Following the Leader: Takeaways From Weltman's 2022 Attorney Forum

“Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.”

In November of 2022, Weltman hosted an attorney forum that offered eligible attendees Continuing Legal Education Professional Conduct Credit. Weltman Attorney Forum: Lessons in Leadership was designed to help attorneys grow, while staying up-to-date on relevant topics within the legal industry. The virtual forum outlined qualities it takes to be a great leader, provided an inside look at the Supreme Court of Ohio’s new initiative to limit delays in the court system, and discussed how to apply valuable life lessons from classic Dr. Seuss stories to your current life. 

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Previous to my role as managing partner, I served in a variety of leadership roles at the firm, including being the Practice Group Chair for consumer collections and being a member of the firm’s management committee. On a larger scale, I have held many notable positions, including my current seat on the Collections Advisory Board for TransUnion, one of the most prominent credit bureaus in the country. I was also previously President for the National Creditors Bar Association and is a Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated Attorney.  

Bob DiBiasio has been a fixture with the Cleveland Indians (and now) Guardians organization.  He is well-respected throughout Major League Baseball. His history with the ballclub allowed him to share with us the most important traits of Cleveland's best managers, with a special emphasis on our current and beloved manager, Tito Francona. My takeaway from this presentation was: Know the players you are attempting to lead. Take time to understand their strengths and weaknesses to be able to get the most from each member of your team.

Justice Donnelly shared with the group his (and some of his colleagues') efforts to reduce trial court delays and make the litigation process more respected by both attorneys and litigants. The legal process and profession are a target for public criticism. Still, it was encouraging to hear how Justice Donnelly and others from the bench are battling the most prevalent complaints. My biggest takeaway from this presentation was: Regardless of your profession or the industry you work in, we must do what we can to make it better for those who may follow.

Who doesn’t remember the joy in reading the many Dr. Seuss classics? Judge Spanagel presented a creative and enjoyable way to teach ethics and professionalism by referencing those classics. He even allowed the audience to participate by allowing us to guess what books he was referencing. My takeaway from this session was: Remember the basics and the lessons we have learned from our earliest years. Even in today’s environment, they will serve us well.

 

If you have any questions or want to connect, please contact Chuck at any time.