Leadership Development
Lawyers Lead. Baylor Lawyers Lead Boldly.
We don’t just teach law—we teach leadership.
Throughout history, no other profession has accounted for more of our nation’s leadership. And all over this country, lawyers lead in every aspect of society—serving as heads of government, business, and nonprofit organizations in large and small communities. At Baylor Law School, we fast-track that journey.
From day one, you’re not just plugging into casebooks—you’re building leadership muscle. From the emphasis on service during the first day of orientation through our nationally-renowned third-year Practice Court program, Baylor Law School faculty strive to develop individuals who will be prepared for the challenges of the legal profession and equipped to serve effectively.
Our goal: to help you own your professional identity, master the must-have skills, and hunt down chances to change the game—in court, boardrooms, and communities.
Own Your Identity — Understand what it means to be “lawyer” and “leader.”
Level Up Your Toolkit — Analytical horsepower? Check. Persuasive power talk? Check. Little things like emotional intelligence and strategic foresight? We’ve got those, too.
Go Make a Difference — You’ll be taught to not just practice law—but to shape it, to use your legal brain for real impact.
A GROUNDBREAKING PROGRAM.
One of only a handful of law school programs in the country with robust leadership development programming, Baylor Law School is dedicated to preparing graduates who are not only proficient in analysis and advocacy but also able to use reasoning, judgment, imagination, and foresight to navigate complex situations, solve problems, create new possibilities, and develop effective relationships.
Baylor Law School’s Leadership Development Program has four major components:
- LEAD Course – A cutting-edge curriculum on leadership—real tools, real reflection, real results.
- Year-Round Leadership Initiatives – Leadership training is ongoing—not an afterthought. Expect workshops, speaker series, and networking events throughout the year.
- Leadership Fellows - A select few who rise to Baylor’s leadership expectations graduate with this distinction—and the bragging rights to match.
- The Making a Difference (MAD) Conference.
In the two-hour elective course, we guide students through the process of becoming a lawyer-leader:
- understanding their professional identity as a lawyer
- developing professional competencies
- equipping them to work well with others to accomplish objectives
Adding leadership skills to their legal education gives students the tools to positively impact others and help them become difference-makers in society. Our textbook, Fundamentals of Lawyer Leadership, creates the structure for the course. The book and the Baylor Law LEAD course structure are divided into three aspects of developing leadership. Following an introduction to the concept of leadership, we ask students to look internally first before turning the leadership focus outward. The course is formatted as follows:
Part I - Overview of Leadership
What do we mean by leadership? A process whereby an individual influences another (or a group) to achieve a common goal. Leadership is an opportunity to help and serve no matter what title or position they hold in an organization. Lawyers in our society hold leadership positions, as they advise clients and organizations, and serve in their communities. Leadership is part of our professional identity.
Part II - Leadership of Self: Growing into Leadership
Through a process of self-discovery and assessment, students gain a better sense of who they are and what type of lawyer and leader they want to be. Topics covered include characteristics of leadership (traits, skills, and competencies, including those traditionally developed in law school), fixed vs. growth mindset, grit and resilience, feedback and failure, well-being, integrity and character, preparedness, and setting goals.
Part III - Leadership with Others: Effective Group Dynamics
The focus is on helping students develop their ability to interact effectively with others. Topics include emotional intelligence, relationships and influence, strategic communication, diversity and inclusion, unconscious bias and cultural competency, effective management, and working within legal organizations.
Part IV - Leadership within Community: Service and Impact
Encouraging students to seek opportunities to use their legal training and other talents and gifts to serve society can inspire them to find work that is meaningful to them, and that can have a significant impact on others. Students are challenged to consider what legacy they want to leave. This section emphasizes leadership for positive change and using their legal skills to effectuate a desired goal.
This skills-based course provides opportunities for experiential learning through role-playing, exercises, and small-group discussions. Frequent guest speakers share experiences and guidance. The required journal is a powerful enhancement of the student’s experience. After each class, students reflect upon the topics addressed in that class. Journaling in response to class materials or discussions helps students personalize and internalize the concepts and fosters their growth.
The textbook Fundamentals of Lawyer Leadership is a national textbook written to make the teaching of leadership topics easier for faculty and staff at other law schools. The Baylor Law team offers to serve as resources and advisors to law school professors and staff interested in developing a course or a program.
Leadership development programming is a standard component of Baylor Law’s first-of-its-kind and award-winning, required Professional Development Program. The Leadership Development Program co-hosts at least one of the programs offered each academic term. Speakers address professional competencies and skill sets that legal employers are seeking. Focus on these topics will better prepare students to meet and exceeds employers’ expectations. Attention to these important topics will also help students better understand and own their obligation as lawyers to use their legal skills and position of influence to impact lives, lead change, and add value to efforts.
Leadership Development Program Sessions within our Professional Development Program.
Students who meet the requirements of the Leadership Fellow Program are designated as a Leadership Fellow and receive an award, along with special recognition, at graduation.
To be recognized as a Leadership Fellow, a student is required to complete the following:
- Take the two-hour Leadership Engagement and Development (LEAD) class;
- Complete a personal development and team-building course (the Baylor Law School Leadership Challenge Course);
- Complete 23 hours of Professional Development Programming (with at least 5 hours designated as Leadership Development Programming) OR serve as a facilitator for a public deliberation training;
- Complete 25 hours of community service; and
- Either:
- Serve as an officer of a Baylor Law student organization for a minimum of 2 quarters. While serving as an officer, the student must perform a minimum of 25 hours of service related to the activities of the organization; OR
- Serve as an intern for a charitable or community organization’s director or management team, working a minimum of 45 hours. Alternatively, a student can work as an extern for a legislator (either state or federal level) for a minimum of 45 hours.
