2026: What Would Lincoln Do?: Lessons on Lawyering and Leadership in Challenging Times
Thomas J. Stipanowich, the William H. Webster Chair in Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, will deliver the 2026 Len Riskin Lecture on Nov. 16, 2026 in Hulston Hall.
Our world today is consumed by conflict. We see it everywhere: in our political discourse, in divisions within and between communities, and in our homes and workplaces. We live in a time of deep polarization, where passions often override reason; compromise, let alone active cooperation, seems like a forgotten art.
At a time not unlike our own, one extraordinary individual—Abraham Lincoln—grappled with the challenges and opportunities associated with human conflict as a political contender, a lawyer, and as commander-in-chief at a perilous moment in U.S. history. Along the way, Lincoln functioned variously as a negotiator, mediator, counselor, problem-solver, advocate, arbitrator / judge, policy-maker, and leader. Lincoln’s thoughtful engagement with conflict equipped him to improve his own life and relationships, promote the betterment of his community, effectively serve legal clients, and eventually, make vast, history-altering changes in the landscape of our society.
Today, thanks to modern insights on the dynamics of conflict, including behavioral psychology; explorations of human moral foundations and ethics; and principles of leadership—especially adaptive leadership aimed at dealing with great change—we have the tools to lift up key lessons from Lincoln’s life and career. These insights spotlight specific character traits, positive habits, lessons learned, and strategic choices that can be cultivated by leaders, managers, decision-makers, or anyone who seeks to have a positive, truly consequential impact in their relationships, workplaces, communities, nation, or world.
Law & Leadership at Mizzou Law
Interested in learning more about Law & Leadership at Mizzou Law? Check out the following programs:
- One Read Fall 2025: Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect and author lecture by leading constitutional law scholar John Inazu: “Civil Discourse Across the Aisle”
- Across the Aisle initiative
- Public Service Programs
- Practicum Programs including with the Attorney General’s Office and the Missouri Department of Transportation
Past Riskin Lectures
2025: Law & Leadership with Chris Guthrie
Chris Guthrie, University Distinguished Professor, John Wade-Kent Syverud Professor of Law, and Dean of Vanderbilt School of Law and former member of the Mizzou Law faculty will deliver the 2nd Annual Leonard L. Riskin lecture on the topic of Law & Leadership. Lunch will be provided for those who register by Friday, Sept 26 using the link below.
Leading Without Power: Lessons from Dispute Resolution
How do you lead people when you have little to no power over them? Drawing from research in law, psychology, and dispute resolution, this lecture will propose a counterintuitive, but effective, approach to leadership.