Leadership Opportunities in Challenging Times

AYLA PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

BY DAVID KING, GRAVES DOUGHERTY HEARON & MOODY

Along with tech and finance, the legal sector is one of the fortunate professions which has coped relatively well with the shift to working from home. One recent study places lawyers close to the top of the list of professions in the U.S. in which people are able to work remotely. 1 The other side of the coin is that many professions are struggling, and this raises the troubling question of whether this dichotomy will lead to deepening inequality. 2

But, setting aside that difficult issue, there are also differences within each profession—even the fortunate ones. Let’s take the legal profession and the challenges faced by young lawyers in this work-from-home environment. Yes, young lawyers are perhaps more capable of navigating the technological component of this shift, and yet they face their own unique struggles. One concerning issue—which has been frequently reported in the media 3 —is that young lawyers may be deprived of the training and mentorship they need to grow. A related issue is that a remote workplace also potentially limits young lawyers’ exposure to leadership opportunities—both inside and outside of work.

This column’s aim is not to simply lament the hardships facing young lawyers today; instead, it is to humbly offer some thoughts on where and how young lawyers may discover leadership opportunities in this challenging environment.

At a time when firms are considering whether and how to reinvent themselves, the fresh ideas of an inventive, young associate may be more impactful than ever.

NONPROFIT BOARDS

It is an extremely difficult time for many nonprofits and charities. Major fundraisers are being cancelled and donations are drying up, while the needs of the populations nonprofits serve are increasing along with the costs of providing those services in the midst of a pandemic. 4 Yes, individual donations help a lot (and if you’d like a specific opportunity, you can support Coats for Kids by donating a coat to a child in need). But for young lawyers wanting to do more, now is a better time than ever to get involved in a nonprofit board. There are hundreds of nonprofits in Austin, many of which would welcome an eager attorney-board member with open arms. So what’s the first step to get involved? There are probably different answers to that question, but one way to start is by finding an issue that you are passionate about—whether it be education, housing, health, criminal justice, etc.—and then make a connection. Talk to an existing board member or attend an event. If you are inspired by the organization’s mission, find out how to apply to the board, and then do it!

FIRM MANAGEMENT

For those in private practice, as law firms struggle to adapt to a rapidly changing world, young lawyers certainly do not have it easy. But in the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity. For one, since we are in a unique point in time when no one really knows what the future will hold, the playing field may become more level between junior and senior lawyers. Indeed, the playing field may not just become more level; law firms are, in some respects, having to write a completely new playbook. For young lawyers who want to be a part of that discussion—or start their own discussion—the barriers to entry are likely lower than they were seven months ago. At a time when firms are considering whether and how to reinvent themselves, the fresh ideas of an inventive, young associate may be more impactful than ever.

AYLA AND THE AUSTIN BAR ASSOCIATION

Well, this one is a no-brainer, right? As I mentioned in a previous column, AYLA is fertile ground for leadership opportunities—especially during the pandemic, as we work to modify and expand our programming. For young lawyers who want to increase their presence in the Austin legal community, what better way to do it than to take on a project (or design a new project) under the auspices of AYLA or the Austin Bar? Whether it is launching a community service project, organizing a fundraising event, or planning a CLE, our members (and not only board members) are leading new efforts every month. So get involved! Reach out to me, AYLA’s Executive Director Debbie Kelly, or any one else on the board, and we’ll plug you in. You can find everything you need here: ayla.org. And, for those who are ready to take the next step, consider running for the AYLA board next spring!

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It was President John F. Kennedy who said, “In a crisis, be aware of the danger—but recognize the opportunity.” We are living through a difficult time. It is also a time that calls for leadership in the face of unprecedented challenges. For young lawyers wanting to get engaged, it may be the perfect time to do so. AL

Footnotes

1. Jonathan I. Dingel & Brent Neiman, “How Many Jobs Can be Done at Home?,” Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago (June 2020), available at https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-content/ uploads/BFI_White-Paper_Dingel_ Neiman_3.2020.pdf.

2. See Megan Cassella, “A Tale of Two Recessions,” Politico.com (Sept. 7, 2020), available at https://www. politico.com/news/2020/09/07/ income-inequality-wealthgap-409234.

3. Kate Beioley, “Young Lawyers Weigh Career Effects of Kitchen Table Lockdown,” Financial Times (July 1, 2020), available at https://www. ft.com/content/68e395fa-7fd0- 11ea-b0fb-13524ae1056b.

4. See Betsy Morris, “Nonprofits Face Bleak Future as Revenue Dries Up Amid Coronavirus,” The Wall Street Journal (May 11, 2020), available at https://www.wsj.com/ articles/nonprofits-face-bleakfuture-as-revenue-dries-up-amidcoronavirus-11589223487.

DAVID KING, GRAVES DOUGHERTY HEARON & MOODY