“Ted Lasso” and What We Can Learn From Him
Thu, Oct 2nd, 2025 | by Miles Mediation and Arbitration | Article | Social Share
In the words of one of my daughters, “I love TV.” While I really enjoy movies, I always leave wanting more — like streaming mini-series. I enjoy the character development and stories behind the characters and getting to binge-watch episodes which turn into seasons.
Recently I added Apple TV to my many subscriptions and decided to check out “Ted Lasso,” which I was only familiar with from memes and Halloween costumes. I was instantly hooked. Simply put, his optimism was refreshing, his kindness was aspirational, and his human connection was remarkable.
I am one of those “weird” attorneys/people who like interacting with fellow humans and prefer to talk on the phone, when possible, over texting or emailing. It’s likely why I love being a mediator. While not wanting to spoil the show for those who have not seen it, the character of Ted Lasso (“Ted”) makes everyone around him better. The show sets a great visual for how much a positive, kind, and intentional person stands out in the world. Also, it shows the viewers how hard it is to dislike someone who genuinely demonstrates these traits on a consistent basis.
Law as a “Profession”
As I write this, I think about the many instances I have failed to demonstrate Ted’s qualities over the last week and how I need to do better. We often forget that as attorneys we are “professionals.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a profession as “any type of work that needs special training or a particular skill, often one that is respected because it involves a high level of education,” and yes, I chose the Cambridge definition because there is something fancier about reading it with a British accent, and maybe even a cup of tea.
While I digress, the “professional” core of professionalism must not be lost. It must be the foundation of our practice and interactions with our opposing counsel. I enjoy speaking with attorneys who have been practicing for 40 or 50 years; I love their stories, but I do not love hearing their thoughts on the decline of professionalism and cordiality in our profession.
The Importance of Making Connections
I often tell new associates about the importance of picking up the phone in the beginning of a new case, especially a litigated one, and introducing yourself over the phone as opposed to sending a canned email. It can, and often will, change the dynamics of a case. Messages sent via emails or text can be “lost in translation” or even offend someone unintentionally.
One of my favorite scenes to date in “Ted Lasso” is in season 1, episode 8, “Diamond Dogs,” when Ted quotes Walt Whitman and says, “be curious, not judgmental.” Such a simple statement resonated with me. How many times have I rushed straight to judgment, intentionally or unintentionally, without being curious. How often are we trying to elicit the who, what, when, why, and how from a witness without being curious to understand the true reasons behind the same?
The Practice of Law Takes Practice
And how often do we have interactions with opposing counsel without being curious as to the true nature behind the “why”? A good friend and colleague of mine who is a seasoned attorney told me there is a reason why they call it the “practice” of law. We should always strive to do better and learn from the many mistakes we make along the way. We should be a zealous advocate for our clients.
However, we must not lose our professionalism along the way and remember that at the core this is a profession for which there is respect. More importantly, respect should be mutually protected between adversarial attorneys and the clients they represent. We often see litigation defined in terms of winning and losing without any concern for what is right or wrong, or what is practical or impractical.
One thing I love about being a mediator is the ability to explore these practical concerns with parties and their attorneys and address what sometimes is simply the right thing to do. Often, we focus more on the “attorney at law” title as compared to the “counselor at law” portion.
Years ago, I saw a law firm with the title, “Attorney and Counselor at Law.” I appreciated that because we often fail to engage the “counselor” portion of that title. We often fail to be empathetic, and we fail to be truly supportive when clients and/or attorneys are facing emotional challenges.
Simply put, we fail to be curious and go straight to judgment. We fail to truly listen and feel.
Being a mediator allows me to “look behind the curtain,” giving me an unobstructed view of the blinders worn by the parties — and sometimes even the attorneys — at mediation. Trying to understand what our clients are feeling, and what they need, throughout the process of representing them (including at mediation) will help you better represent their interests and help you determine what may be the “right” decision, as opposed to simply following the usual legal narrative.
Ted Lasso can teach us a lot, including to be curious. Hopefully along the way we can throw in some of his kindness and remember that we are part of a respected profession which will only continue to be respected if we protect it with our actions.
*Originally published in the Daily Report and reprinted with permission.
About Casey Crumbley
Casey C. Crumbley is an experienced mediator, arbitrator, and a veteran trial lawyer who has mediated hundreds of cases. In addition, many mediators have observed his mediations as part of their mediation training. Casey specializes in matters involving workers’ compensation, business litigation, general civil litigation, personal injury, estate planning and probate matters, and corporate/business formation.