This column explores the law profession engaging in training senior partners in leadership. Leadership plays a key role in the business world. Corporations spend time and money on training their executives on the skills of leadership. Leadership is a major part of the training of military officers. The law profession however, even after years of mergers of large multistate firms resulting in odd combinations of firm organization, has paid little formal attention to this essential skill.

Recently, Duquesne University Law School instituted a full semester class on leadership, to teach the law students "to think like a leader." Dean April Barton said the students are taught that "leadership is not a position of authority or power; it is not proving you are the brightest person in the room." The class is very popular with students who are eager to learn ways to act as a leader.