Chris Randle Mentors Legal Talent While Serving Justice with Purpose

In the world of litigation, few attorneys hold the title of Lieutenant Colonel, but Chris Randle does so. Chris confidently walks through Kansas courtrooms during the day and executes orders as the Staff Judge Advocate for the U.S. Army Reserves when duty calls. His work in both civilian & military legal systems has forged a […]

In the world of litigation, few attorneys hold the title of Lieutenant Colonel, but Chris Randle does so. Chris confidently walks through Kansas courtrooms during the day and executes orders as the Staff Judge Advocate for the U.S. Army Reserves when duty calls. His work in both civilian & military legal systems has forged a career characterized by commitment, clarity, and sense of duty.

Chris Randle is a Senior Litigation Attorney at the law firm O’Hara and O’Hara in Wichita, Kansas. He represents clients in predominantly criminal defense and family law, with a host of military personnel in the mix. In the Army Reserves, he is providing legal advice up the chain of command and has served in various roles, ranging from Special Victims’ Counsel to operational law officer during his deployments in Iraq and Africa. His steady leadership on either end of the continuum not only results in victories in the courtroom, but lays the groundwork to provide mentorship that appeals to the next generation of legal professionals.

What He Takes from the Military Field and Legal Bench

Chris acknowledges that the courtroom can be as demanding as the battlefield. Having a background in military law, Chris has learned discipline, accountability, and complex decision-making under pressure. These traits have rendered him a trusted figure for clients and peers, and a highly regarded mentor for all of his mentees.

His military resume includes many important positions including Chief of Operational Law at Fort Hood and Brigade Judge Advocate for the 259th Military Intelligence Brigade.These roles initially required him to navigate some gray legal areas, while protecting the service members and seeing their justice with a military law defined process.

Randle’s view of leadership is a mixture of firmness and empathy. Whether developing junior attorneys or working with paralegals, he encourages integrity, commitment, dedication and flexibility. To Randle, winning is only part of the overall success. He sees success as demonstrating to others how to process problems thoughtfully and ethically.

Finding Meaning in Mentorship and Learning Together

In his military and civilian capacities Chris Randle has made mentorship his professional calling. He does not treat mentorship as a “task” or something which he is required to do. He clears real time each day to connect with someone — it might be walking through case details with his paralegal, or providing career advice to more junior attorneys.

“I had some great mentors along the way,” he says. “Especially in the military. My mentors taught me to deal with adversity, and how to identify the people who wouldn’t leave my side during those adversities. I am now trying to pay that forward.”

Randle’s mentorship style is in the form of real-life lessons. For example, he talks about teaching himself about family law in multiple states by taking his time, reading, asking questions, and maintaining a humble perspective on what he doesn’t know. He would be the first to say that no one ever stops learning. That humility keeps him approachable and trustworthy to others in the legal world.A Day Built on Discipline and Consistency

Chris Randle has ultimately designed a day that allows him to accomplish his goals, personally and professionally. When Chris wakes up in the morning, he checks emails and checks on his case schedule. With midday being dedicated to the gym, this time is not negotiable, he’s built this into his day as part of his daily discipline. After the gym, he restarts his day with the review of the things to be accomplished. This part of the day also incorporates contacts with his clients, meetings with clients and consultations with teammates taking care not to miss any tasks with each scheduled process.

Chris leverages a disciplined system; however, that doesn’t have the meaning of a hack for productivity. The system enables Randle to maintain mental clarity, create balance and prepare for the stressors that higher levels of stress engaged work can produce from the perspective of spacing out a thoughtful approach to mentorship. Randle wants to make this message clear to you the reader; if you want to serve others well, you will need to have built-in routines that allow you to care for yourself.

Dealing with Setbacks with Honesty and Growth

Randle demonstrates ownership by extending one of the most powerful things he teaches his mentees to his own experiences using events of his experience. When asked about disappointment in his professional life, he draws from his experience of living with PTSD and personal challenges. Instead of allowing regretfulness to own him, he recognizes ownership, acceptance, learning and is able to move on.

Randle believes in the value of mistakes, not the extent to avoid making mistakes at all; rather, with a chance to learn. “Extreme ownership” is his process – meaning that while you will never have flawless outcomes, if you can accept your role, learn the lesson and move on you will be on the best path forward.Randle’s mindset keeps him on track when he counsels family members during an agonizing marital breakdown, or in earlier practice when he offered guidance to a younger colleague by recalling relevant materials from his extensive memory query.

Listening first informs Randle’s evaluation of success. He explains court Win-Loss records are important, but he takes pride in the achievements of clients who feel listened to, respected and empowered. He describes negotiating agreements as an important and caring role in the client’s journey more than litigation – which often takes too long and requires too much emotional and financial investment.

At other points in his career, including Assistant District Attorney and Settlement Consultant, Randle developed important skill sets in trial advocacy and conflict resolution, leading to an appreciation for the importance of paying attention to details and facts and reading between them with care and clarity, especially when mentoring others as they learn to advise their clients and cases.

Advice for Students and Young Folks Entering the Field

Those who are entering the workforce today should listen closely to Randle’s advice: find something you love. There’s no shortage of options to take in the legal profession but Randle is clear, just doing something for money will not yield long-term contentment or success.

“You can be good at many things,” he says, “but you won’t be great until you enjoy what you’re doing.”

He also reminds young attorneys to always be learning, to build relationships with mentors and to take constructive criticism. Randle has been there and back; bells and whistles, different states, areas of law and even military deployments. He was only able to do that because he was curious, invested in relationships and never thought he could not learn from someone.

Strength in Structure and Service

From college days studying history to the process of prosecuting felony cases in Kansas, Chris Randle has fortified his legal career upon purpose; and now, that purpose holds its weight more while mentoring and leading others through intentional and self-aware legal careers.

His presence is much larger everywhere he goes: the courtroom, the classroom, consultation, conversation and giving knowledge without ego. He approaches work, whether serving his country or representing a client, with steadiness and sincerity.

A Balanced Approach That Guides Consistency in Every Role

Chris Randle holds active licenses in Kansas, Missouri, Washington and Texas, and a bevy of relevant federal court admissions – allowing him to practice, so to speak at a very high level of legal discipline. Yet his values remain constant and guides his approach, show up on time, do the work, take care of people and keep learning.

Those values help lead him as a civilian and as a military leader. Those values, along with respect for results, contribute to my respect for him as an attorney in the legal community – not for his results – but his presence, his example and seeking opportunities to help others find their way.

A Steady Hand With a Big Responsibility

Chris Randle exists beyond the law, he is not just another case winner; he is a mentor building careers, a listener easing anxiety and a leader giving support not advice. His influence goes beyond the courtroom, extending to the lives of those he serves, teaches and trusts.

 

As change continues in the legal profession, there will be a need for mentors like Randle. His illustration indicates success is not measured by the outcomes, but the lives you impact along the way.