VBA Journal

WIN 2012

The VBA Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Bar Association.

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Of½cials from The Virginia Bar Association gathered for a ceremonial bill signing with Gov. Bob McDonnell and other individuals integral to the passage this year of legislation permitting the Rules of Evidence. Photo by Marilyn Shaw I can't tell you how many "informational interviews" I have given in recent years. Tese are meetings where I "network" with young law grads or downsized attorneys looking for employment. It is important for all of us "senior" lawyers to keep our ears to the ground and steer young lawyers toward opportunities we hear about from our colleagues in law frms, corporate law departments or other potential employers. Te downturn has also afected the training that our young lawyers are able to receive. Clients are tightening up on team lawyering, and billable hour pressures in law frms often result in younger lawyers not getting as many billable hours assigned to them. An old adage suggests that it takes about 10,000 hours to become profcient in most professions. In the old days, a young lawyer could become profcient in about fve years billing 2,000 hours per year. For most young lawyers, this opportunity does not currently exist. Te future health of our profession depends on how we mentor and develop not only the young lawyers in our own frms, but also the ones we interact with generally in our local communities. Mentoring has never been more important, and it takes many forms. Opportunities present themselves daily to guide and teach young lawyers about professionalism, collegiality, recent developments in case law, statutes and rules and simple practice pointers. We owe it to our young lawyers and to our profession to seek out these opportunities and to be active mentors. SUPPORT OUR BAR ASSOCIATIONS If you are reading this column, I am preaching to the choir on this one. Robust bar association membership and active participation by members, both in local and statewide associations, is critical to the health and well-being of our profession collectively, and to lawyers and judges individually. Bar associations just plain get things done. Tink what your professional life would be like without your local bar association and without the VBA and other statewide bar associations. Professional development, social interaction, referral networking, topical programing, bench-bar relations, law reform advocacy, pro bono organization, mentoring opportunities, judicial candidacy endorsements – all of these important activities and much more occur because of bar associations. Bar associations provide a home for lawyers and judges to retreat from their law practices and courtrooms to grow, to learn, and to recharge enthusiasm for our work. Bar associations are the backbone of our profession, and we simply have to support them with membership and active participation. Bowling Alone is a fascinating book that explores the recent trend in America of dwindling membership in social clubs and professional associations. Americans used to be joiners, but lately, perhaps with the advent of the Internet and the fat global economy, we seem to be loners. Instead of bowling in leagues, we're bowling alone. Bar associations are not immune to this trend, and our profession faces its own, unique challenges. Remote lawyering is more and more common. Lawyers often negotiate and close transactions without ever meeting counsel representing the other side. Lawyers with national and international practices are more often than not trying cases in jurisdictions away from where their ofces are located. It sometimes seems unimportant, therefore, to join and support local and statewide bar associations. Te Virginia Bar Association is fortunate to have maintained steady membership, even during these difcult economic times. Our members have a strong afnity for our great Association, for many good reasons. But we cannot rest on our laurels. We must be vigilant stewards of our membership cultivation. New admittees to the bar must be introduced to the value and benefts of membership in the VBA, and we must constantly strive to enhance and improve the benefts of membership for our current members. It has been a terrifc privilege and honor to represent Te Virginia Bar Association this year as president. Te opportunity to work with our talented professional staf and to collaborate with our board of governors, leaders in our sections, committees, commissions and other VBA members has been exhilarating. I thank each of you once again for allowing me to serve in this position. n WINTER 2012-2013 •5

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