CBA President's Message, 0916 COBJ, Vol. 45, No. 9

• Author: Patricia Jarzobski, J.

45 Colo.Law. 1

CBA President's Message

Vol. 45, No. 9 [Page XX]

The Colorado Lawyer

September, 2016

Patricia Jarzobski, J.

Who Are Our 18,280 CBA Members?

Legal communities and bar associations develop great souls that are shaped by those who give them meaning.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center dedication, May 2, 2013

Every year in September we publish the CBA’s Annual Report to present highlights and financials from the previous year. This year I also want to focus on our members, giving you a snapshot of who we are by gender, generation, geography, firm size, and CBA section participation.

68% of Active Colorado Attorneys are Active CBA Members

The CBA has 18,280 total members. This figure includes non-lawyers, inactive attorneys, and attorneys outside of Colorado. The CBA has 14,921 in-state active members.

CBA Members’ Gender Diversity

Of these in-state active members, approximately 36% are women. This mirrors the gender makeup of all active attorneys practicing in Colorado,^[1] as well as the gender makeup of attorneys practicing nationwide.^[2] However, five years ago, in the 2010–11 academic year, about 47% of law school graduates across the country were women.^[3]

Firm Size Diversity Throughout the State

Approximately 58% of all attorneys in private practice, including non-CBA members, are solo practitioners or work in small firms.4 5 Largest CBA Sections

CBA Members’ Gender Diversity

Approximately 58% of all attorneys in private practice, including non-CBA members, are solo practitioners or work in small firms.⁴

5 Largest CBA Sections

The CBA has 29 sections, each focusing on a unique legal specialty.⁵ Roughly 10,000 CBA members are also members of a section. Wow! Sections are the primary way members engage with the CBA.

CBA Geographic Diversity

There are 27 local bar associations in Colorado. The above chart reflects CBA members with an in-state address and active status with the Supreme Court.

We have a camaraderie and collaboration among our 27 statewide bar associations that is unique. Many local bar associations in other states are highly competitive, and their working relationships at times have been described as “open warfare.” I often hear comments about our legal community from national speakers who visit Colorado and say things like, “Everyone is so nice, and the bar associations seem to get along with each other. It is not like this everywhere!”

The legal community in Colorado is special. But this is no surprise to us since Colorado consistently ranks among the happiest states in the United States,⁶ and Denver was recently named the best place to live by U.S. News and World Report.⁷

CBA Members’ Generational Diversity

We are at an inflection point in our profession.^[8] Technology is changing at warp speed. How legal services are being delivered is changing. Who is delivering legal services is changing. Law school applications are at a national low.^[9] Across the country, bar association membership numbers are not growing at previous rates and many are declining or remaining steady.¹⁰

The REFOCUS 20/20 strategic plan begins to position the CBA for the next 10, 15, and 20 years.^[11]

Why is this so critical?

A snapshot of the generational breakdown of CBA members helps put this inflection point into perspective:

• 61% of our members are over 45.

• 39% of our members are over 55.

• 17% of our members are under 35.

Let those numbers sink in for a moment.

The CBA executive council is hard at work refocusing on our strategic vision for the future.

The 21 members of the executive council bring to the table geographic diversity, generational diversity, fresh ideas, gender balance, specialty bar perspectives, local bar concerns, and institutional history.

In this issue, I am trying something new and introducing you to each executive council member. I invite you to spend a few minutes on the pages ahead meeting 19 of the 21 members who comprise the talented team helping to lead the CBA this year.¹²

Meet the 2016–17 CBA Executive Council

Ilene Bloom

1st J.D. Vice President

Please tell us a little about yourself, personally and professionally.

I lived in Chicago most of my life, until I made the decision to move to Denver 14 years ago to live near the mountains. It was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. I started my career in Chicago at Winston & Strawn and have worked at a variety of firms in Denver. I currently work as a consulting attorney in the Litigation and Trial Group at Sherman & Howard. I am excited to celebrate my 20th year of happily practicing law this year. I am a strong supporter of pro bono endeavors and have been actively involved with the Colorado Lawyers Committee Legal Night program, among other bar sponsored pro bono activities, including the Colorado Access to Justice Commission and the Denver Bar Association Access to Justice Committee. When I am not at the office, I try to spend as much time as possible outside, trail running in the mountains and exploring the world with my husband, 8-year-old son, and 6-year-old daughter.

How did you first get involved with the CBA and how has it enriched your career?

After I moved to Denver, I immediately joined the DBA Legal Services Committee, which proved to be a great experience because it provided me with the opportunity to do volunteer work that I find meaningful with like-minded people. My involvement with the bar associations has enriched my career in numerous valuable ways. First, it has provided me with so many opportunities to cultivate transferable leadership skills. Second, it has given me the opportunity to interact with many great lawyers from around the state. I have been inspired by so many people and their dedication to making our profession better. Also, I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with other lawyers without the stress and pressure than often comes with work-related matters.

What are your favorite things about being a lawyer?

Although I dislike conflict, I am a solution-oriented person, and I like the problem-solving aspect of being a lawyer, whether it is for a pro bono or paying client. I also appreciate the intellectual stimulation, and I love reading, which I get to do a lot of as a lawyer these days. It has been satisfying to be able to use all of my years of formal and informal education in a way that can help people. I truly appreciate the opportunity to effectively help poor people in our community using my law degree. Also, I need a lot of variety in my life, and being a lawyer provides a lot of new challenges.

Why did you say "yes" to serving on the CBA Executive Council and what are you looking forward to this year as you help lead the bar?

I had the privilege of serving on the Executive Council during my 2011–12 term as DBA president, so I know what I am getting into, and I know how much the Executive Council can accomplish. I then stepped back a bit from my bar association involvement because my children were not yet in school full-time. Now that they are, I welcome the chance to get back in the thick of it. Also, there are several people joining the Executive Council that I have always wanted to work with, including our new president, Patricia Jarzobski, so the timing seemed perfect. I am looking forward to learning from everyone and tackling whatever important issues come our way. It’s going to be a great year.

Rebecca Briggs

4th J.D. Vice President

Please tell us a little about yourself, personally and professionally.

I am originally from Virginia but moved to Colorado to work in the Public Defender’s Office. I now specialize almost entirely in criminal defense in my private practice. On the side, I play roller derby as a jammer for the Pikes Peak Derby Dames.

How did you first get involved in the CBA and how has it enriched your career?

I first got involved in the bar association when one of my supervisors in Pueblo suggested I attend a bar luncheon. I love the team element that the organization brings to the practice of law and how it fosters a sense of togetherness.

What is your favorite thing about being a lawyer?

I love having a profession that mingles intellectual challenges with working toward effectuating positive change.

Why did you say "yes" to serving on the CBA Executive Council and what are you looking forward to this year as you help lead the bar?

I would like to contribute to the profession in a more symbolic and serious way. Pueblo is a spectacular community, and I would love to see it well represented at the state level.

James Briscoe

6th J.D. Vice President

Please tell us a little about yourself, personally and professionally.

I am a Colorado native, married to another Colorado native, Judy, for 52 years and have three children. A graduate of Western State College and the University of Colorado School of Law, I began practicing law in Denver in 1969 and moved to Paonia in Delta County in 1973. My partnership varied in size from two to five attorneys over the years. I represented the Town of Paonia for 40 years and the Town of Hotchkiss for 36 years as their contract municipal attorney. I also maintained a private practice focusing on real estate, water, contracts, wills, trusts, and estates. I retired at the start of 2014 but have remained a member of the CBA for the purpose of representing the Delta County Bar Association.

How did you first get involved in the CBA and how has it enriched your career?

I first became active in the CBA when my local bar association was experiencing a range of financial and engagement-related difficulties. Over the years, the CBA has provided assistance to the outlying bar associations that have...