Leadership for Lawyers, Second Edition

This book answers the important question raised by U.S. Judge James Barr. The question is:

I'm investigating whether there is support for the hypothesis that the leadership skills developed and implemented by individual lawyers (even when they are no bars in organizations) can greatly affect and influence an entire legal community in areas such as (1) improvement of the standards ethics and culture and performance, (2) more effective assimilation of new lawyers in the legal community, and (3) improvement of relations between the bench and bar. In other words, are at least curious to know if the development of leadership skills on the part of individual lawyers can have a positive impact on the quality legal advice in a legal community - even when working outside the institutional (ie, bar organization) context.

This book answers the question, Judge Barr in the affirmative.

The second edition of the Leadership of the lawyers was published in December 2007. Convincingly makes the case that leadership (and thus the formation of leadership development and coaching) offers solutions to many problems and challenges of the profession, including high levels of dissatisfaction with lawyers and their clients, increasing economic pressures on law firms, increasing lack of civility, and obsolete practices of corporate governance law. Rubenstein, who was a trial lawyer for over twenty years, has a good understanding of the challenges and explains clearly how the profession will benefit from leadership development spread.

The basic premise of the leadership of the lawyers is that "when the lawyers and all those working in the legal profession are beginning to understand the fundamental theories of leadership and are better trained in leadership development, become better leaders, provide better legal services and create better law firms and legal organizations. Consequently, the reputation of lawyers and the legal profession as a whole will improve. "The argument is thoroughly examined and tested throughout the book.

Rubenstein devotes some space to leadership theory and the relationship between ethics, natural law, and leadership, but also as a leadership development for lawyers could be structured. Recognizing that leadership theory is a broad topic that it would be impossible to cover the field in a single book, the lawyers who read through the sections on "Leadership Styles of behavior" and "Ninety Brand Leadership" will be a taste of the theory of leadership but not a sound basis. The bibliography, however, includes a series of classic books on leadership that will provide a deeper understanding of how leaders can develop.

In particular, Rubenstein makes a significant contribution to the theory proposing the theory of "leader of leaders" of leadership. "Leader of followers are mainly a problem solver and a leader of leaders trying to establish a platform to create an environment so that followers can act as leaders themselves, solve their problems and make decisions in line with the excellent platform that the leader of leaders set. "This theory, which dates back to the book of Exodus Rubenstein, should speak with the lawyers in particular. It also illustrates the multiple levels of leadership that exist in the profession and that leadership depends on action and attitude, not just a title.

I do not agree with everything in the book, of course. The chapter entitled Women, Leadership, and the legal profession, written by Laura Rothacker, is a good addition to the discussion of women in general right, but one sentence in it literally (I'm ashamed to admit) I was screaming out loud in frustration and anger. This phrase is: "Women should be aware that this focus on billable hours is an institutional form of discrimination against their success and achievement of leadership roles." I address this anywhere else one of these days. Even this statement, however, does not dim my enthusiasm for the leadership of the lawyers, even though I asked to read a little 'more critical than it might otherwise have.

Leadership for Lawyers is an important book for lawyers looking for ways to grow themselves and other lawyers because it settles the leadership issues for lawyers. Should be required reading for law firm managing partners and partners responsible for developing professional and highly encouraged to read to other lawyers and law students who aspire to do well and for the profession and for their customers. I highly recommend it .......