The art behind the advocacy.
See more clearly. Judge more wisely. Communicate more deliberately—with your clients, your colleagues, and yourself.
Law school teaches the law.
I teach the lawyer.
Coaching, speaking, and professional development for lawyers.
Meet Cara
I’m a former trial lawyer and lifelong teacher. I help lawyers strengthen the judgment and communication behind effective advocacy—whether they’re navigating clients and colleagues, making their value visible, or building the professional lives they want.
Start with a consultation to explore what this could look like for you.
Initial consultation is complimentary.
I’m Cara Graham.
I’ve spent my career at the intersection of teaching, advocacy, and professional judgment.
Before founding Above the Bar Advocacy, I practiced law for more than a decade in the Portland metro area, handling more than 50 trials and working on cases involving domestic violence, juvenile law, and complex family dynamics. That work taught me that effective advocacy depends on more than knowing the law. It depends on what you notice, how you exercise judgment, and how deliberately you communicate when the stakes are real.
Teaching came first. I began my career as an award-winning public speaking and communication teacher, and I’ve continued teaching in one form or another ever since—in classrooms, courtrooms, mentoring, coaching, speaking, and writing.
Today, Above the Bar Advocacy brings those threads together. I teach lawyers to cultivate the judgment and communication strengths that help them become more effective advocates without becoming someone else in the process.
Outside of work, I’m a wife, mom, devoted dog person, and die-hard Aerosmith fan.
What We Can Work on Together
The work is practical, personalized, and grounded in the situations you are actually navigating. Depending on what you need, we might work on:
Handling difficult or emotionally charged clients with greater steadiness, clarity, and judgment.
Making your value and judgment more visible to supervisors, colleagues, clients, and other decision-makers.
Communicating with greater authority and credibility in high-stakes conversations, presentations, negotiations, or courtroom settings.
Knowing when to speak, pause, redirect, set a boundary, or let something sit rather than reacting automatically.
Advocating for what you need professionally—whether that is an opportunity, support, recognition, flexibility, or a different path.
Making career decisions more deliberately so the professional life you build reflects what actually matters to you.
Sessions are tailored to your goals and the specific situations you’re navigating.
I also teach groups through CLEs, bar association programs, law firm presentations, and professional development workshops.
Interested in bringing a presentation to your organization?
How I Approach the Work
You do not need a new professional persona.
The work starts with seeing the situation more clearly, exercising sound judgment about what it requires, and communicating from that judgment deliberately.
We work with real situations, not generic scripts. And often, the strongest answer is not either/or: polished or authentic, strong or approachable, strategic or sincere. Good judgment is often about recognizing what needs to be held together—and choosing intentionally.
The goal is not to become someone else. It is to cultivate the strengths you already bring so you can use them with greater clarity, credibility, and purpose.
Communication Coaching for Lawyers
For lawyers who want to strengthen how they see, decide, and communicate in the situations that matter—building greater credibility, confidence, and effectiveness with clients, colleagues, decision-makers, and under pressure.
Professional Self-Advocacy for Lawyers
For lawyers who want to make their value more visible and advocate more effectively for their needs, contributions, boundaries, opportunities, and professional goals.
Explore the Work
Explore how stronger professional judgment and more deliberate communication can support your advocacy, your value, and the professional life you want to build.
What Colleagues Say
“Cara understands people, and knows how to build trust and work through difficult issues, balancing the need to be direct and the need for compassion. She also knows how to coach and mentor others as they build those skills in themselves. These skills are vital to being an effective and reliable lawyer. Cara’s multifaceted legal career and insightful approach to communication make her a dream coach for any lawyer looking to expand and improve how they can meet each client’s needs.”
-Paul Neese, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Child Advocacy and Protection Division, Oregon DOJ
“I worked on many cases (including major felonies) with Cara when we worked together in the Domestic Abuse Unit at the Clackamas County District Attorney's Office. She is incredibly organized and intelligent. Her courtroom presence was always impeccable, holding the perfect balance of clear communication, legal knowledge, and appropriate strategy. She was both diplomatic and determined. She is personable with a gift of teaching and mentoring.”
-Tina Kramer Retired Investigator, Clackamas County District Attorney's Office
Advocate more effectively.
If you’re ready to strengthen your judgment, communicate more deliberately, and advocate more effectively for your clients, your value, and the professional life you want to build, let’s talk.
Initial consultation is complimentary.