People first…always
Our Purpose
Our Vision
O Shaped started life as the O Shaped Lawyer in 2019 with a simple objective - to make the legal profession better. We believe that with a greater emphasis on a more rounded approach to the formation of our lawyers, the legal profession will provide its customers with a better service in a more diverse, inclusive and healthier environment.
The work of O Shaped is grounded in research and supplemented by industry support from in-house teams, private practice firms, law schools, universities, consultants, analysts, recruiters and market commentators. In this way, The O Shaped Lawyer aims to act as the agent for positive change across the industry.
Our work is guided by the 5 Os and the 12 O Shaped Attributes and designed to lead a shift not just in skills, but in mindsets and behaviours. We believe that long-lasting change can be achieved across both the formation of lawyers (what we have termed the ‘education stream’) and the ongoing development of lawyers (what we have termed the' ‘practice stream’).
We have adopted the mantra of ‘people first’ because we believe that legal professionals of the future will practice in a more human-centric and emotionally intelligent environment.
Legal professionals of the future will be more rounded.
Legal professionals of the future will be more ‘O’.
“They have to try new things; remove the fear of failure.”
The O Shaped Lawyer Framework
The 5 Os represent the mindset of an O Shaped Legal Professional
BE OPTIMISTIC
We will adapt an optimistic mindset so that lawyers are view as business partners, not business blockers.
HAVE AN OPEN MIND
We will adapt a growth mindset through which we will always be open to new ideas and reduce defensive attitudes to a thing of the past.
MAKE AND TAKE OPPORTUNITIES
We will encourage lawyers to make and take opportunities outside of the traditional lens of risk avoidance.
TAKE OWNERSHIP
We will focus on taking accountability for business driven outcomes beyond pure technical legal advice.
BE ORIGINAL
We will be creative and innovative in our approach to problem solving. We will look forward not backward.
The 12 O Shaped Attributes
Be Adaptable
The suite of skills needed to thrive in new and different environments throughout the legal career
Courage
Resilience
Feedback
Continuous Learning
Build Relationships
The suite of skills needed to build long-term connections with a wide range of people
Empathy
Influencing
Communication
Collaborate
Creating Value
The suite of skills needed to identify opportunities and find the best legal solution
Identify the Opportunities
Solve the Problems
Synthesise
Simplify Complexities
The 12 O Shaped Attributes are the output of interviews with 18 leading General Counsel in the UK.
Leading General Counsel from the above FTSE 350 companies contributed to the development of the 12 O Shaped Attributes (which can be found in the GC Report linked above).
“I want someone who will come to me with opportunities - a true business partner.”
A research based approach
O Shaped is grounded in research from leading industry professionals to ensure that it reflects the customer voice.
It is this research which has informed the twelve attributes of ‘The O Shaped Lawyer’ and which provides a clear understanding of the skills that lawyers of the future will need to have.
“If we are to meet the challenges of the legal environment of the future, it is absolutely vital that we are able to call upon lawyers who are fully-rounded and can use their technical skills to deliver added value. This means mastering a blend of mindset, knowledge and skills to refocus on not just what we can do, but how we can do it.”