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The power of being human is the lawyer’s non-negotiable.
Law firms and their attorneys are caught in the same squeeze. They are grappling with whether and how to chart their next chapters in an environment that is uncertain, at best. Whether it’s artificial intelligence, merger pains, infusions of capital from private equity or unexpected economic and governmental pressures, this is a challenge for everyone.
But there is no better time to double-down on the core humanity that is the key to success as lawyers— judgment, ethics, good will, human connections.
The Enneagram for Law Firms
Understanding people is the professional coin of the realm for attorneys. Whether making arguments, persuading judges and juries, or drafting agreements, an attorney’s success is determined by how clearly and compellingly they connect with other people.
Unfortunately, this ethos is being undermined from both external and internal forces. The Enneagram for Law Firms can help attorneys and firms reconnect with and strengthen the uniquely human attributes they need — judgment, creativity and values.
When firms and lawyers rediscover their core humanity, it reinforces the ideals that are foundational to the profession. This helps clarify the future in an era of uncertainty.
Connect with your core self to connect with others.
Why the Enneagram?
The Enneagram types represent diverse approaches to perceiving and interacting with the world.
The Enneagram, a personality framework at the cutting-edge of legal education, is rooted in the concept of dominant core drivers influencing interpersonal dynamics. It provides valuable insights for anyone seeking to understand themselves and their colleagues, clients, or opposing counsel to connect with them more effectively. It provides a shorthand for the emotional intelligence that is inherent in the soft skills required for success.
Each of the nine Enneagram types embodies distinct characteristics and motivations that provide nuanced understanding of individual strengths and fears. This framework then supports attorneys in strengthening their core selves, to refine their relationship and leadership strategies to support the genuine humanity needed for a successful practice.
The Enneagram is a more expansive means for discovering or rediscovering who we are and how we can be the best version of ourselves as individuals and as organizations.
Bloomberg Law recognized Belmont Law’s Extended Enneagram Training as one of 10 finalists of its 2024–2025 Law School Innovation Program. “Belmont University’s College of Law is a key example of the innovation that is needed for legal education to support fulfilling long-term legal careers.”
~Alex Butler, Head of Content and Analysis, Bloomberg Industry Group.
Enneagram Coaching Yields Measurable Results
Retention
Facilitating the discovery of clear and specific self-knowledge builds confidence by demonstrating a value for the unique qualities that we as people bring to the table. This is the foundation for a healthy culture that is built upon understanding and connection, the qualities of community.
Promotion
Building self-awareness and awareness of others’ personality styles facilitates and strengthens the professional competencies required for the human connections needed for effective advocacy, business development and firm leadership.
Leadership
Every firm has a list of competencies that are vital for development of future leaders, but the capacity for connection is the foundation for each one of them. The Enneagram is a shortcut to building the emotional intelligence necessary for more effective relationships that facilitate commitment and community.
I’m Susan Brooks, Ennegram Type Seven
My entry into the world of law began on a whim. I graduated from college as a liberal arts major without a clue as to what was next. Law school seemed like a great way to begin to figure it out. Since then, I have been an associate at an Am Law 50 law firm, an admissions officer for two law schools, and the manager of attorney recruiting and the director of human resources at an AmLaw 100 firm. Since 2007, I have consulted with and coached aspiring law students, lawyers and law firm professionals. Needless to say, I’ve seen the industry go through numerous peaks and valleys, but one thing has remained constant — firms rise and fall on their ability to connect with others. What attorneys need for success is a deep understanding of who they are, how they show up, and how to meet the needs of others, whether they are colleagues, clients, opposing counsel or courts. It’s a matter of understanding, not guessing, and building emotional intelligence based on actionable insights that support genuine and sustainable connection with self and with others. That’s where coaching with the Enneagram makes the difference.
I help people and organizations leverage self-awareness to maximize performance.
Why Invest in Coaching?
The Benefits:
62% of coaching clients say coaching improved their career opportunities*
73% reported positive impacts on relationships
72% on communication skills
70% on work performance
An investment in coaching accelerates growth by creating self-awareness and an awareness of others that creates understanding, builds and enhances client relationships, and positions firms for enhanced opportunities and revenue generation.
Leverage the Enneagram. Connect with Your Core. Transform.
Credentials & Experience
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Susan received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and her Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University. Geaux Tigers!
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Susan is a graduate of the Fielding Graduate University’s Evidence-Based Coaching Program. She attained the ACC certification from the International Coaching Federation, and she is certified in the Enneagram Assessment and the Five Behaviors Model for High Functioning Teams.
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Susan began her career as an associate at Akin Gump. She then became an admissions officer at New York Law School and Georgetown University Law Center. She worked as the manager of attorney recruiting and the director of H.R. at Crowell & Moring in Washington DC. Since 2007, she has been a management consultant and executive coach. Her published works can be found in National Law Journal, Law Office Practice Today, Training magazine, Bloomberg BNA, and SHRM’s People + Strategy journal, among others.