Law Students

Find Yourself a Living Metaphor

By Ms. JD

Ed. note: Susan Letterman White is a legal industry consultant. Prior to consulting, Susan managed her own solo practice while raising children and then joined Hepburn, Willcox, Hamilton, & Putnam in Philadelphia as an associate, became a partner, and then the managing partner. In addition to her J.D. (from Loyola Law School), Susan also has a master's degree from American University in Organizational Development.    

There is no one right way to be a successful lawyer and there are many definitions of success.  I am a 51 year-old former litigator and law firm managing partner, divorced mother of 2 grown children, who took up rock climbing in her 40s.  Now I am a strategy consultant, with a deep interest in helping lawyers to have effective conversations and make changes in their law firms that will make firm better places to work.

I think of myself as successful. I am always preparing to face the next seemingly, overwhelming challenge, like getting law firms to make the changes suggested in NAWL?s 2008 ?Actions for Advancing Women into Law Firm Leadership.?  I was asked to write this post and wondered, ?What?s the best advice on achieving success that I can give a woman law student or lawyer??  And, I came up with this. Find a living metaphor to energize you in the face of an enervating reality.

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Full post as published by Ms. JD on August 12, 2009 (boomark / email).