by Jim Dwyer | Apr 12, 2018 | Living Our Best Life, Power of Relationships
If you go to Amazon.com and type in “Relationships” in the book category, you’ll find over a thousand books on the topic. Surprisingly, I couldn’t find one written by a lawyer. Lawyers are hired to resolve conflicts and disagreements. Clients come to us to deal...
by Jim Dwyer | Mar 22, 2018 | Living Our Best Life, Power of Relationships, The Lawyer's Compass
In my senior year in high school, I was internally falling apart, after picking my mom up at the Oregon State Mental Hospital. There was one person who helped me put myself back together: Steve Earl. I didn’t deserve his help. After hearing all the mean things I’d...
by Jim Dwyer | Mar 1, 2018 | Learning to Listen, Living Our Best Life, The Lawyer's Compass
Don’t forget your compass. It makes sense that you think about using it when you’re lost, in an area you don’t know well or when you’re at a critical junction. You’re actually in greatest need of your compass when you’re traveling through familiar lands — such as work...
by Jim Dwyer | Jan 25, 2018 | Learning to Listen, Living Our Best Life, Office Practice is Life Practice
Preparing for my presentation on “Fake Listening” for the Lawyer’s as Changemakers seminar made it crystal clear that the negative reputation we lawyers have is self-inflicted. Here’s a breakdown of the four primary complaints about lawyers: Lack of...
by Jim Dwyer | Nov 9, 2017 | Living Our Best Life, Power of Relationships, Practicing Law and Life, The Lawyer's Compass
Law school was the most intense two years of my life. (I was in an accelerated two-year program.) The anxiety it caused was overwhelming on a near-daily basis. The idea of going it alone day after day was more than I wanted to endure. While I spent more hours than I...
by Jim Dwyer | Oct 19, 2017 | Living Our Best Life, Practicing Law and Life, The Lawyer's Compass
Four months ago I was at a fundraising event and I’d just met a gentleman when he asked me a question that I generally steer clear of discussing: “What do you do for a living?” I answered (with hesitation) “I’m a lawyer.” “What type of law do you do?” he asked. “I’m...
