The Jacksonville Bar Association President Michael Freed
The past few weeks have raised my already high opinion of the willingness of our members to get involved. My last column, and my remarks when I was sworn in as The JBA president, was intended as a call to action: make constructive suggestions on how The JBA can better serve our members and the community; get involved; it’s your organization – I’m simply your “chief servant” for the year.
The response has been impressive. (I had no idea anyone besides my wife and mother reads these columns.) Worthwhile suggestions, and efforts to help, continue to pour in.
For those of you who are looking for another invitation to come off the bench, here are two:
Mentorship. Yes – mentorship, again. We will be talking about this important subject a lot this year. I hope 2011-12 will be known as “the year of the mentor.” This can happen only with your involvement. How?
A. We need mentors! If you have been practicing for 10-plus years in our community and appreciate our high standards of competence and professionalism, you should be qualified. We will do everything that we can to minimize your time commitment to this worthwhile endeavor. Please make this commitment. A simple “count me in” email to me with the subject line of mentorship will get the ball rolling. My email address is [email protected].
B. Ask for a mentor. We will target lawyers with four or less years of experience, even those who have the luxury of mentors within their law firms. But many others should give thought to enlisting a mentor. Enlisting a mentor is not a sign of weakness; to the contrary, it’s a sign of strength of character, commitment to professionalism and valuing accountability. Many of us have career and lifelong mentors even as we simultaneously serve as mentors to others.
C. Identify those who would benefit from mentorship. If you observe a local lawyer who would benefit from mentorship, let us know. We will diplomatically and anonymously (as to you) reach out and attempt to create a positive relationship.
Diversity. Preaching the value of diversity (race, culture, socioeconomic status, life experiences, etc.) only goes so far. Usually only the converted are in the pews. Most of our species (i.e., lawyers) need evidence. We want to broadcast true stories about experiences that have been positively influenced through the participation of an attorney who brought to the experience a diverse perspective. There should be no shortage of such experiences within our membership. Simply bring them to our attention and we will do the rest. My wife and JBA member Crystal Freed will coordinate this initiative. Her email address is [email protected].
Let’s build on the momentum. Thank you for helping me to serve you better.