Of me vs. Not of me
A point of self-reflection for Lawyers and Law firms
In times of change such as the one that we are all experiencing now more viscerally than other points in time, we all have to make choices.
These choices vary in difficulty and overall significance depending on how close they sit to your heart and how they translate into action. There are many ways in which we all personally approach the concept of change and processes which we go through to implement them within ourselves.
Perhaps now, more than ever, we are called to take pause and contemplate what it is of us and what is not.
The Function of Law and the Responsibility of Lawyers
Most of you reading this are involved in the Legal Industry. The issue of what is of me vs. what is not of me is an issue for us all. The calling however for lawyers and those who work in Law is significant. Ours is one that holds power in check, attains for balance and seeks justice. Ours is a calling that responds to problems, gives advice and must be creative in solutions. Ours is to ensure the system to which everyone subscribes is a healthy one - we are given the tools to be alchemists, to influence change at the level of systems and masterfully bring different elements into a coherent framework.
This is in brief, why I think it is important for us as individuals, families, workmates, businesses, communities, fraternities and an industry should consider what is of us and what is not.
Though we come from common enough systems of education, our work and impact is almost immediately at odds with the way it existed during our time at school. Individuals and Businesses who choose to will recognize that our work as lawyers sets new trajectories, the purpose is always to move things forward. As lawyers we are essentially at the helm of the canvas - we were given the tools to not only understand the systems of society, but also to create and refine it.
We are in one sense artists who must paint based on the choice of the commissioner, but we also have an opportunity to create of our own understanding. Sometimes our best work comes from the duress of heavily commissioned work, something that is important in our jurisdiction that affects the way the Law may operate from that point onward.
However, I believe that when left to our own devices with clarity in our own values, the combination of experience, capacity and creativity would produce changes to be felt by our communities and society at large.
Every judgement, every case and client, every legal service provider does one of two things: it perpetuates a current system or disrupts it.
So, let us start first with the exercise “of me vs. not of me” and then consider what might be the result when we ask our law firm leaders what is “of us vs. not of us”.
Of me vs. Not of me
We are stripping away here parts and layers of what drives you to reach the core of your intent, the things you value or hold dear most in life and ultimately what drives you in your work in law.
Step 1 - Draw 5 concentric circles.
Step 2 - Draw a line down the middle of all the circles. One side of the circles will be “of me”, the other “not of me”.
Step 3 - Start at either the left or right side outer circle depending on what you want to explore first, listing 5 points that are either “of you” or “not of you”. The center will be the strongest point.
Step 4 - Do the same on the opposite side.
How did you go? Send me a message with your results!
What this exercise helps with is to understand what drives you at different points, but also how you have constructed your identity within the law. It gives you a chance to reflect and a reasonable starting point for change.
Now what if this was done at the leadership level of a Law firm or among the team at your workplace?
Perhaps what we would find is clarity and dissonance: clarity in what really is the purpose of the business, and dissonance in how that has manifested in reality.
It is an initial step to carving a path into the #futureoflaw and re-setting your trajectory.
The future of law is in our hands 🔥
Q.