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 | 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...
by Jim Dwyer | Oct 17, 2017 | Fiduciary Duties, Fiduciary Duties and You, The Lawyer's Compass
When was the last time you had a conversation about a difficult topic? I recently had one with a client that left me with an important life reminder. I was meeting with Walter (not his real name) to discuss his case. He wasn’t going to like what I had to say. In spite...
by Jim Dwyer | Aug 8, 2017 | Living Our Best Life, The Lawyer's Compass, Trust, Faith and The Law
We all have our share of hard times. My senior year in high school stands out as one of my darkest. None my friends knew the depth of what was going on inside of me, save one person, Steve Earl. At school, I laughed and joked. I kept my grades up and worked hard at...
