Rate My Professor Lillian Watson

Lillian Watson, J.D., serves as Assistant Professor of Business Communications and Business Law and Director of the Business Communications Program within the Earl N. Phillips School of Business at High Point University since the fall of 2016. She earned her B.A. cum laude in History and J.D. from Wake Forest University, where she was Articles Editor of the Wake Forest Law Review. Before transitioning to academia, Watson had a distinguished 20-year career practicing business and bankruptcy law in Greensboro, North Carolina, holding positions as associate, partner, and counsel. As a licensed attorney and trained mediator, her practice honed expertise in navigating legal liabilities, business opportunities, and risks through effective communication with clients, opposing counsel, accountants, business leaders, and staff.

Prior to High Point University, she taught business law and communications courses at Elon University, Guilford College, Becker Professional Education, and an online MBA program for eight years. At HPU, Watson instructs BUA 2990: Business Communications and Professional Development and plans to teach Business Law. In her directorial role, she strengthens the program's curriculum, focusing on oral and written communications, professional soft skills essential for the global business arena, and integrating business law insights to help students analyze opportunities and risks. She contributes to the Phillips School of Business by serving on the Strategic Planning Committee and the Assurance of Learning Committee. Watson's publications include contributions to the North Carolina Bankruptcy Manual, and she has peer-reviewed submissions for the Journal of Legal Studies in Business and the Association for Business Communication 2016 Annual Conference Proceedings. Her goal is to equip students with communication skills critical for professional success and a keen awareness of legal considerations in business.