Coaching Has a Role in Lawyer's Life Even Though It is Often Resisted

Thanks to Carolyn Elefant of MyShingle, in her blogging duties at Legal Blog Watch, for pointing us in the direction of an ABA article where three lawyers are paired up with three coaches to experience the process of coaching, at least the methodologies of these three coaches. 

As Carolyn points out, quite often lawyers don't investigate this possibility because of perceived lack of time or misconceptions about cost.

It's worth reading the article especially if you have ever entertained the possibility of engaging a coach to assist you in your legal endeavors. 

Comments

[Ken]

This is more a comment about the ABA, not about coaching.

Out of "more than a hundred" applications they couldn't find a single solo or small firm lawyer worthy of working with? All three of the people chosen were either with big or "midsized" law firms.

[Susan Cartier Liebel]

Ken, That is a brilliant(yet very sad) observation. It reinforces the prejudices that are pervasive in the most prolific organization that governs all lawyers, not just those in large and mid-sized firms. Thanks for sharing.

[Sheryl Schelin]

Thank you Ken! My thoughts exactly.

I actually pestered the reporter for months (OK, I sent three, nice and polite emails) to participate in this endeavor. The response I ultimately got was that "they arrived at their decisions mostly based on topics and the extent to which they felt they could point the people in a useful direction, given the short time-frame of the project." The reporter did kindly talk to Meg Tebo, who writes about solo and small firm topics (as well as other non-law related topics) about me, and Meg and I talked at length for another article she did - the companion piece to "Million Dollar Solos."

Still, I was disappointed. I'd have loved to have had the benefit of the coaching, and I think my situation at the time (just starting up, working out of a home office, changing practice areas) would have made for a fascinating read.