Leah Teague
âI also learned that a law degree not only changes your life…it has the potential of helping you change the lives of many others. And last but now least, I learned that lawyers can and should be leaders. And wow, does the world need bright and committed leaders right now!â
These were words
shared by Jerry Clements, Chair Emeritus of Locke Lord LLP, as the keynote
speaker for our 2019 John William and Florence Dean Minton Student Award
Ceremony and Lecture Series. Only after law school did Jerry recognize that the
leadership skills and legal skills taught in law school would prepare her to
one day chair of one of the largest law firms in America. And lead effectively
she did! As Chair of Locke Lord LLP from 2006-2017, the law firm rose in the
American Lawyer rankings from No. 110 to No. 60 and grew from a Texas-based law
firm with 4 offices to a global law firm with 23 offices, including London and
Hong Kong.
Under Jerryâs
leadership, she strengthened the firmâs deep commitment to diversity and
inclusion, tripling the number of women and diverse lawyers in firm management
and nearly doubling the number of women and diverse lawyers in practice group
leadership. She received numerous recognitions for her efforts and was named
One of the Top 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers by the National Law Journal
and one of 30 Extraordinary Women in Texas Law by Texas Lawyer. As you can
imagine, we are quite proud she is a Baylor Lawyer.
In asking Jerry to
deliver remarks to our students, we did not suggest a specific topic. As is
often the case when accomplished lawyers reflect on their careers, Jerryâs
remarks were laden with stories about opportunities she had â because of her
legal training and law degree â to positively impact and influence others. She
also admonished law students to embrace the obligations they will have to serve
others. She acknowledged that her law degree âchanged my life but more
importantly, it gave me the skills, knowledge, and power to change othersâ lives,
as well.â
She applauded our studentsâ
dedication to âbecome a part of what I believe is still the most powerful,
honorable and rewarding career a person can chose.â She then challenged them by
adding, âlike all things, it is what you make of it.â
While crediting her
law degree with giving her opportunities to âmeetâ Presidents of the US, CEOs
whose names you would recognize, senators, governors, famous trial lawyers whom
I had heard about and admired,â she reminded them of the many important and
critical positive roles that lawyers play in the world. âLawyers are critical
to preserving, promoting and protecting the Rule of Law in Society⦠Lawyers
daily serve as champions.â⦠She encouraged them to âLearn the power of your law
degree and learn how to be a leader and communicator so that you can use that
power for the good.â
She left them with some
final notes, âif you take away one thing from my presentation tonight make it
thisâ-Lawyers are part of the basic foundation of our society and you are about
to be a part of that clubâ¦Be purposeful. Make a difference. Be a leader.â
I know we all love to
have accomplished, exemplary alumni come back to share words of wisdom with
current students. When they do, we all should be intentional about noting how
often they speak of the role of lawyer as leader. It also is worth noting how
often they attribute their true satisfaction and sense of meaning and purpose in
life not to drafting a legal document or winning a legal argument but in using
their legal training and law degree to making a positive difference in the
lives of another.
-LWJT