Earlier this year, I traveled to Scotland to present a continuing legal education (CLE) program on ethics. Like many visitors, I rented a car and was quickly reminded that driving on the left side of the road requires a level of concentration that cannot be overstated. As we navigated roundabouts, secondary roads, and village streets, one thing kept catching my attention: the road signs. Instead of the familiar American command to “Yield,” road signs in the United Kingdom say: “Give Way.”

Perhaps it was because I was already paying closer attention than usual, but the directive on the sign stayed with me. We all understand what yield means. Interestingly, give way struck me as more thoughtful, more intentional, and ultimately more enlightening.

Give way suggests a conscious choice — something we decide to do. Giving way requires awareness, judgment, courtesy, and respect. It reflects an intentional recognition that others also have a place on the road and a right to move forward. It’s a distinction that we can carry into our practices.

In the legal profession, and in organizations like the State Bar of Wisconsin, we navigate a constant flow of ideas, perspectives, and priorities. We advocate passionately for our clients, our positions, and our principles. We work hard to ensure voices are heard. And we instinctively know that the strongest communities are built not only on speaking, but also on listening.

To give way is to make room for another perspective. It is to recognize that wisdom does not belong to any one individual, generation, or practice area. It is the willingness to pause long enough to understand someone else’s experience before insisting on our own.

That does not mean we surrender our convictions. Lawyers know better than anyone that disagreement is often healthy and necessary. Giving way is not about abandoning principles. Rather, it is about approaching one another with enough humility and respect to recognize that understanding emerges from dialogue rather than dominance.

As I reflect on the many members, leaders, volunteers, and staff who strengthen our profession, I see examples of giving way every day. Experienced attorneys mentor new lawyers. Board members create opportunities for emerging leaders to contribute their ideas. Colleagues support one another through challenges and celebrate each other’s successes. These acts may seem small, but collectively they create a culture of professionalism, service, and belonging.

Perhaps that is why give way made me think about the distinction between “Give Way” and “Yield.” Giving way feels relational. It recognizes that progress is not achieved by everyone pushing forward at once, but by understanding when to lead, when to follow, and when to make space for others.

In a profession dedicated to justice, advocacy, and the rule of law, that is a lesson worth remembering. Sometimes the most powerful act is not demanding the right-of-way. It is choosing, instead, to give way.