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Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP
University of Michigan Law School, 1992
Why did you decide to enter the legal profession?
Even in law school, I wasn’t sure. I explored possibly working in government, particularly the legislative or executive branches. I made a number of trips to Washington for interviews and to pass around my resumé. I don’t think I’ve ever walked so much. After eventually realizing that Washington wasn’t for me, I still didn’t know what I’d think about practicing law. But almost immediately, once I got started, I found doing real work for real clients energizing and never looked back.
If you hadn’t pursued a legal career, what would you be doing?
In college, I considered going into teaching and becoming a professor of history. In the end, of course, you can still have that as a hobby while you practice law.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice as a lawyer comes from my father, who has practiced in Illinois for more than 50 years and still does today: Get to the point and keep it short and conversational. For years I’ve heard him tell tales of lawyers doing it wrong: being long-winded or speaking too stiffly or formally, or how the minister did that Sunday with what he called the 20-minute rule. All that certainly applies to speaking, but it also does, to an extent, to writing.
What is something you wish people knew about lawyers?
People ask me, “What’s the hardest part about being a lawyer?” I say, “That’s easy, it’s the other lawyers.” OK, that’s sort of a joke. But it’s
true sometimes.
You’ve served as managing partner twice — what is one lesson you took away from those experiences?
What I tell incoming managing partners is that you are going to get your way even less of the time than usual as MP. Really, your job is as a facilitator; you are too busy trying to juggle things and let everyone have their say to push much of your own agenda. When I’ve seen others try
to handle it in another way, it
usually fails.
We hear you’re an avid cyclist. What do you enjoy about that?
It’s amazing how much more you see that way. Everywhere I’ve done it, you find out about places and parts of town that few others know, even long-time residents. Of course, it’s also great exercise that nearly always leaves you feeling better than when you started. My wife and I ride about 4,000 miles annually — sometimes as much as 6,000 miles — most of it together and with friends.
How do you spend your free time?
Cycling, hiking, trying new restaurants.
Who is someone who has inspired you in your career?
Too many people to count, many of them at my firm over the 30 years I’ve been here. George Plews, certainly, about how to write and negotiate. Sue Shadley about how to manage client expectations and deal with internal firm business. Many others, too, who have come and gone over the years.
Do you have a secret talent?
No.
What makes a good lawyer/judge?
The basics: listening, being prepared, being honest and direct.•
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