The Daily Blog - The Road Trip - Reimagining the Legal System

Cutting Edge Law’s
Road Trip
Re-imagining the Legal System in the Heartland of America
with Kim Wright, Esq.

Cutting Edge Law’s Founder, Kim Wright, embarks today on a 17 day Road trip from Salisbury North Carolina, to Utah, visit 12-15 cities in 6 states, sharing her message. It’s time to Re-imagine the Legal System from the ground up. Wright intends to speak and lead dialogues with lawyers, judges, law students, and average citizens who are open to her provocative question: Can We Reimagine the Legal System Together?

Fellow Cutting Edge Law member Cheryl Conner, founder of New Prospects Collaborative in Boston, Mass., has agreed to help Kim report on her journey, in a series of daily Q and A Blogs. Because Kim's schedule is so tight, Cheryl is interviewing her between talks and posting the interviews here. Kim will add photos and details along the way.

Q. Kim, when did you first conceive of this cross country road trip in the heartland of America?

A. I had a whole different trip planned. Through a series of serendipitous events, that journey didn’t work out. I posted on Facebook, that I had some before another commitment, to visit lawyer groups and law schools to speak and lead dialogues. The next thing you know, a number of people began suggesting that I come to visit Denver, and then Boulder, and then Nashville. I looked at the map, and began thinking how I could connect these invitations. With enthusiasm generated by these initial invitations, I let others further along on the route know about my availability, and the next thing you know, this fun-filled road trip developed.

Q. Does interest seem to be tied to publication of your book, Lawyers as Peacemakers, recently published by the American Bar Association Journal, which has proven to be a best seller?

A. Great sales of the book does seems to reflect that many of the new ideas in it have been accepted and many folks are ready to be discussed these thoroughly in community.

Q. What are some of the themes that you hope to discuss with these law organizations?

A. I am going back to some of the very basics. What are the basic values of the legal system. What are the values we would have the system be based on now. We are talking about basic ideas, like “what is justice” and when is it appropriate to make peace and when is it appropriate to take a stand. It will be interesting to see what questions we really do discuss when everyone is together in the room.

Q. What is your real objective in this series of events?

A. To ignite conversations which continue after I leave each town, so as to help promote a broader transformation of the entire legal profession. Energizing communities. Promoting transformation.

Q. And, where are you going to start your trip tonight?

A. In Knoxville, Tennessee where the The Tennessee Valley Mediation Association has also invited the Knoxville Bar Association.

Q. And, where are you headed tomorrow?

A. I will be at Vanderbilt Law School doing a lunch presentation and then I am joining a class on Social Design taught by Vanderbilt Professor Roger Conner.

Q. Well, Kim, it is very excited we look forward to hearing back from you on the ground in America's Heartland. Good luck!