Kalamazoo Attorney John Allen recognized as Leader in the Law

The name on the award reads John Allen but he insists it's the team he works with at Varnum that made it possible for him to be named a 2012 Leader in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

It's an award that goes to just 25 of 40,000 lawyers in the state each year, one Allen says he's honored to receive. And he adds that his work is supported by a lot of good people, especially his assistant Darla Betts. "Without them I couldn't do any of this. I have a lot of exceptional colleagues."

Second Wave spoke with Allen about his law career in Commercial Law and Litigation that spans 40 years to find out his perspective on what makes a lawyer a leader in the field.

"The first rule is always do what's best for the client and that will always be what's best for you," Allen says.

"What I learned of leadership I learned in the United States Army," he continues. "They've been training leaders for a very long time under difficult circumstances."

Here are a few of the things he's learned and put into practice:

"One is to take care of your people, your troops. Remember they're the ones following you, and they're behind you with loaded guns. It's important that you've earned their respect.

"Two: Make yourself dispensable. In the service that's important because if you go down in a plane there has to be another person to take command. In the legal profession, it means mentoring people, teaching them and helping them be better people.

"Three is delegating authority, not just responsibility. When you delegate authority and you let them do the work they may come up with better ideas than you would have. The client is better served."

When asked about his proudest moment at a lawyer, Allen says: "Every time you conclude a matter--end a trial or finish a deal--if you can look back and say you did the best you possibly could and you did it the right way, that's a very good feeling."

He offers advice on serving the community, as well: Find something that you really like to do and you will do a much better job. For Allen one of those has been his work officiating golf matches, which has taken him to golf events big and small. He does a lot of work with local high school golf teams.

Allen was recognized for his work after consideration by a Michigan Lawyers Weekly editorial panel. It looks for lawyers who exemplify "the noble tradition of the legal profession, coupled with commitment to practicing law in Michigan; a record of winning cases, solving problems or coming to judicial conclusions that reflect the utmost integrity; possessing the ability to achieve success in his or her respective practice, while also displaying the strength of character that transcends results; being passionate and aggressive on behalf of both clients and the legal community."

Allen has been admitted to the bar and can practice in six states. He also is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate. He has written and co-written hundreds of articles and books, and speaks frequently to business and law groups. Legal ethics is one of the issues he writes and speaks on most frequently.

He was elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates, an elite, invitation-only recognition of jury trial lawyers in the United States and has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America since 2005. Recently, he listed on the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Michigan.

Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave
Source: John Allen, Varnum