by Traverse Legal, reviewed by Enrico Schaefer - June 9, 2006 - Uncategorized
I have been thinking a lot lately about the skill sets of The Greatest American Lawyer. Knowing that the Greatest American Lawyer is an ideal, I would be interested to know what our readers think about the capabilities of The Greatest American Lawyer. Just as Ayn Rand created the mythical Howard Roark and John Galt, we might all be well served to think about the ideal.
I am beginning to think that adaptability is amongst the most important traits for any new world lawyer seeking to innovate. We have lived in an age where patterns and norms are taught in the school systems and our societal norms. There was an economic incentive to make things the same.
In today’s information and technology-based world, standing still means being left behind. The Greatest American Lawyer would need to adapt quickly and easily between environments, capabilities, roles, projects and tasks. Let’s face it. Some people don’t adapt well. Change is perceived as a threat. Assuming that we are creating something better, continuing to strive forward for that "something" is imperative. A person can hardly move forward if they are standing still.
It also occurs to me that the Greatest American Lawyer would not be a slave to the workplace. Yes, he/she would understand the hard work required in order to achieve the ideal. However, there would be time for personal growth. There would be time for family. There would certainly be time for children.
I am sitting here at one of the greatest resorts in North America watching my eight, six and four year old sons play by the river and beg me to put down my Dictaphone so we can get to the waterfall pool. The temperature will be about 80 degrees today. It is time to play. Being able to switch between work and pool will be one of the most important tests for me today. I have a hearing tomorrow I have to prepare for. Of course, I have not started. Will I multi-task? Or will I simply allocate time to prepare later in the day. And in between events, will I adapt well? When I am working, will I be thinking about play? When I am playing, will I be thinking about work? The Greatest American Lawyer would adapt from one set of ideals to another. In fact, The Greatest American Lawyer would realize it was a single ideal being served on both tasks.
As a founding partner of Traverse Legal, PLC, he has more than thirty years of experience as an attorney for both established companies and emerging start-ups. His extensive experience includes navigating technology law matters and complex litigation throughout the United States.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Enrico Schaefer, who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing Business, IP, and Technology Law litigation attorney.
