Bio:
Mr. Scott McElhaney is a partner/lawyer at Jackson Walker LLP. He graduated from Dartmouth with a bachelor’s degree in History and went on to pursue law at Harvard. Mr. McElhaney went on to work in different law firms and courts before his current role at Jackson Walker LLP. Mr. McElhaney was also an adjunct professor at SMU Dedman School of Law for several years.
When you were in high school did you know what kind of career you wanted to venture into?
No, I did not think that far ahead when I was in high school. My father was a lawyer and I saw what he did on a daily basis and was familiar with the routines of being a lawyer. But I didn’t have any notion that’s what I wanted to do. I just thought I could decide later on. In high school, I was more interested in history, English or government….so I was not interested in becoming a doctor or anything like that. So, I didn’t have any notion about what I wanted to do.
What is your opinion on the phrase “follow your passion?”
I think ‘follow your passion’ notion can be abused because it’s sort of an obscure concept as passion is not everything; if someone has a passion, that’s great, but passions change all the time and some things are not going to be interesting at all times; In order to “learn a craft” and be good at it, one has to put forth many years of hard work.
Besides parents, did you have any mentors or anyone who influenced your career decision?
Though my dad is a lawyer and also my uncle was a law school professor, they did not persuade me in anyway. When I was a junior in college, I became interested in pursuing law school after knowing that I was not interested in financing, consulting, or medicine. So, after undergraduate degree, I went directly to the law school.
Given your current exposure to various fields and knowledge, would you do anything differently if you could go back in time?
Not really, because I am happy with what I have been doing as a lawyer. But I would suggest couple of things for the current generation. When you’re choosing a profession that requires a lot of years of study such as law or medicine, it’s good to check out different career fields during the summers of your high school years or even in the college; that will give you a better idea before deciding your final choice. Also, after completing law school, I went to a law firm in Dallas and have been doing the same thing for the last 30 years; although I am quite happy with what I do, it’s good to take a chance and try something new that you come across; it may or may not workout but it’s always good to explore new opportunities.
What are the most important skills that you wish you had developed before college and before going into the law profession?
I would recommend mastering your writing skills; it is very important to learn to be a good writer and be able to express ideas clearly and concisely without complicated jargon, especially for a law, business, or even for science/medicine related profession. In addition to that, I would say organizational skills and also you need to spend time planning your short-term goals and long-term goals and reassessing how you will work towards those goals.
Does ‘high school debate’ play any role in someone who considering law?
I did not do debate in my high school. Some of the research and analysis skills in debate are similar and helpful in law school. When I went to laws school, many first-year graduates did come with high school debate experience, but there were many others who did not do debate in high school. So, if someone did not participate in debate that does not put them at a disadvantage.
What is the best decision you’ve made and what is the biggest regret you have?
I have enjoyed my career so far. I do not have any big regrets; I always try to make the best decision I can make and do not second-guess myself. After completing Harvard law school, I came back to Dallas to work for federal judges but I also thought about going to Washington DC to work for the government. I have always wondered what my life would have been if I had chosen to work for the government. So, sometimes, it is good to be open to those new types situations and consider unknown opportunities as things can work out sometimes.
What does a typical day or week look like for you, and could you explain the goals of your organization and the responsibilities that fall on your shoulders?
I work at the Jackson Walker law firm that consists of 450 lawyers with offices all around Texas. I represent my clients and resolve disputes to the best of my ability. Sometimes you go to court, settle a lawsuit, litigation, labor and employment dispute, etc. On a weekly basis, I am involved in tasks like getting ready for trial, preparing documents in response to requests, figure out the case, collecting legal aspects around the case, talking to clients and eventually settling a case.
How has COVID and the advancement of technology impacted the practice of law?
Since COVID, during the strict lockdown period, most court proceedings were held through Zoom meetings; Since then, Zoom has been helpful especially if the hearing is routine or one has to travel out of the city. Even now, after COVID, some court proceedings are still going to be remote through zoom for a while. However, it is always better to do mediation in person.
What do you like most about your work and least about your work?
I like pretty much the entire process: for example, when there is a legal issue, I gather all the facts/laws and construct a case/argument that fits within the law, works best for my client, and is supported in all legal aspects. Being an advocate for my clients and being able to explain the case to the jury/judge has been the best part of my job.
One of my least favorite processes is what I call the discovery process which is very early on in a case. In this phase, we exchange the documents: I get a list of requested documents from the opposition team, go through the list and make objections; it is time consuming, boring and sometimes painful.
What is your take on work-life balance? How do you balance work and life?
It is important to have work-life balance. That being said, when you are younger and learning the craft, you may have to work hard and for long hours. You have to keep reminding yourself at those times that it won’t last long. Work-life balance is going to change throughout your life. At certain times, you may have to decompress, energize and come back. Ultimately, you need to decide what you want in life.
One factor to consider when choosing a job is compensation; certainly, it is not the most important factor, but it does play a role; so, without going to specifics how does the law profession compensate compared to other professions?
It depends on where and what type of law you practice as a lawyer. Like any other profession, there is a pyramid with extremes. If you are working in the public/government sector, one can make decent money but not tons of money, but if you are working in a law firm, based on the size and how lucrative the practice is, lawyers make more money. Especially if you’re involved in huge transactions and acquisitions as corporate lawyers, you will get paid very well.
In short, the better the law school you attend and the better you do in law school, you can get into a well-paying job at the very beginning. Everything after that depends on what you do and the steps you take. In recent years, lawyers doing corporate transactions have done really well. But in recession, the deals go away and bankruptcy lawyers make all the money. Compensation changes with times. Overall, I would say it is a well-paying job.
If you were looking to hire a lawyer what are the different skills or experiences, you look for?
The first quality that I would look for is analytical ability, or the ability to analyze things in a rigorous and insightful way. To help clients with their problems, you have to be able to analyze the problem, figure out the best course of action, and come up with potential solutions within the law. The second most important skill is having good writing skills. Being good around people is another important thing.
What is the path to become a judge, and have you ever considered going down that path?
Political influence plays more of a role if one aspires to become a judge. It also depends on what type of judge you want to be. For example, in Texas we elect our state judges, so if you want to be a trial judge, you run at the county-level: in Dallas, which is mostly Democratic, you cannot become a trial judge if you’re a Republican. If you wish to be a state Supreme Court judge, that is a state-wide endeavor. For federal judges, senators recommend their state federal judges to the White House for appointment.
On the topic of politics what role does networking and politics have in law profession?
Networking is always important no matter what profession you choose; it helps you to bring in more business. Politics do not play a major role in being a private lawyer except when you want to be a judge.
What advice do you have for someone in high school interested in pursuing to be a lawyer, and in high school in general?
Essentially, the study of law is a combination of political science, government, economics, and philosophy; formal legal education is about all these fields.
In general, be curious and eager to learn; be open to understanding the world; there are always new things to learn.