"Running Marathons Makes Me A Better Lawyer"

Lauren Meadows was highlighted in a personal profile for Law360 expert analysis discussing how running marathons has helped her build an identity outside of the workplace, manage the stress that comes with being a young attorney and build skills that can apply to her practice.

“Certainly, my goal when setting out on my journey as a runner was not to improve my legal career — it was to improve my physical and mental health,” said Meadows. “I didn't know, however, that the lessons learned in my life as a marathon runner — discipline, dedication, endurance, problem-solving and mental toughness — would directly translate to the practice of law.

Meadows shared how both marathons and the end to a case, whether it’s a trial, hearing or mediation, require rigorous preparation on the front end for success. Just as developing a training regimen and spending months running to build up to a marathon are essential to a successful outcome, developing a strategy from the start of a case can help identify key legal issues preemptively and set you up for success.

“Running has improved my problem-solving skills and has helped me learn to quickly come
up with solutions,” continued Meadows. “When something goes wrong while running a marathon, you can let it derail you, or you can pause, breathe and decide how you are going to get through it.”

Meadows discussed how a similar approach to legal challenges is beneficial. “When you calmly think through the problem and identify the available solutions, the problem may go away as quickly as it developed.”

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