I am pleased to announce that (along with the eclipse) Beyond Smart: Lawyering with Emotional Intelligence is available as of yesterday here on the ABA Shop website. For a discount, use Code RMUIR10 through December 31, 2017.

This is the first comprehensive guide to understanding, using and raising emotional intelligence in the unique context of law practice. It covers a myriad of topics, including:

  • What emotional intelligence means, its research origins that feature a lawyer, and its four components
  • The demographics of EI
  • How lawyers compare to doctors and other professionals in emotional intelligence
  • Why emotionally intelligent lawyers are smarter, better practitioners (as negotiators, litigators and judges), make more money, and are physically and mentally healthier
  • The critical importance of emotionally intelligent communication in client service
  • How emotionally intelligent law departments and law firms profit from high EI leadership, greater performance, enhanced teamwork, and increased client satisfaction, as well as lower attrition, healthcare and professional liability costs
  • Why emotionally intelligent practices can thrive in an increasingly competitive and technologically challenging marketplace, even outperforming artificial intelligence
  • Law firms that have dared to lead in promoting emotional intelligence
  • How to find out your personal level of emotional intelligence
  • Four steps individuals can take to raise their emotional intelligence, including practical tips to raise each of the four components of emotional intelligence
  • Four steps that workplaces can take to raise organizational emotional intelligence
  • Why law schools interested in producing the best and brightest should include emotional intelligence in admissions and curricula

Let’s hope that the new beginning that this historical eclipse heralds also occurs in our legal workplaces in need of strategies for meeting the challenges of the 21st Century.

Order your copy here.

 

My thanks to reviewers from all sectors of the legal world who have endorsed the book:

“Emotional intelligence is one of the most important, yet overlooked, areas of law practice…. Ronda Muir has written what is instantly the standard in the field. It is a gift for lawyers and legal educators alike.” Daniel S. Bowling, III, Senior Lecturing Fellow, Duke Law School, Recipient, 2016 Outstanding Professor

“Every managing partner needs to read this book…. The good news is that there are things that can be done to improve emotional intelligence.” Sir Anthony Salz, former Chair, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

“A must read for in-house counsel striving to navigate internal management emotions while enhancing the probability of successful external interactions.” Steven Overly, senior legal leader over a 30-year career at Lockheed Martin, General Electric, NUI, Cirrus Logic and other companies

“In the face of challenges to law firms by alternative service providers, new business models, smart software, and Artificial Intelligence, the proven power of Emotional Intelligence is needed to assure success, indeed to assure survival. EI is not a frill, it is a core competence.” Michael Mills, Co-Founder, President of Neonta Logic, Inc., formerly a partner at Mayer Brown

“Muir provides the scientific background for what many of us have long suspected about what makes for a successful lawyer or judge, and couples this science with practical advice to address problems all lawyers face.” Christopher L. Kaufman, Senior M&A Partner, Latham & Watkins, LLP

“Ronda Muir displays her mastery of emotional intelligence in this enlightening and comprehensive book…. Thoroughly researched and thoughtfully organized.” Randall Kiser, Principal Analyst, DecisionSet, author of several books including forthcoming Soft Skills for the Effective Lawyer

“Muir gives us compelling examples of lawyers who have gained from high EI and those who have suffered from its absence…. Attorneys appear to underrate EI as a critical skill. Muir challenges us to think more deeply about EI and how it can help us to become more accomplished lawyers and have more satisfying personal lives.” David Katsky, Founding partner, Litigation Department Leader, Katsky Korins