Effective lawyers produce results that end up being successful for a person or an organization. We have to look beyond their legal expertise and dive deeper into the skills and attributes that make them a critical source in distinguishing moral and immoral occurrences that arise in society. A lawyer’s task and relationship behaviors aid them in fulfilling their role as a leader when they are required. In today’s most current event, a class action lawsuit has been issued on behalf of the employees of St. Luke’s University Health Network and Attorney William P. Mansour, of Mansour Law LLC filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on behalf of lead plaintiff Jessica Jennings (Bresswein, 2023). Allegedly, St. Luke’s imposed a higher health premium for employees who denied getting the COVID-19 vaccine, whether for temporary or indefinite reasons but related to their religion. As I discuss the brief details of this case, it should be noted that the situational approach theory would be pertinent to how I believe Attorney Mansour ought to undertake and steer this case.
To begin, in January 2022, St. Luke’s raised the healthcare premium of their employees by $1,100 but offered discounts to employees who opted for the vaccine and to those who were unvaccinated due to medical reasons. However, a group of unvaccinated employees did not proceed for religious reasons. This group did not find these practices to be legal. This class action lawsuit has already raised a lot of questions regarding public health, ethics, and basic human rights. The situational approach should be the compelling influence in this case because it hones in on unique situations such as this lawsuit, applicable leadership styles, and the commitment and ableness of the followers (clients) (Northouse, 2021). Attorney Mansour must evaluate his clients and determine which styles and behaviors are appropriate to be victorious.
Attorney Mansour has been placed in a leadership role that requires a specific set of skills and style to carefully manage the claims that will be reviewed in court. The directive behaviors that Mansour must display and impose consist of giving specific instructions and directions to the subordinates which are the people he is representing (The Pennsylvania State University, 2023). His clients are to maintain sufficient communication with him and provide updates on any changes regarding their address, telephone number, etc. His clients should also supply him with all the facts and evidence related to the case that will be tried in court.
In addition, Attorney Mansour’s role as a leader in this case warrants supportive behaviors to his clients. Supportive behaviors encourage and provide emotional support (The Pennsylvania State University, 2023). These supportive behaviors also facilitate the intensification of the case. Monsour should assist his clients by helping them organize the facts to provide a strong case. Communication is key because as a leader Monsour should be identifying the pain points of his clients and using that to attain a positive outcome in the lawsuit. Monsour will need to have a high level of interpersonal skills. During his interactions with the clients, he’ll be obligated to interpret the emotions of his clients, empathize with them to earn their trust, and use these elements to make claims in court that could relate to inconvenience, emotional distress, or pain & suffering.
In conclusion, the situational approach would apply to a beneficial outcome for the lawyer and the plaintiffs involved because of its techniques and strengths. It’s practical in the sense that it can be used in a civil lawsuit setting, it provides guidelines for both parties to adhere to regardless of the style of the leader and the competence of the client. This approach is also flexible. Circumstances may change throughout the case but if both parties adapt accordingly then the same goal/s should be achieved.
References:
Bresswein, K. (2023, March 31). St. Luke’s charged some unvaccinated employees more for health insurance, and class action suit claims. Lehighvalleylive. https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/2023/03/st-lukes-charged-some-unvaccinated-employees-more-for-health-insurance-class-action-suit-claims.html
Northouse, P.G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and Practice (9th ed.). Sage Publications.
The Pennsylvania State University. (2023). Leadership Styles and Development Levels [Lecture notes]. Canvas@PSU. https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2283258/modules/items/38927174