Young Lawyers Section News
| Jurisdiction | Kansas,United States |
| Citation | Vol. 80 No. 3 Pg. 07 |
| Pages | 07 |
| Publication year | 2011 |
The Importance of Bar Leadership
By Melissa R. Doeblin, Kansas Corporation Commission, Topeka, melissadoeblin@gmail.com
One big reward I am granted in my year as president of the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) is the opportunity to meet and work with other leaders of bar associations. These leaders range from the hardworking board of directors of the YLS to the knowledgeable members of the Board of Governors of the KBA. I have also been fortunate to meet leaders of the local bar associations in our state, as well as a wide variety of leaders from other state and local bar associations across the country. I have attended meetings and conferences of the American Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) and have acquired a great deal of information about what other young lawyers groups are doing in their home states. I have discussed with these other leaders ways to recruit and retain bar association members, what other groups are doing in the way of fundraising, which public and membership service projects have been successful, if the groups have monitored or proposed legislation, and how law students are involved in the bar association.
A central theme that always arises during these discussions is how the leaders of bar associations can better serve and deliver value to members. Usually these discussions begin with how each individual became interested in taking a leadership role in their association. I have often heard comments from fellow young lawyer leaders about how they got involved. Comments ranged from desires to network amongst other members, to gain knowledge about their practice and the professionalism of the bar, to meet members of the judicial branch, to learn about the crucial role the courts play in our system of justice, and to educate members about their role in terms of informing the public about the justice system and the practice of law.
For me, becoming involved in YLS leadership was never a question. Right out of law school, I was given the opportunity to participate on the YLS board of directors and never looked back. I served in a variety of positions on the board, including CLE liaison, social chair, and legislative liaison, before I thought I would "go for it" as the YLS president-elect last year. The many attorneys I have met along the way through my leadership positions with the YLS have helped me grow...
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