One of my favorite graduation cards quotes Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go …
Never would I have imagined where my law career would take me. I decided I wanted to be a lawyer as an eighth grader yet never met a lawyer until I interviewed for a job at a small law firm less than a month into my studies as a legal secretary. Though working amongst lawyers was intimidating, I soon realized my great fortune to have this incredible group of lawyers and others in the firm to learn from. When I made it to law school several years later, and I knew (and appreciated) what I knew, I was nevertheless sure that everyone knew more than me, and I felt like I was on the outside of the profession looking in. So, I decided to jump in with both feet–following the roadmap and examples of the lawyers I worked with who were teaching, engaged in bar activities, non-profit service organizations, community partners, court boards and task forces, and other volunteer and pro-bono work—and as a result truly became part of this amazing legal community.
Fast forward 30+ years, as I prepared to table at the MSBA “Meet the Bar” event for law students on behalf of the MSBA Well-Being Committee. I thought about my journey in the profession, the impact of community on me, and the substantial, consistent work lawyers do to improve the profession and system of justice and serve those in need. And how each of us has the responsibility to help the coming generation of lawyers understand how important and beneficial it is for them to engage with the MSBA and other bar associations and non-profit organizations like Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers working together to improve the profession and serve the community.
And how far the MSBA and LCL have traveled together …
My strategy for “Meet the Bar” interactions was to give a few examples of how members of even a little bar committee can work with others in the association and related organizations like Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers to make a substantial impact, while providing amazing learning, growth, and relational opportunities. From my experiences with the MSBA Life & the Law (now Well-Being) Committee, the Second District Ethics Committee, and Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, I had plenty of cool examples of what can happen when we collaborate, such as:
- Funding for lawyer assistance through Minnesota attorney registration fees
- Continuing Legal Education Programs bringing together members of the Minnesota Supreme Court, Board of Law Examiners, Professional Responsibility Board and others to educate lawyers regarding the prevalence and impact of chemical dependency and mental illness on the profession and the benefit of getting help
- A Conditional Admission Process through collaboration between the Board of Law Examiners & the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board to encourage and support students and lawyers who attend to their mental health
- Creating a category of Continuing Legal Education to allow for professional development programming around mental health and substance use (and recently requiring Mental Health and Substance Use education to ensure that all lawyers gain essential information about lawyer mental health and substance use challenges and available resources to support them through these challenges!)
- Learning, growing, developing relationships with friends and colleagues along the way and having some fun, like annual bike rides promoting well-being and supporting LCL
What examples can you share with the future members of our profession?
On this 50th anniversary year of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, we have much to celebrate because of the staff and volunteers of LCL who are saving lives and uplifting the well-being of all lawyers and legal professionals and because of the members of this profession who protect the profession and community through service in the MSBA and other bar associations, legal aid organizations, court boards and committees, all working together to save lives and practices and uplift lawyers as we serve the community and the system of justice. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be involved along the way.
By: Judith Rush