Offers actionable steps to legal educators to foster each student's professional identity.

Becoming a lawyer is about much more than acquiring knowledge and technique. As law students learn the law and acquire some basic skills, they are also inevitably forming a deep sense of themselves in their new roles as lawyers. That sense of self – the student’s nascent professional identity – needs to take a particular form if the students are to fulfil the public purposes of lawyers and find deep meaning and satisfaction in their work. In this book, Professors Patrick Longan, Daisy Floyd, and Timothy Floyd combine what they have learned in many years of teaching and research concerning the lawyer’s professional identity with lessons derived from legal ethics, moral psychology, and moral philosophy. They describe in depth the six virtues that every lawyer needs as part of his or her professional identity, and they explore both the obstacles to acquiring and deploying those virtues and strategies for overcoming those impediments. The result is a straightforward guide for law students on how to cultivate a professional identity that will allow them to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and to flourish as individuals.

"Do you hope to find post-graduation employment that fits your passion, interests, and strengths? If meaningful employment with the potential for career advancement is your goal, this book is your roadmap to develop and implement a written professional development plan to achieve your goal"--

Becoming a lawyer is about much more than acquiring knowledge and technique. As law students learn the law and acquire some basic skills, they are also inevitably forming a deep sense of themselves in their new roles as lawyers. That sense of self--the student's nascent professional identity--needs to take a particular form if the students are to fulfil the public purposes of lawyers and find deep meaning and satisfaction in their work. In this book, Professors Patrick Longan, Daisy Floyd, and Timothy Floyd combine what they have learned in many years of teaching and research concerning the lawyer's professional identity with lessons derived from legal ethics, moral psychology, and moral philosophy. They describe in depth the six virtues that every lawyer needs as part of his or her professional identity, and they explore both the obstacles to acquiring and deploying those virtues and strategies for overcoming those impediments. The result is a straightforward guide for law students on how to cultivate a professional identity that will allow them to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and to flourish as individuals.This book is a resource that can be used in a number of ways to help law schools meet the requirement of revised Standard 303 to provide substantial opportunities for the development of professional identity. It is appropriate for use as a text for a stand-alone course focused on professional identity or as supplementary reading in other courses, including Professional Responsibility and experiential education seminars. It can also be used to prompt discussion in orientation and other non-credit opportunities.

Four factors have converged that require law faculty to add an additional foundational learning outcome, focused on helping each law student to take ownership over her own professional development, to the traditional emphasis of legal education on technical competencies such as doctrinal knowledge, legal analysis, and legal research and writing.First, we have a new understanding of the importance of the development of each student toward an internalized ethic of responsibility and service to others, plus an internalized commitment to professional development toward excellence. Second, there are both new data to consider on the developmental stages of students who are emerging adults in the 21-29 age group and new data that a substantial proportion of law students are at an earlier stage of taking ownership over their own professional development than where the faculty and the profession want them to be. Third, we have a new understanding of curriculum that is effective in helping each student take ownership of her own professional development. Fourth, both potential applicants (in deciding which institution to attend) and the federal government (concerned about student loan repayment) are increasingly emphasizing gainful employment outcomes.Taken together, the four factors are impelling law schools and the legal profession to define a professional formation learning outcome where each student takes ownership over creating and implementing a written plan to use her time in law school most effectively for her own professional development toward both excellence at the competencies needed to serve others well and, ultimately, meaningful employment.Recent empirical research on emerging adults in the 18-29 age range indicates their dominant motivation is to achieve self-sufficiency, which in turn has two principal sub-elements: (1) accepting responsibility for yourself; and (2) becoming financially independent. Legal educators (both faculty and staff) must help each student to understand that in order to achieve self-sufficiency, the student must take ownership to create and implement a written plan for his professional development toward excellence at the competencies needed to serve others well (this is the key learning outcome) across the whole arc of his or her studies, career, and life. This paper analyzes new assessment data demonstrating the effectiveness of a new curriculum designed to help each student take ownership over her professional development.

"The ABA and most state bar associations have identified a wellness crisis in the legal profession, and called for educating students on how to better cope with the challenges of law school and practice. At the same time, students must learn how to maximize their brain health so that they perform well in law school and on behalf of their clients in practice. The same way musicians would tune their instruments, or chefs would sharpen their knives, law students must sharpen their minds. This book aims to help students "do well" in their ability to learn, and "be well" in the process, by exploring the deep connection between brain health and wellness. Specifically, the book discusses: How to cultivate the ability to deeply focus and deal with the challenges of the 24/7 digital age How stress affects both brain and body How increasing resilience helps deal with challenges and setbacks Why we need exercise for mental, physical, and brain health Why adequate sleep is important and how it can be improved How what we eat affects the brain and one's physical performance Written in a witty, informative, and easy-to-read style, the book is full of suggestions to help students establish healthy and productive habits which will benefit both brain and body. Each chapter ends with a self-reflection exercise to help students take the material and consciously begin implementing its suggestions. This book could be used in orientation programs, academic support and wellness programming, professional development, mindfulness, and other "preparing for practice" courses"--

In Fundamentals of Lawyer Leadership: A Skills Guide to Professional Identity Formation, we explore the aspects of leadership and professional identity formation that take root and begin to grow while students are in law school and throughout their lifelong journey as practicing attorneys and professionals. We like to describe professional identity and its formation as the process of becoming a complete lawyer; however, honing the skill sets of a complete lawyer takes time and study. Just as developing legal skills is a life-long endeavor, growing as a leader is a process that evolves over a lifetime. To become whole, healthy, skilled professionals, it is imperative that lawyers engage in a process of lifelong learning. That journey begins in law school, where professors help guide students not only in the formation of their professional identities, but also to develop as effective, thoughtful leaders. This process is vital, not merely as an ABA requirement, but to ensure the future of the profession. For students to develop as both professionals and leaders requires a personal, practical, and reflective approach to the issues. This ownership of continuous professional growth toward excellence, grounded in a service-oriented approach is a cornerstone of preparedness for leadership, and therefore, development as a lawyer. This textbook begins with professional identity formation and foundational leadership and what each means. In Part II, Leadership of Self: Growing into Leadership, the leadership journey requires looking inward to examine who you are, what type of lawyer you want to be, and how you will lead. In Part III, Leadership with Others: Effective Group Dynamics, the book covers topics such as building and nurturing relationships, developing emotional and cultural intelligence, becoming a valuable member of teams, civility, civil discourse, and creating inclusive environments. Finally, in Part IV, Leadership within Community: Service and Impact, the book examines the role of the lawyer in society, including crisis management, how to be prepared for moments of opportunity, and how you can use your skills to have influence and impact others. Contributing your energy to worthy causes about which you are passionate will bring purpose and satisfaction to your life. The authors are available to advise any law school faculty who plan to teach a leadership course and would be happy to discuss the lessons they’ve learned in teaching leadership. Their contact information will be provided upon request. Highlights of Second Edition: Incorporates more clearly the ABA’s requirements for professional identity formation (PIF) Discusses the intersection of that concept with leadership Provides a practical skills approach to becoming a professional Includes an overview of lawyers’ professional identity and formation as a first step to influence and impact through leadership Adds material on new topics, including: Civility and Civil Discourse Character Development o Addressing Fear, Failure, and Feedback Preparing for the future through innovation Design theory Technology The business of lawyering and marketing/branding Addresses the disruptions facing the profession (via changes such as artificial intelligence) and suggests a way forward Takes a fresh look at the issues facing those who would join the profession and gives meaningful, relevant guidance to prepare lawyers to be their best as they serve their clients and communities Professors and students will benefit from: A modular nature due to its multipartite organization, making the book uniquely adaptable for different settings, including: Leadership as a full course, incorporating a module into doctrinal courses, or providing leadership training in a professional development setting, and more A roadmap for teaching these concepts in an easy-to-understand manner that allows for flexibility and adaptability via its teaching framework A book and comprehensive resources written and designed for both new and experienced professors The emphasis of the themes of life-long professional development, lawyers’ ethical obligations, and service throughout