Big Law Would Benefit by Recruiting More Military Veterans

Defending the rule of law, staying focused under a demanding and often relentless workload, looking ahead to anticipate the next roadblock, and rallying a diverse team.

These are some of the attributes required not only of a good military leader, but also of a good lawyer.

After high school, I attended and graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point. There, I learned the leadership skills that I would depend on while leading an attack helicopter platoon in the US Army.

When I left active military service, those same leadership skills continued to serve me well at law school and afterward, as a practicing attorney. I still depend on those leadership skills as a Partner with Perkins Coie in New York.   

I have never forgotten my military service, and I strongly believe that the legal profession would benefit from recruiting more military veterans.

This past week, I returned to West Point along with other like-minded graduates who are also now attorneys in the private sector to speak at the annual West Point Tudor Society Legal Forum. One of the key topics was leadership in the legal profession.

We were joined this year by Damien Atkins, who is Senior Vice President and General Counsel for The Hershey Company, and Patrick O’Rourke, Director of Global Security at The Hershey Company. Damien, a leader in the field of law at one of America’s most well-respected Fortune 500 companies, and Patrick, who has studied organizational leadership, spoke to the group of West Point graduates about why leadership is critical in the legal field and how it benefits a multinational corporation such as Hershey’s.

As Damien recognizes, the military training that veterans go through prepares them well for future careers in law.

The many important aspects of the curriculum at West Point include leadership, ethics, and professional and personal responsibility—vital characteristics for lawyers.

This year’s Forum specifically addressed the leadership and ethical principles emphasized at West Point and in the military, and how those principles directly translate to the practice of law.  

Being an ethical and moral leader in the legal field, just as in the military, is a key attribute for a successful legal career.

Like many industries, the legal world is undergoing significant changes. A growing number of military veterans of all diverse backgrounds now lead legal teams, both at law firms and within corporations.   

In addition to the many benefits that diverse teams deliver, veterans tend to provide additional assets because of the unique discipline and collaborative work skills developed during service.

At this year’s Forum, in addition to discussing topics that are relevant to the Academy and the legal profession, attendees got an opportunity to network, build new relationships, and develop new collaborative initiatives.

As we mark Veterans Day and salute the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces, we plan to keep growing the Forum and encourage more veterans to consider a career in the legal profession.