Are You A Good Lawyer Or A Great Lawyer

Developing the Next Generation of Rainmakers Are you a “good” lawyer or a “great” lawyer? Good lawyers analyze. Great lawyers both analyze and synthesize. What is the difference? When you analyze a problem you take something big and break it down into pieces. When you  synthesize you look at pieces and figure out the big picture. Great lawyers are able to do both. Daniel Pink wrote about it in his book: A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the FutureRevenge of the Right Brain. In the article, and the book, Pink writes: To flourish in this age, we’ll need to supplement our well-developed high tech abilities with aptitudes that are “high concept” and “high touch.” High concept involves the ability to create artistic and emotional beauty, to detect patterns and opportunities, to craft a satisfying narrative, and to come up with inventions the world didn’t know it was missing. High touch involves the capacity to empathize, to understand the subtleties of human interaction, to find joy in one’s self and to elicit it in others, and to stretch beyond the quotidian in pursuit of purpose and meaning. Daniel Pink talks about the concept in this short video clip: Good lawyers analyze problems. Great lawyers both analyze and synthesize using their high concept” and “high touch.” As you are beginning to plan for 2013, include how you can further develop your “high concept” and “high touch” skills.   I practiced law for 37 years developing a national construction law practice representing some of the top highway and transportation construction contractors in the US.