Yls President
| Publication year | 2019 |
| Pages | 12 |
In Support of Community
by Sarah Morse
Many attorneys are busy people. With often demanding job expectations, deadlines that are not always self-determined, social activities, and time with family and friends, it can be hard to set aside any time that could be called “free time.” On top of all of those activities, many of us also add involvement in professional associations, such as the Kansas Bar Association, to the list of activities. With all of these competing obligations on time, it’s not uncommon for attorneys to be asked, “Why do you spend time on bar activities?”
It’s a question for which every attorney has a different answer. Each time I consider the question, I reach the same verdict: What motivates me is the sense of community in the bar—a community I want to foster and sustain.
When I was a first-year attorney starting practice in Topeka, I did not know lawyers my age or with my years of experience because I did not go to law school in Kansas. When I sought out the Topeka Bar Association young lawyers and shortly thereafter became involved in the Kansas Bar Association Young Lawyer Section, I did not understand the enormous value of connecting with other
I found it encouraging that others faced the same insecurities and newbie-attorney experiences. Also, I found support from those with whom I could talk, commiserate and celebrate, and—maybe above all— share information. I learned so much through those lunch meetings and conference calls— the preferences of local judges and differences in local rules, e-filing and practical practice tips, and how various law firms and other organizations operated.
At the same time, I became involved in the Women Attorneys Association of Topeka and the Kansas Women Attorneys Association. Joining these professional affinity groups added another dimension to the legal community of which I was becoming a part. Learning the histories of the women who joined the profession before me, and being welcomed into the communities those women had established, introduced me to new professional perspectives and conversations. Those associations gave me confidence to continue to develop my career while encouraging me to be as welcoming to others as I could be.
When I reflect on my involvement in each association, I realize the overarching experience of my involvement is participation in a community. At this moment...
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