It’s not often you get to sit down with a legend, but despite his humility, Al Ellis has earned this title.
I first met Al over 30 years ago as a young trial attorney & have been fortunate enough to have his friendship & example to lean towards in the harder moments of my career.
A trial attorney with close to 200 cases beneath his belt, Al serves as Community Outreach Facilitator of the UNT Dallas School of Law. A testament to his desire to serve the legal community in ways that don’t often cross our minds.
Al jokes that his first job serving others was as a grocery-store clerk, but he would go one to serve in the US Army & complete a tour in Vietnam before returning to Dallas to earn his J.D. from SMU.
This conversation – while virtual – felt deeply intimate.
From the dire importance of mentorship, to unpacking the harsh realities of substance abuse in the legal profession, the core of this interview is other-centered in the best way possible – or so I hope.
Like Al reminded me in our discussion – it’s the progress – not perfection – that counts.
Enjoy the show.
