It is ironic that the occupation most responsible for producing America’s leaders has focused so little attention on that role. The legal profession attracts a large number of individuals with the ambition and analytic capabilities to be leaders, but frequently fails to develop other qualities that are essential to effectiveness. The Center focuses attention on this issue, and explores ways to better develop lawyers as leaders.

The Center on the Legal Profession (now the Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession) launched the Lawyers as Leaders Initiative in 2016 to advance research, discussion, and practical experience of leadership in the legal profession. Through publication, curricular development, and programming, the Initiative seeks to increase the presence of leadership theory and experience for Stanford law students and our wider community.