The Importance of "ship" Building in the Legal Profession
| Publication year | 2022 |
| Pages | 04 |
President's Message
by J. Ryann Peyton
At the heart of the Colorado Bar Association is relationship. As captured in our vision statement, the CBA provides members "a community within which to build relationships." Every lawyer's practice depends on the opportunity to meet, know, and work collectively with a community of lawyers beyond the walls of their own office. In fact, it's how we truly participate in the profession of law. The relationships we form in the bar are the vehicles that enable us to engage in the activities that make the practice of law more than just a job.
Relationships are about more than just referrals, business development, and professional advancement. They're about well-being and belonging. We know that people with a close friend at work are much more likely to be engaged and productive.[1] Despite the container the bar provides for lawyers to build relationships, several aspects of our current environment make relationship building more difficult, including the competitiveness of the legal profession, the hybrid nature of today's workforce, and the enduring challenges of inclusion. Overcoming these obstacles to find connection takes time, work, and strategy. It requires lawyers to be "ship" builders in their professional lives.
What is "Ship"Building?
"Ship" building is the process by which we build various "ships" in our community: friendship, partnership, sportsmanship, citizenship, colleagueship, kinship, mentorship, sponsorship, stewardship, and fellowship, to name a few. Think about your personal and professional life. Where and how do you build your ships?
As I watch the lawyers of my generation come into practice and begin to take on leadership positions in the profession, I can't help but wonder if operating in a world of virtual reality has left many of us unable (or unwilling) to master the "ship" building techniques of prior generations.
I'm a millennial. I started using AOL instant messenger when I was 13. My high school teachers delivered assignments via e-mail. I connected with my law school classmates via MySpace. I don't even have to call my parents anymore because we're Facebook friends. My generation grew up developing relationships behind a screen through profile pics, avatars, and emojis. As I watch the lawyers of my generation come...
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