By Saara Maknojia
The LEAP Ambassadors kicked off the Conflict Resolution Month with an exciting virtual session hosted by Student Legal and Mediation Services- and what other way to enjoy an exciting session than with pizza?! The event was led by none other than Dr. Gene Roberts, Associate Dean and Director of Student Legal Mediation Services…
…and special guest Randall Kiser…
…Principal Analyst and DecisionSet and a renowned author of six books, including Professional Judgment for Lawyers.
Dean Roberts set the stage with a warm welcome to all attendees, introducing Kiser and giving a shoutout to the Pre-Law Society students in attendance. Kiser wasted no time diving into the core of his expertise, offering valuable advice to pre-law students who are eager to begin their legal journeys.
Kiser’s discussion centered on his book Professional Judgment for Lawyers, in which Dean Roberts jokingly remarked could easily be titled Professional Judgment for Everyone… perhaps a title Kiser will use for the second addition of his book! The book offers insights into how our personal judgment shapes not only the legal field by society as a whole. Kiser walked us through the essential elements of decision-making in law, critiqued past and current law school structures, and shed light on how lawyers can use their experiences in the legal field to better serve their clients.
When asked what inspired his transition from being a partner at a big law firm to becoming a researcher and author, Kiser cited the influence of modern management theories from Peter Drucker and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory. These concepts motivated his passion for exploring how lawyers and successful law firms make decisions.
One of the most interesting parts of Kiser’s discussion was his research on decision-making within the legal field. He emphasized the importance of professional judgment and highlighted how mediation training can significantly boost the success of a lawyer. According to Kiser, mediation fosters higher social awareness and sharper decision-making skills- both of which are qualities that make a strong attorney.
As the session wrapped up, the LEAP Ambassadors had a chance to ask Kiser a few final questions, and we all left with a deeper understanding of the critical role judgment plays within the legal field. A huge thank you to Gene Roberts for making this inspiring session possible and accessible to the pre-law students and to Randall Kiser for sharing his wisdom and advice with us!
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 