Billee Elliott McAuliffe of Lewis Rice in St. Louis, who practices in the firm's corporate department, specializing in information technology, started as a summer associate and is now chair of the firm's professional development committee. GlobeSt.com recently chatted with McAuliffe about how she has helps build leaders through a program she created called Your Profession, Your Career, Your Firm, What You Can Make of It?

It started with an idea for a series of programs that touched on key components of professional development in a law firm seeking out mentorship, getting involved and taking responsibility for your own career.

The most important lesson she learned? “Taking responsibility for your own career,” she says. “That is something I have carried with me throughout my career, and something I try and instill in our young lawyers,” she says.

GlobeSt.com: How are you preparing for the next generation for leadership roles?

Billee Elliott McAuliffe: Through this year's Professional Development program at Lewis Rice, we invited business leaders to provide insights to our associates and young partners through a series of panel discussions. In the final of our four programs, three business leaders participated in our panel discussion about leadership. We took questions from the crowd that touched on a variety of topics, and three themes became clear: lead by example, trust your team will rise to the occasion, and be accountable.

GlobeSt.com: What types of programs are you creating and why?

McAuliffe: As chair of the Professional Development program at Lewis Rice, I developed a series of three programs that touched on key components of growth within a law firm: mentorship, community and firm involvement, and accountability for one's own career. The theme for the program is “Your Profession, Your Career, Your Firm – What You Can Make of It.” The topics developed in response to questions my partners and I heard frequently from associates. These questions include, “how do I seek out mentorship,” “how do I become more involved in leadership at the Firm, in the legal profession, and in the community,” and “how do I start developing a book of business.” In an effort to address these topics in a broad way and to provide a variety of perspectives, we assembled a panel of Lewis Rice attorneys and external guests for each program. Each program was hosted offsite and was followed by a reception to allow for the opportunity to build relationships with senior attorneys in a more relaxed setting. We believe these programs position the associates to develop as lawyers, as active members of our firm and our community, and as leaders.

GlobeSt.com: What insight and tips are you passing on?

McAuliffe: Mentorship is critical to any career, and the practice of law is no different. I am very lucky to have had many mentors at Lewis Rice, with two individuals having the greatest, long-term impact. One gave me advice on my career; he taught me how to transition from an associate working for partners to a partner bringing in my own clients. The other mentored me in my practice, teaching me the fundamentals of drafting a contract, for example. But, the most important lesson I learned from both of these men was to take responsibility for my own career. That fundamental lesson is something I have carried with me throughout my career, and something I try to instill in our young lawyers.

Lewis Rice

GlobeSt.com: How are you preparing for the next generation for leadership roles?

GlobeSt.com: What types of programs are you creating and why?

GlobeSt.com: What insight and tips are you passing on?

Instant Insights /

Expert: Mentorship is Critical to Any Career

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