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Conversation, connection may be antidotes for incivility in law

Conversation, connection may be antidotes for incivility in law

Shielded behind computer screens, some people behave in ways that are downright rude — or worse. As the practice of law moved online with the COVID-19 pandemic, those familiar hazards to civility arose in the legal profession as well.
The incivility monster: Why being bad feels good

The incivility monster: Why being bad feels good

Practicing attorneys are acutely aware of the potential consequences of incivility. And yet, incivility persists. Could it be that attorneys are hard-wired to lose their cool? Does it pay to be belligerent? And how do the pandemic and other stressors contribute?
Zealous advocacy and beyond: Leaders share views on civility

Zealous advocacy and beyond: Leaders share views on civility

Terry A. Fox of the Illinois Defense Counsel, Patrick A. Salvi II of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and Stephanie Villinski of the Illinois Commission on Professionalism contemplated our questions on what’s going right — and wrong — with how attorneys act.
Collaborative conversations require a mindful approach

Collaborative conversations require a mindful approach

Contributors Dan Cotter and Pat Eckler reflected on how they behave as media partners — and why civility is the necessary foundation of the conversations about the law they want to convene.

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Law Day Letters

Jennifer Rosato Perea

Character of next generation brings hope for civility

The 2021 Illinois Lawyers Survey on Professionalism includes the encouraging finding that most lawyers (88.7%) find their colleagues civil/professional, but also the more discouraging finding that the majority of lawyers (54%) had experienced uncivil/unprofessional behavior in the preceding six months.
Rory Weiler

Our special duty to the judiciary

The rule of law is foundational to our constitutional democracy, and an independent judiciary is essential to ensure that the rule of law is respected and endures. I submit to you that, as lawyers, we owe a special duty to the public and the legal system in which we serve to see to it that our judiciary remains independent and our judges remain safe. As lawyers, we need to use our skills as advocates and influencers to explain why the importance of an independent judiciary isn’t lessened or diminished on any situational basis.
Jonathan B. Amarilio

Good for us, good for the profession

It doesn’t take a keen cultural observer to note that our society and the public discourse are becoming increasingly less civil. Lawyers, who are often comfortable with confrontation and public speaking, often find themselves prominently reflecting this zeitgeist rather than resisting it. This is understandable. Being a lawyer doesn’t automatically confer on us some immunity to the forces and trends happening around us. We are as prone as anyone to feel the frustrations of our times, the isolating effects of technology and the instant gratification of expressing off-the-cuff reactions. But while we may not always act better, we do know better.
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