Articles & Publications 11.01.24

Being An Artist Makes Me A Better Lawyer, Published in Law360

In an article published on 11/1 in Law360, Segal McCambridge Attorney Sarah La Pearl discusses how her career as a lawyer reinforces her passion as an artist—and vice versa. Both practices require a high focus on details, creative thinking, and precision. Furthermore, because being an artist requires, quite literally, seeing things from different perspectives, this openness has translated into her law practice, where appreciating various viewpoints is crucial to success within the legal sphere.

“I approach depositions with a flexible and creative mindset, tailoring questions to elicit testimony that is beneficial to my client’s position,” La Pearl writes. “The adaptability mirrors my artistic process; when my methods or tools are not producing the intended effect, I adjust accordingly to achieve better results.”

Throughout her life, La Pearl has worked with various artistic mediums, including painting, drawing, and sculpting.

She observes that, much like artistic appreciation, the practice of law is often steeped in ambiguity as precedents and statutes can be open to various interpretations. This requires outside-the-box thinking in order to strategize and come to precise plans for crafting legal arguments.

“Each case, like a blank canvas, presents unique challenges that necessitate a refined approach and accuracy,” writes La Pearl. “As with my artistic works, I make final revisions with meticulous attention to detail to ensure that only the most refined work is filed with the court. … I believe that integrating these principles into the practice of law will not only improve outcomes, but also lead to more innovative and thoughtful work.”

Read the story in full; click here.