Editor’s note: Each week for the next nine weeks, we will bring you a new blog post, guest authored by one of the speakers from this year’s ROI 2011 conference. These posts are meant to give readers a glimpse into what these practitioners discussed during their sessions at the conference. The opinions expressed here are those solely of the author.
By James T. Crouse
I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the 2011 Radius of Influence Conference, discussing how attorneys should take a look at their professional and personal lives “outside the box.”
We start with the fact that all of us have invested huge amounts of time, toil and money to get to where we are — representing people who have been harmed. That’s commendable, and what I want to do is suggest ways for attorneys to benefit from their considerable expertise while expressing their personality, promoting their passions and communicating their concerns.
Lawyers have talents and experiences that no one else has. They should take those attributes and use them in their practices, of course, but also in the community. Lawyers should promote their ideas by expanding their universe of activities to touch and improve the lives of people.
There are as many ways to do this as there are ideas and people. In my case, I have been fortunate to write and speak to many different types of groups — not just lawyers — on how we can improve aviation safety by investing what we learn in litigation back into the system. I’ll bet there are aspects of lawyers’ practices that can be taken “on the road.”
Also, I have been fortunate to write book reviews on subjects that touch on aviation and aviation safety, including risk analysis. I also speak on those subjects. In addition, I co-authored a case book on aviation law, from which I have greatly benefited. It’s opened so many doors for me, giving me the opportunity to speak in front of groups and in classrooms — and even sometimes with the media, where I make it a point not to sound like a lawyer, but as someone concerned with aviation safety, as I am. This is evidenced by my aviation safety blog, aviationsafetyblog.com.
I am not suggesting that all of these ideas will work for all lawyers, but I do encourage practitioners to expand their thinking, horizons and activities. Our backgrounds enable us to not just help people after they have been injured, but to prevent people from being injured.
Ultimately, I think, that is our highest calling. Go out there and do well, but in the process, make sure you do good.
James T. Crouse is the founder of Crouse Law Offices in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has been a pilot for 32 years.
This speech was one of the examples of what a fine group of committed and talented lawyers exist at the Injuryboard. Jim did a great job of explaining his passion for his work and showed why people who are successful gain from finding their own perfect practice area.