The Oklahoma Bar Journal October 2025

F rom the E xecutive D irector

Accomplishing More Through Civility, Professionalism, and Collaboration

By Janet Johnson

I WANT TO BEGIN WITH A simple observation: In the legal profession, our tools are words, our word is our bond, and our currency is trust. But the way we wield those tools – the tone we choose, the respect we show, the spirit with which we engage – often deter mines whether our work builds bridges or burns them. Civility, professionalism, and collaboration are sometimes dismissed as “soft skills.” But, in reality, they are vital for success . They allow us to get more done, with fewer wasted motions – and with reputations intact. THE COST OF INCIVILITY We’ve all seen it. A deposition derailed because counsel couldn’t resist personal jabs. An email chain that became more about point-scoring than problem- solving. A trial where the heat between lawyers overshadowed the merits of the case. The costs are real: Time wasted in unnecessary disputes Clients harmed because energy is spent on conflict about conflict

whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that create something.” In my own experience, some of my most successful outcomes came not because I outargued the other side but because we treated each other with enough respect to explore solutions neither of us could have accomplished alone. PROFESSIONALISM AS A STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE Professionalism is a strategic advantage. Professionalism is

Reputations diminished in the eyes of colleagues and the court THE POWER OF CIVILITY Civility is not weakness, and it is not surrender; it is strength under control. When we speak with respect – even when disagree ing fiercely on the law – we signal confidence in our arguments. We reduce distractions for the decision- maker. We show the client they are in capable, steady hands. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor once said, “We don’t accomplish anything in the world alone and

68 | OCTOBER 2025

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL