January-February 2003 Volume 27 Number 3 Bar Leader Home Subscriptions News/Story Ideas Form Current Issue Older Issues This page uses JavaScript. To take advantage of this feature, please download Internet Explorer or Navigator 4.x. Bar Leader Home|Subscriptions|Current Issue|Older Issues Table of Contents Cover stories: The court of public opinion: Bars launch efforts to improve image of lawyers A common member request is that bars do something to combat the negative image of lawyers. According to those who have made such efforts, it’s critical to “repeat, repeat, repeat” the message; in a world rife with lawyer jokes, a one-time ad campaign just won’t cut it. See how bars—including the ABA—are rising to the challenge. What messages have worked, and how were they delivered? One novel idea: Having lawyers who once played college football take the field and be recognized before a big—and well-attended—game. School’s in: Bars educate the public Education is often the best way to break down a stereotype. That’s one reason some bars conduct citizens’ law schools, in which members of the public are taught all sorts of practical aspects of the law in classes led by lawyers and judges. Besides making the law understandable, it also gives people from all walks of life a chance to interact face to face with those in the legal profession. And, as one volunteer instructor says, the teachers learn from the students, too! Bars give the public a seat at the boardroom table Another way bar associations help build a bridge between the legal profession and the public is to designate a seat or group of seats on the board for “public members.” These citizens come from diverse backgrounds, but share the goal of improving the justice system and the profession by getting involved and voicing their opinions. Do the other board members pay attention to them? Those who serve as public members emphatically say, “Yes.” You’re a leader … How’s your positive energy? If you’re always in a bad mood, what do you expect from your staff and others around you? In his continuing series on best practices for bar leaders, Allan B. Head, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, encourages bar leaders to accentuate the positive so everyone else will, too. Are you really a good leader if others have to ask each other, “Is he (or she) in a good mood today?” Back to Top Copyright American Bar Association. http://www.abanet.org
January-February 2003 Volume 27 Number 3
Bar Leader Home Subscriptions News/Story Ideas Form Current Issue Older Issues
This page uses JavaScript. To take advantage of this feature, please download Internet Explorer or Navigator 4.x. Bar Leader Home|Subscriptions|Current Issue|Older Issues
Cover stories:
The court of public opinion: Bars launch efforts to improve image of lawyers
A common member request is that bars do something to combat the negative image of lawyers. According to those who have made such efforts, it’s critical to “repeat, repeat, repeat” the message; in a world rife with lawyer jokes, a one-time ad campaign just won’t cut it. See how bars—including the ABA—are rising to the challenge. What messages have worked, and how were they delivered? One novel idea: Having lawyers who once played college football take the field and be recognized before a big—and well-attended—game.
School’s in: Bars educate the public
Education is often the best way to break down a stereotype. That’s one reason some bars conduct citizens’ law schools, in which members of the public are taught all sorts of practical aspects of the law in classes led by lawyers and judges. Besides making the law understandable, it also gives people from all walks of life a chance to interact face to face with those in the legal profession. And, as one volunteer instructor says, the teachers learn from the students, too!
Bars give the public a seat at the boardroom table
Another way bar associations help build a bridge between the legal profession and the public is to designate a seat or group of seats on the board for “public members.” These citizens come from diverse backgrounds, but share the goal of improving the justice system and the profession by getting involved and voicing their opinions. Do the other board members pay attention to them? Those who serve as public members emphatically say, “Yes.”
You’re a leader … How’s your positive energy?
If you’re always in a bad mood, what do you expect from your staff and others around you? In his continuing series on best practices for bar leaders, Allan B. Head, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, encourages bar leaders to accentuate the positive so everyone else will, too. Are you really a good leader if others have to ask each other, “Is he (or she) in a good mood today?”
Back to Top
