President's Perspective

The Successful Lawyer

By Steven R. Sorenson

Success is an interesting word. Its definition is unique to every person. To some, success is measured by the possessions they own. To others, success is measured by the friends they keep or by the inner peace they feel.

During this year I encourage you to develop your personal definition of success: A definition that is unique to you but collectively a standard that can define the public perception of a Wisconsin lawyer.

The State Bar of Wisconsin is beginning the process of evaluating and defining its role through "Project Vision." This long and arduous task of defining the State Bar's mission uses unique strategic planning sessions to involve various Bar committees, sections and divisions. Participants in the sessions are complimenting the process and heralding the results. Project Vision is one of the Bar's most successful participatory activities.

This process is well-suited for creating individual strategic plans. As solo practitioners, members of law firms, participants in governmental agencies or as in-house counsel, we can use the Project Vision concepts to establish personal benchmarks of success.

We should ask ourselves, "Why do I practice law?" We need to formulate and write our own mission statements. Dr. Dale Feinhauer, the consultant for Project Vision, developed an outline we can use for this self-evaluation. The process includes these steps:

1) Develop your personal "mission statement." Define your purpose, the reason why you go to work each day, the reason why you are a lawyer.

2) Develop your "values statement." What are your core values? This is a statement of what you stand for.

3) Develop your "vision." Where do you want to be in five or 10 years?

4) Perform a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis. Define what internal and external factors influence your ability to achieve your mission and vision.

5) Develop an "action plan" using goals and objectives. Define your benchmarks and the strategies you will use to achieve them.

Trained facilitators within the Bar can help us answer these key questions. This self-evaluation makes an excellent topic for a local bar meeting. Or, we could bring a facilitator into our law firm, governmental agency or corporation to assist with a session wherein each lawyer asks: "Who am I? Where do I want to go?" The process will work whether we do it ourselves or with a facilitator.

By answering these questions and taking these steps, we may conclude that successful lawyers may not be measured by how much money they have or how many trials they have won. Concepts such as community acceptance, peer acknowledgment, scholastic recognition or client gratification may surface as equal or superior objectives. This evaluation process also may identify family participation, social interaction, fraternal leadership or business ownership as personal measures. There are no preconceived right answers, just a compelling paradigm of being honest with oneself.

As you complete your self-evaluation, ask: Who are the successful lawyers in Wisconsin? Who are the individuals you most admire? The lawyers we deem to be the most successful and most admired may be those who simply have accomplished the goals and objectives of the Attorney's Oath. They may be those who despite personal sacrifice defended the U.S. or Wisconsin constitutions. They may be those who zealously protected their clients' rights while preserving the integrity of the judicial system. They may be those who refused to pursue frivolous claims despite a certain financial reward. Or they may be those who used their skills to help others succeed in their businesses and nobody ever knew.

I challenge every lawyer to help the State Bar complete its commitment to strategic planning and at the same time step back, look in the mirror and ask: "Do I really enjoy what I am doing?" Our devotion to the practice of law must continue to be rewarding and satisfying. If we are to solve the delivery of legal services problems and preserve the integrity of the judicial system, we first must enjoy and respect our profession. If we are to ask others to see us as true professionals, if we are to improve our image, we first must feel good about ourselves and our profession.

The State Bar has accepted its challenge and is underway with Project Vision. Now it is our turn as individuals to start the process.