50AQAL and the Practice of Law Winter 2006, Vol. 1, No. 4
AQAL and the Practice of Law
Mark James Fischler
For many the practice of law is a dissatisfying experience. By providing a more comprehensive,
AQAL vision for the practice of law, I speculate that lawyers can gain more satisfaction and
meaning from their profession.
Introduction
In 1999, the American Bar Association released a study on the U.S. justice system.
Unfortunately, the news for lawyers was not good. The public perceives that lawyers care more
about themselves than they do their clients. Many believe lawyers lack a commitment to
community and service.1 It seems that the public does not trust us.
The lawyer’s own experience does not fare much better. Lawyers often struggle with finding
meaning in their work, or alternatively, they have meaningful work but it does not pay the bills.
Surprisingly, lawyers that work for large private firms (and make the most money) are the least
satisfied in their field.2 On the other hand, public sector attorneys make the least amount of
money but feel most fulfilled. It is financially difficult for public sector attorneys to retain this
meaningful work as the cost of living rises; yet the thought of working for a private firm, for a
hundred hours per week, with little meaning and satisfaction, is just as troublesome.
Because of the pressure we feel to make money, as attorneys we often focus on the exterior,
material dimensions of reality and ignore our vivid interior dimensions. We seem addicted to
exterior reward, and so we overlook what brings us meaning and happiness (unless, of course,
exterior reward and money bring us happiness). This existence can be narrow and self-centered,
and our clients suspect it. Day after day, we dress sharp, make lots of money, and yet we often
feel dull, perhaps because we ignore what is going on inside ourselves, our clients, and the
AQAL and the Practice of Law
Mark James Fischler
For many the practice of law is a dissatisfying experience. By providing a more comprehensive,
AQAL vision for the practice of law, I speculate that lawyers can gain more satisfaction and
meaning from their profession.
Introduction
In 1999, the American Bar Association released a study on the U.S. justice system.
Unfortunately, the news for lawyers was not good. The public perceives that lawyers care more
about themselves than they do their clients. Many believe lawyers lack a commitment to
community and service.1 It seems that the public does not trust us.
The lawyer’s own experience does not fare much better. Lawyers often struggle with finding
meaning in their work, or alternatively, they have meaningful work but it does not pay the bills.
Surprisingly, lawyers that work for large private firms (and make the most money) are the least
satisfied in their field.2 On the other hand, public sector attorneys make the least amount of
money but feel most fulfilled. It is financially difficult for public sector attorneys to retain this
meaningful work as the cost of living rises; yet the thought of working for a private firm, for a
hundred hours per week, with little meaning and satisfaction, is just as troublesome.
Because of the pressure we feel to make money, as attorneys we often focus on the exterior,
material dimensions of reality and ignore our vivid interior dimensions. We seem addicted to
exterior reward, and so we overlook what brings us meaning and happiness (unless, of course,
exterior reward and money bring us happiness). This existence can be narrow and self-centered,
and our clients suspect it. Day after day, we dress sharp, make lots of money, and yet we often
feel dull, perhaps because we ignore what is going on inside ourselves, our clients, and the
51AQAL and the Practice of Law Winter 2006, Vol. 1, No. 4
people at our firm. Thus, until we connect these two dimensions of the exterior world and our
interior selves, we will continue to feel fractured, dissatisfied, and unappreciated.
The Four Quadrants
To mend this fracture and create a whole and comprehensive approach for the practitioner and
practice of law, I will apply the AQAL model (which stands for “all-quadrants, all-levels, all-
lines, all-states, and all-types”) to the practice of law and consider its benefits.3 While there are
many aspects to the practice of law, here I will introduce the four quadrants of the AQAL model
and discuss how they apply to the lawyer’s life. I will then focus on the possible roles of the
lawyer, the lawyer/client relationship, and the relationship between the lawyer and the firm.
The AQAL model recognizes that there are at least four basic dimensions of reality: the interior
and exterior of the individual and collective.4 These are labeled the four quadrants. The four
quadrants also represent four fundamental perspectives from which anything can be looked at.
The map is divided into two sides, one representing the interior subjective (the Left–Hand side)
of the individual and collective, while the other side represents the exterior objective (the
Right–Hand side) of the individual and collective.
More specifically, the Upper-Left quadrant represents the individual’s subjective experience, or
the “I” perspective. This perspective cannot be seen but is subjectively experienced by the
individual. The Upper-Right quadrant represents the exterior-individual perspective, or the “It,”
and focuses on objective manifestations that can be seen and measured. The Lower-Left quadrant
represents the intersubjective “We” space, where we experience our cultural norms. And the
Lower-Right quadrant represents the various systems, or “Its,” that you and I operate within.
people at our firm. Thus, until we connect these two dimensions of the exterior world and our
interior selves, we will continue to feel fractured, dissatisfied, and unappreciated.
The Four Quadrants
To mend this fracture and create a whole and comprehensive approach for the practitioner and
practice of law, I will apply the AQAL model (which stands for “all-quadrants, all-levels, all-
lines, all-states, and all-types”) to the practice of law and consider its benefits.3 While there are
many aspects to the practice of law, here I will introduce the four quadrants of the AQAL model
and discuss how they apply to the lawyer’s life. I will then focus on the possible roles of the
lawyer, the lawyer/client relationship, and the relationship between the lawyer and the firm.
The AQAL model recognizes that there are at least four basic dimensions of reality: the interior
and exterior of the individual and collective.4 These are labeled the four quadrants. The four
quadrants also represent four fundamental perspectives from which anything can be looked at.
The map is divided into two sides, one representing the interior subjective (the Left–Hand side)
of the individual and collective, while the other side represents the exterior objective (the
Right–Hand side) of the individual and collective.
More specifically, the Upper-Left quadrant represents the individual’s subjective experience, or
the “I” perspective. This perspective cannot be seen but is subjectively experienced by the
individual. The Upper-Right quadrant represents the exterior-individual perspective, or the “It,”
and focuses on objective manifestations that can be seen and measured. The Lower-Left quadrant
represents the intersubjective “We” space, where we experience our cultural norms. And the
Lower-Right quadrant represents the various systems, or “Its,” that you and I operate within.
52AQAL and the Practice of Law Winter 2006, Vol. 1, No. 4
Figure 1. The Four Quadrants
Each of these perspectives is irreducible and reveals a different aspect of the world. The
remarkable thing about the four quadrants is that they simply represent the world as it already
is—nothing more. An important component of the AQAL model is that each quadrant tells a
partial truth. No one quadrant dominates any other. The AQAL model gives equal voice to all of
these perspectives. AQAL honors the vision that each quadrant has an important but partial truth
to tell. When all of these truths are respected, we have a more comprehensive vision of the
world.
Figure 1. The Four Quadrants
Each of these perspectives is irreducible and reveals a different aspect of the world. The
remarkable thing about the four quadrants is that they simply represent the world as it already
is—nothing more. An important component of the AQAL model is that each quadrant tells a
partial truth. No one quadrant dominates any other. The AQAL model gives equal voice to all of
these perspectives. AQAL honors the vision that each quadrant has an important but partial truth
to tell. When all of these truths are respected, we have a more comprehensive vision of the
world.
53AQAL and the Practice of Law Winter 2006, Vol. 1, No. 4
Quadrants
Here is a view of those very same four quadrants applied to the attorney:
Figure 2. The Four Quadrants Applied to the Attorney
First, I will examine the interior, subjective dimension of the attorney, or their Upper-Left
quadrant. Our subjective experience includes the way we interpret our thoughts and feelings.
These feelings and thoughts are what motivate us to be who we are and do what we do. This is
where the lawyer’s level of satisfaction resides. Unfortunately, lawyers suffer anxiety, paranoia,
and social alienation at much higher rates than the rest of society, perhaps as a result of our
work.5 To develop greater satisfaction, it would make sense to explore your interior and find out
what aspects of your work cause distress or bring about satisfaction. To understand who you are
may have a dramatic effect on your level of satisfaction and the work you choose to do as an
Quadrants
Here is a view of those very same four quadrants applied to the attorney:
Figure 2. The Four Quadrants Applied to the Attorney
First, I will examine the interior, subjective dimension of the attorney, or their Upper-Left
quadrant. Our subjective experience includes the way we interpret our thoughts and feelings.
These feelings and thoughts are what motivate us to be who we are and do what we do. This is
where the lawyer’s level of satisfaction resides. Unfortunately, lawyers suffer anxiety, paranoia,
and social alienation at much higher rates than the rest of society, perhaps as a result of our
work.5 To develop greater satisfaction, it would make sense to explore your interior and find out
what aspects of your work cause distress or bring about satisfaction. To understand who you are
may have a dramatic effect on your level of satisfaction and the work you choose to do as an
54AQAL and the Practice of Law Winter 2006, Vol. 1, No. 4
attorney. Some of the techniques you might consider if you are beginning to explore your interior
world are self-inquiry, counseling, meditation, or just paying attention. These are a few tools that
people have used in various ways to bring greater clarity and awareness into their daily lives.
The Upper-Right quadrant focuses on the lawyer’s physical life and behavior. How do you care
for your physical body? Are you eating well? Is your body getting the necessary nutrients it
needs to thrive? Do you exercise?6 Regrettably, lawyers have suffered from higher rates of
alcoholism and illegal drug use than the overall public.7 It seems that many lawyers are ignoring
their physical health.
Unfortunately, many of the behaviors associated with lawyers are typically stressful. For
example, your law practice may demand that you work 60-100 hours a week depending on how
close you are to trial or an important court hearing. Being caught exclusively in these stressful
behaviors, not to mention ignoring the other three quadrants, reflects a severe problem. A
potential solution is to combine Left-Hand meaning with Right-Hand tasks. For example, if you
can correlate your billable hours (Upper Right) to cases and tasks that are meaningful to you
(Upper Left), then there is resonance across this often disconnected area of our lives.
The Lower-Left quadrant encompasses the shared values, cultural background, linguistic context,
and collective worldview of the people with whom we interact. What is the corporate culture?
What kind of cases are you or your firm taking? Does the firm take on cases only for profit?
How does the firm spend its money? What values, ideals, and aspirations does it embody and
elicit? Are we comfortable with the cases and causes we are taking on? Am I comfortable with
the values we share inside the walls of the firm? What kind of values do we share as a
workgroup?
The Lower-Right quadrant focuses on the systems that the lawyer uses, including the court
system and legal framework of a society. For example, Professor Susan Daicoff mentions a
attorney. Some of the techniques you might consider if you are beginning to explore your interior
world are self-inquiry, counseling, meditation, or just paying attention. These are a few tools that
people have used in various ways to bring greater clarity and awareness into their daily lives.
The Upper-Right quadrant focuses on the lawyer’s physical life and behavior. How do you care
for your physical body? Are you eating well? Is your body getting the necessary nutrients it
needs to thrive? Do you exercise?6 Regrettably, lawyers have suffered from higher rates of
alcoholism and illegal drug use than the overall public.7 It seems that many lawyers are ignoring
their physical health.
Unfortunately, many of the behaviors associated with lawyers are typically stressful. For
example, your law practice may demand that you work 60-100 hours a week depending on how
close you are to trial or an important court hearing. Being caught exclusively in these stressful
behaviors, not to mention ignoring the other three quadrants, reflects a severe problem. A
potential solution is to combine Left-Hand meaning with Right-Hand tasks. For example, if you
can correlate your billable hours (Upper Right) to cases and tasks that are meaningful to you
(Upper Left), then there is resonance across this often disconnected area of our lives.
The Lower-Left quadrant encompasses the shared values, cultural background, linguistic context,
and collective worldview of the people with whom we interact. What is the corporate culture?
What kind of cases are you or your firm taking? Does the firm take on cases only for profit?
How does the firm spend its money? What values, ideals, and aspirations does it embody and
elicit? Are we comfortable with the cases and causes we are taking on? Am I comfortable with
the values we share inside the walls of the firm? What kind of values do we share as a
workgroup?
The Lower-Right quadrant focuses on the systems that the lawyer uses, including the court
system and legal framework of a society. For example, Professor Susan Daicoff mentions a
55AQAL and the Practice of Law Winter 2006, Vol. 1, No. 4
variety of systems used to promote a less disorderly form of law. This includes collaborative law,
which is a non-litigative process used mostly in divorce law where former partners work out
their differences outside of court.8 Another example is the restorative justice method. In this
model, the community, victim, and offender decide together how the criminal can atone for his
or her behavior.9 Of course, for the system to work effectively, a Lower-Left mutual
understanding (or “We”) must be formed to take advantage of the particular Lower-Right system
(or “Its”). For the lawyer, this understanding allows you to choose the Lower-Right systems that
are congruent with either your client’s or firm’s beliefs. This can only enhance the efficacy of the
process.
At the same time, the perspectives offered through the four quadrants are arising in your clients
too. Thus, if we are to truly practice law in a more comprehensive way, it is essential that we
consider the four quadrants as they apply to our clients. For example, it is important to
understand the interior reality of your client (Upper Left). Often people come to lawyers
frightened, traumatized, or dissatisfied with their life situation, and they look to their attorney for
a solution. This might mean guiding your client to the appropriate resources for the support that
they need, perhaps even providing the number of a community counseling center.
variety of systems used to promote a less disorderly form of law. This includes collaborative law,
which is a non-litigative process used mostly in divorce law where former partners work out
their differences outside of court.8 Another example is the restorative justice method. In this
model, the community, victim, and offender decide together how the criminal can atone for his
or her behavior.9 Of course, for the system to work effectively, a Lower-Left mutual
understanding (or “We”) must be formed to take advantage of the particular Lower-Right system
(or “Its”). For the lawyer, this understanding allows you to choose the Lower-Right systems that
are congruent with either your client’s or firm’s beliefs. This can only enhance the efficacy of the
process.
At the same time, the perspectives offered through the four quadrants are arising in your clients
too. Thus, if we are to truly practice law in a more comprehensive way, it is essential that we
consider the four quadrants as they apply to our clients. For example, it is important to
understand the interior reality of your client (Upper Left). Often people come to lawyers
frightened, traumatized, or dissatisfied with their life situation, and they look to their attorney for
a solution. This might mean guiding your client to the appropriate resources for the support that
they need, perhaps even providing the number of a community counseling center.