclusively why leadership matters for lawyers. It should be mandatory reading for law firm managing partners and partners in charge of professional development and highly encouraged reading for other lawyers and law students who aspire to do well in and for the profession and for their clients. I highly recommend it.Julie Fleming-Brown, J.D., A.C.C. provides attorney development coaching for associates and partners, and she is a speaker for law firm retreats and workshops. Topics on which she coaches and speaks include professional development, business development, leadership development, career management, and work/life integration. Julie holds a coaching certificate from the Georgetown Leadership Coaching program and holds the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coach Federation. She is certified to administer the DISC(r) assessment, the Leadership Circle Profile 360, and the Leadership Culture Survey. Julie writes extensively on matters of interest to lawyers on the Life at the Bar Blog at http://www.LifeAtTheBar.com/blog.
To learn more, to subscribe to Julie's weekly email newsletter Leadership Matters for Lawyers, or to request a complimentary consultation with Julie, please visit http://www.LifeAtTheBar.com/ or call her at 800.758.6214.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Fleming_Brown
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Leadership for Lawyers, Second Edition
Posted by
pipat
0
comments
at
7:48 AM
Monday, October 6, 2008
Using a Law Firm For Credit Repair
By Terry Lamb
Your credit can say a lot about you. It can dictate the house you live in, the car you drive and can even dictate how you are ranked for potential employment. Having and maintaining good credit is more important now than it ever was before because the information contained in your credit reports is used for so many different life events. If you have had a few bumps on your credit that doesn't mean all is lost, there is a great agency that can help you mend a broken credit score.
There are many Law Firms online that have been assisting people looking to remove negative remarks of your credit report. With the help of the law firm, many people are able to have normal productive new lives as unverifiable and erroneous information is removed on your credit report. 602, 879 negative credit report entries have been removed in 2007 alone by the top credit repair firm. This firm uses the credit repair review, which finds the reasons why you are unable to get a car, home or a new career.
An average person can take up to 100 man hours just to repair one negative item on your credit report according the FTC. When trying to remove the marks yourself, you have to go through a lot of red tape as well as call to credit agencies and credit bureaus. The available credit repair firms can assist you in these findings as they work with credit agencies and credit bureaus to help remove these marks on your credit report.
When you are looking for a group or company that will assist you in fixing your credit, you should know that you have many available attorneys and paralegals that can assist you in your needs. Empowering customers with knowledge and helping finding ways to fix their credit situation is what these credit repair law firms are known for.
There are several different levels of service available with credit repair. From ala cart to monthly membership levels, there is a plan that can suit any situation. Your account and support can be set up within the same day. The only thing required of you is to order your credit reports; select the items you would like to dispute and then relax knowing you have a team by your side.
The process is simple, and the credit repair law firms are here to help you fix credit report. If you feel that your score is out of control then you could benefit from a credit repair review and have an experienced professional aid you with your credit problems. If you feel like someone else is driving your score, than you could definitely benefit from their knowledge.For over seventeen years, Lexington Law Firm has been assisting people looking to remove negative remarks of your credit report. With the help of the law firm, many people are able to have normal productive new lives as unverifiable and erroneous information is removed on your credit report. 602, 879 negative credit report entries have been removed in 2007 alone by the this law firm The firm uses the credit repair review, which finds the reasons why you are unable to get a car, home or a new career. These are legal professionals who will help those who want to fix credit report
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Lamb
Posted by
pipat
0
comments
at
8:23 AM
Sunday, October 5, 2008
New York Lawyer Works in your Favor
Author: Hadiya Robins
Lawyers act as the life-saver for their clients because they help them to come out of problematic situations. Have you been a victim of fraud? Are you looking for someone to help you in recovering the compensation from your husband or wife? Is it that you have suffered an injury during your treatment and want to claim compensation form the surgeon? If you happen to be residing in New York, a New York lawyer will surely help you out of this. The main aim of the lawyer is to get you out of the troubling issues. Timely recovery of money and settling the matter is what these lawyers are proficient in.
Every other day one gets to hear about the court cases regarding marital issues or recovering of accidental expenses. Whatever the case may be, the main part is the timely recovery of your losses. Usually, there are two parties in a court case. One is the claimant, while the other is the opponent. The job of lawyer is to fight the case with complete confidentiality and do the proper justice to your problem. After all, you are spending so much to handle the matter with ease. The lawyer has to be highly qualified and well-experienced for handling your case. It is because everyone fights the case for winning, not losing it.
The New York Lawyer have the skill to turn the situation in their client's favor. They work really hard to prove their point before the judges. Their tasks involve the collection of relative proves and other things that can turn the result in your favor. If you want to get divorced from your husband, then the lawyer can help you in getting appropriate compensation and at the right time. The lawyer may have to coordinate with you and your husband for understanding the situation completely.
Usually, the situation of divorce may occur because of mutual differences. If you think that your husband is doing injustice to you, then you can contact a lawyer for help. With the help of a lawyer, you can get maximum amount through compensation. The compensation will be beneficial for you in future. Moreover, it is not the matter of recovering the money; it is about getting your rightful share. The lawyers are fully aware of the need of their clients and work according to that only.
There are various lawyers who give value to your time. They know that every person's time is precious, so they give immediate and timely updates. With lawyer around, you don't have to worry about the progress of your court case. The lawyers keep you updated about the stage of your case. You will also find numerous lawyers who charge very nominal fees for the services provided by them. Yet another set of lawyers do not charge anything, till the case is over and you get complete justice. After the completion of the case, these lawyers charge small amount in return of the expenses done by them.
The lawyer has to be trustworthy so that your information is not passed to your opponent. You have to be extra cautious in the matter of hiring your lawyer. Before deciding on the type of lawyer to be hired, you should check his or her track record. The track record will determine the performance of that lawyer. On seeing this, you will be able to decide that the lawyer is suitable for your case or not. Apart from this, you should also check that the lawyer is suitably qualified and the lawyer is certified or not. All these matters will help you in hiring the best New York lawyer.
Posted by
pipat
0
comments
at
7:05 AM