As part of Scheef & Stone’s Women’s Equality Day Spotlight Series, we asked our women attorneys to reflect on the experiences, perspectives, and lessons that have shaped their careers. For Jane Taber, one of the most important lessons is what separates a good lawyer from a great one.
The legal profession is filled with talented attorneys. Lawyers spend years developing their legal skills, gaining experience, analyzing complex information, and learning how to advocate effectively for their clients. But, as Jane has previously shared, technical ability alone does not make someone a great lawyer.
For Jane, three qualities stand out: compassion, assertiveness, and creativity.
Compassion: Understanding the People Behind the Problem
Jane believes that great legal representation begins with genuinely wanting to help solve a client’s problem.
Compassion, she explains, requires a lawyer to focus on how others feel and to understand perspectives that may differ from their own. That includes not only clients but also opposing counsel and other parties involved in a matter.
By understanding the positions of everyone at the table, Jane believes a lawyer can better anticipate what each person may do next and take steps that serve the client’s best interests.
For Jane, compassion is not separate from effective advocacy. It is part of it.
Assertiveness Without Aggression
Jane also emphasizes the difference between being assertive and being aggressive.
An assertive lawyer can clearly express an opinion, advocate for a position, and make herself heard while remaining professional and respectful of others. An aggressive approach, by contrast, can undermine trust and make it more difficult to understand opposing perspectives or find workable solutions.
For Jane, effective advocacy does not require disregarding other viewpoints. Instead, it requires listening carefully while confidently advocating for the client.
Creativity in Finding Solutions
The third quality Jane identifies is creativity.
No two clients, legal matters, or sets of circumstances are exactly alike. A strategy that works for one client may not be appropriate for another. Great lawyers, Jane believes, must be willing to look at a problem from multiple angles, understand what their clients want, consider the interests of others involved, and develop solutions that address the circumstances at hand.
That kind of creative problem-solving requires all three qualities to work together: compassion to understand the people involved, assertiveness to advocate effectively, and creativity to develop a practical path forward.
Jane’s perspective offers a broader view of what it means to practice law well. Legal knowledge and experience are essential, but great advocacy also requires understanding people, listening with intention, respecting different perspectives, and approaching each challenge with a willingness to think creatively.
As Scheef & Stone recognizes Women’s Equality Day, Jane’s perspective serves as a reminder that the qualities that define strong leadership in the legal profession extend well beyond technical skill. They are also reflected in how lawyers listen, advocate, solve problems, and work with others.