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76 Baylor L. Rev. 1 (2024)

handle is hein.journals/baylr76 and id is 1 raw text is: CIVILITY MATTERS: WHY LAW SCHOOLS MUST TEACH STUDENTS TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE Leah Teague* As society becomes less civil and less willing to engage in civil discourse, law schools face a heightened need to instill civility as a cornerstone of being a lawyer. The inherently adversarial nature of the legal profession often involves intense conflicts and high-stakes situations. For the system of justice to function, those representing clients must be able to negotiate, debate, and disagree without being disagreeable. Civility fosters a respectful and collaborative atmosphere, enhances the administration of justice, and upholds the integrity of the legal profession. Civility also provides a better culture for lawyer well-being. This Article examines the historical context of civility in the legal profession, its ethical underpinnings, the practical implications of cultivating a civil legal practice, and the importance of addressing professional expectations of civility beginning in law school. I. Introduction ......................................................................................2 II. Understanding Civility ....................................................................5 III. Role of Civility in the Legal Profession ......................................10 A. The Impact of Civility on Lawyer-Client Relationships.....10 B. Civility Enhances the Administration of Justice .................11 C. Civility Upholds the Integrity of the Legal Profession .......12 D. The Business Case for Civility ........................................13 E. Civility Supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts................................................................................14 F. Civility Supports Lawyer Wellbeing ................................15 IV. Relationship between Civil Discourse and Civility .....................17 V. Challenges to Maintaining Civility in the Legal Profession .........19 A. The High-Stakes Nature of Legal Disputes and Adversarial System ...........................................................19 Professor of Law and Director of the Leadership Development Program, Baylor Law School.

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