What People Are Saying

About Beyond Smart: Lawyering with Emotional Intelligence

—the first comprehensive guide to understanding, using and raising emotional intelligence in the unique context of law practice.

“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, 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

About Muir’s Articles and Presentations: 

I’m using Muir’s piece on What the New Law Firm Looks Like’ for the Law Firms course that I will be teaching at Harvard Law School this spring. It does the best job I’ve seen of succinctly describing in one place the various trends that are likely to be transforming law firm practice.” –Mitt Regan, Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Center for the Study of the Legal Profession at Georgetown University Law Center

“[Muir] presents as cogent an expression of what the future of law firms and law practice will look like as we have yet found.” –IOMA’s November Law Firm Leadership Alert naming Muir “Thought Leader”

Muir’s presentation was pivotal to the success of the program… and brought a fresh perspective to the agenda, receiving these rave reviews from participants”:

  • “Innovative, new information!”
  • “Excellent, new material of real value. I would love even more detail and time on this topic.”
  • “Great presentation!” 
  • “Great speaker!  Knowledgeable and forward thinking.”

–Facilitator of the ARK Group’s “Risk Management for the Modern Law Firm for Managing Partners

“[Muir’s] information was great as usual and well presented. [Her] presentations are always eloquent and thought provoking.” –Facilitator at Center for Competitive Management (C4CM)

“Ronda Muir is terrific.” “Frank and pragmatic.” Participants in IBA Annual Conference Sydney, Australia 2017

“Ronda knows so much–I would like a substantive presentation from her alone.” –Attendees at WLA Conference on Female Leadership and Business Development

“Wonderful!”  “Good stuff!” –Participants in OLP Webinar on “Crying Happens: Managing Emotions in the Office”

“Fabulous! If only all lawyers could hear Muir’s presentation on the importance of emotional intelligence to lawyers.”  Participant in the “Emotional Intelligence and the Law” session at the IBA Annual Conference Rome, Italy 2018

“IBA Conference: ‘Lawyers Just Don’t Do Emotion,’ Says Behavioral Expert,”  by Polly Botsford, Legal CheekOct 12, 2018 

“Excellent program!” “Love it!” “Well-organized.” “Surprisingly practical.”  “Effective presenter.” “Clear and approachable.” “Would like more!” Participants in the Florida Bar Association Podcast July 29, 2020

National Recognition

  • Inducted as a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management Fall 2019
  • LawPeopleBlog.com named BlawgWorld Pick of the Week Fall 2011
  • Named IOMA Thought Leader October 2009
  • Member of ENABLE advisors to law firms assembled by Patrick McKenna (co-author of First Among Equals and Herding Cats)  September 2009
  • Awarded 2007-2008 Edge International Law Practice Magazine Award for excellence in writing for “The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Law Firm Partners” August 2008