Guiding Principles of Ulysses Law
THE EIGHT PILLARS OF HELLENIC WISDOM
Good decision-making begins with strong principles. Each pillar of Hellenic wisdom represents a guiding principle used by the ancient Greeks to confront the unavoidable limitations of reality – that life is fragile and can be catastrophically changed in an instant; that we cannot undertake our voyage through life alone; that there will be obstacles along the way, but the greatest obstacle is within ourselves. Ulysses Law is founded on these principles to deliver exceptional legal representation guided by deeply informed decision-making.
HUMANISM
“Be proud of your human abilities and believe in your capacity to achieve great things.”
To practice humanism means to actively apply to our everyday lives the things we are most proud of doing, the qualities we possess that others respect us for, and the things in us they admire and love. Practicing humanism, by necessity, develops our potential to do great things by opening us up to the needs of others. I take pride in fighting for those impacted by tragedy and loss because it makes me a better human being and a better lawyer.
THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
“Try to be more today than you were yesterday, more tomorrow than you were today.”
When applying our talents and abilities to our everyday lives, the pursuit of excellence asks that we do so with all our heart and soul. To pursue excellence is to do our jobs well – with honor, integrity, and passion.
THE PRACTICE OF MODERATION
“Beware of going to extremes, because in them lies danger.”
When things are going well, it becomes easy to get carried away with our expectations for the future and miss out on valuable opportunities. Knowing when to take certain actions can save us from the heat of our passions and empower us to optimally manage risk. Accordingly, we are wise to use moderation in our decision-making. The practice of moderation is best achieved by studying ourselves.
SELF-KNOWLEDGE
“Identify and understand your weaknesses and strengths.”
Only through an assessment of our personal strengths and weaknesses can we know when it is time to press boldly ahead or pull back. We all come from different backgrounds and experiences that have shaped the way we see the world and the values/beliefs we hold. However, self-knowledge is not merely about looking at how these past experiences have shaped us. It is more a search for the general characteristics of our personalities that are predictive of future behavior and future choices.
RATIONALISM
“Search for the truth by using the power of your mind.”
Life is often a battleground between reason and emotion. Rationalism is the use of reason to free ourselves from being captives to our emotions. However, not every problem in life is best solved by logic. Some problems can only be solved by the heart. The key of rationalism as a guiding principle is to acknowledge that our lives are a tug-of-war between impulse and logic; we must consciously decide which one will guide our decision-making.
RESTLESS CURIOSITY
“Seek to know what things really are, not merely what they seem to be.”
Restless curiosity is the compulsive desire to know the truth. It is a courageous act, because it often requires us to speak with brutal honesty and explore uncomfortable topics. However, truth and credibility are essential for the administration of justice. Accordingly, we must be restlessly curious about the facts presented to us, the issues we choose to focus on and the people selected to aid in their resolution.
THE LOVE OF FREEDOM
“Only if we are free can we find fulfillment.”
To the ancient Greeks, freedom was as necessary for life as the air we breathe. This sentiment continues to resonate throughout our society today. The law protects our right to be free from the pain and suffering inflicted by the conduct of others. Ulysses Law is committed to preserving these freedoms through dedicated, relentless and creative advocacy.
INDIVIDUALISM
“Take pride in who you are as a unique individual.”
Individualism means having pride in our uniqueness as human beings and in our personal capacity to achieve great things. Individualism, however, does not vouch for shallow self-centeredness. It is a principle that is necessary for a healthy community because it gives people faith in their individual responsibility and confidence in their individual judgment. These qualities allow us to be a part of something greater than ourselves, like a democracy, a sports team, or an orchestra. Our individuality is to be measured by the degree to which we strive to be unique rather than by the degree to which we act alone.