ABA Career Counsel
Your Career Partner on the Web

Attorney By Attorney Career Profiles of the Profession Who? Kathy Morris What? Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields: Attorney hiring and training and career counseling for lawyers. When? Years in Practice Area: 1975-1981 (Criminal Defense); Attorney hiring, lawyer training and career counseling for lawyers from 1981 on.. Years in the Legal Profession: Since 1975 Where? Employer: Gardner Carton & Douglas, LLP www.gcd.com Size/Sector: 250 + lawyers/law firm sector City/State: Chicago, IL Law School: Northeastern University School of Law Undergraduate School/Degree: University of Michigan Why? Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area: I have the opportunity to contribute to the legal profession overall, one dynamic organization and lawyer by lawyer. Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area: Understanding of legal careers and about education, counseling and business skills, organizational and communication skills. Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area: Practice law, enjoy the profession, participate in CLE, organize training programs in your workplace, and transition to an alternative career path if and when you're truly ready. How? Career Path to Current Position: After practicing and teaching law, I became the Director of Career Counseling at Northwestern University School of Law, and from there proceeded to create roles in in-house lawyer training and career counseling for lawyers. In 1996, the ABA hired me to direct its CLE Center, and in 2000, I created a companion ABA unit, the Career Resource Center. In 2004, I transitioned back to the law firm arena as a chief career development officer. Influences and Mentors: Mildred Peters, former Dean of Student Affairs at Northwestern Law School; Terry MacCarthy, Executive Director of the Federal Defender Program. Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area: Objection Overruled: Overcoming Obstacles in the Lawyer Job Search, a manual I wrote, is an example of career advice provided by career counselors for lawyers. A publication I commissioned with contributions from 30 law firms, professional development professionals. Best Practices in Attorney Professional Development: Heading Off and Handling Wrong Turns, is required reading if you aspire to move into the lawyer training field. Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position: Staying open to "headhunter" calls even when not on the market and creating roles where a need existed. Bar Affiliations and Activities: ABA-Liaison to the Standing Committee on Continuing Education of the Bar. Founding Board Member, Professional Development Consortium (PDC). ACLEA-Chair of 2001 Annual Meeting. National public speaking for Bars large and small. Recent Professional Publications: Monthly "Career Question" column in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Recent Professional Presentations: Law Firm Partner Retreat Presentation on In-house Professional Development Initiatives; Women's Forum on Business Development; Career presentations at law school alumni gatherings. Memorable Career Moment: Winning a case in the Illinois Supreme Court; helping lawyers find jobs that truly satisfy them. Intriguing Interests: Everything Oprah and my three offspring..