OCTOBER 2025 | 69 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL the outward expression of inner discipline. Professionalism is contagious. We’ve all heard several sayings. Perhaps the most recent is “when they go low, we go high.” Courtrooms run more smoothly when lawyers are prepared, filings are clear, and communications are timely. Judges make better decisions when the issues are sharpened rather than muddied by needless rhetoric. And let’s be realistic: Judges and opposing counsel remember the professionals they trust. I don’t remember verbatim what someone said to me, but I will certainly remember how they made me feel. Your reputation precedes you into every hearing, every conference, every negotiation. A track record of civility can open doors in moments when you or your client most needs them. COLLABORATION Collaboration doesn’t mean giving up the fight. Collaboration doesn’t mean principles are compromised. It means asking: Where can we agree? What procedural issues can we stipulate to so the court can focus on the merits? Can we solve this part now so we can fight about fewer things later? By narrowing disputes and sharing common ground early, we make space for creativity and reduce the “unintended consequences” of litigation. One of the most rewarding cases I worked on ended in settlement terms that both sides’ clients called “livable” – not perfect, but better than the uncertainty of trial. That outcome was possible only because we treated each other as professionals rather than foes. CONCLUSION In the end, our profession is not just about winning cases – it’s about upholding the rule of law in a way that preserves its dignity. Civility keeps us credible. Professionalism keeps us consistent. Collaboration keeps us creative. We do not weaken our advocacy by being civil – we strengthen it. We do not lose our edge by being professional – we sharpen it. And we do not dilute our principles by collaborating – we advance them. The law is adversarial by design, but it need not be hostile by default. Let’s choose to be the kind of advocates, and the kind of judges, who prove that the most effective way to win – and to serve justice – is to do so with civility, professionalism, and collaboration. After all, together we win. Thank you. To contact Executive Director Johnson, email her at janetj@okbar.org.
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