LEADERSHIP FOR LAWYERS
(LAWJ-4170) - 2 UNITS

The goal of this class is to learn about leadership in the context of being a lawyer, discover some of your own leadership talents, engage in interesting conversations and have fun. We have some great speakers lined up that should add a lot of interest and enjoyment to the class.

The course will be run in an interactive MBA-style manner, and will explore the essential role of leadership, leadership principles and the intersection of lawyers and the law in business and other organizational settings, including corporations, law firms, higher education, and politics. We will learn from case studies, social science literature, current events, class discussions and exercises, as well as a few stories. Importantly, we will have the opportunity to engage with numerous leaders drawn from the legal community. These leaders have diverse backgrounds, roles and views on leadership and its intersection with legal disciplines. Accordingly, a wide array of topics will be covered.

You will engage in the Clifton StrengthsFinder to discover your leadership profile, participate in class discussions, and complete a few written and group exercises.

At the conclusion of this course, students who attend class and complete all other requirements for the course may expect to have acquired the following knowledge and skills related to leadership:

Knowledge:
- Understand different styles of leadership and gain an understanding of their own leadership style
- Awareness of various leadership skills, tools and concepts that are used by leaders to successfully lead teams and resolve problems
- Context of what it may be like to work in an organization after law school
- Understand how different organizations and leaders approach leadership and the role leadership and culture plays within a work environment
- Understand the variety of leadership roles lawyers may achieve throughout their careers

Skills:
- Think more broadly and flexibly about leadership and apply leadership principles in their day-to-day lives
- Develop better self-awareness and better self-advocacy tactics and styles
- Ability to consider and use the various leadership concepts and tools discussed to develop their own leadership beliefs, style and behavior
- Ability to identify strengths and opportunities within an organization's culture and leadership
- Develop leadership, team, communication and collaborative skills

Pass/Fail:
Yes

Prerequisites:
None