Timing is Everything. Luck Favors the Prepared?

Luck Favors the Prepared? Timing is Everything.

by amy koorn

I’m not sure which of these clichés fits these times best or complements my year as President. Perhaps neither of them? The world as we knew it took a sharp and unexpected turn when COVID-19 landed. It took us from the hustle and bustle of downtown commuting when we wore suits for court appearances to the sanctuary of our homes and sweatshirts for Zoom conferences.

And while I continue to count my blessings (first among them the health and wellness of my family, the continued employment our household enjoys, and the pause that these circumstances have given us to reflect on what truly what matters), I recognize the paradigm has shifted and things will never go back to how they were. Exactly what that looks like remains to take shape. But as we navigate this brave new world with masks, I offer the following reflections from my experience that I find applicable to the situations we face as lawyers and as members of the legal profession.

First, your family—they are our best ally. So, with both levity and a straight face, I can say to all the singles reading: choose your spouse keeping in mind you may be locked at home with them for an extended time and will need to truly partner with that person to survive. By extension, this applies to law partners, as some of you will certainly attest.

Nor could I overlook the law school experience. I find sometimes we just need to put our time in and buckle down. For right now, that means we stay home and embrace technology. And to help keep things in perspective: Spring 2020 is not as long as your first semester!

Lastly, when I reach back to my triathlon racing days, I am reminded to always have an energy (toilet paper?) reserve and be able to assess and adapt to the conditions. As a lawyer, it means learning how to service clients at a socially safe distance. As president of the CBA, it has meant responding quickly to an association with shifting needs and managing economic developments. Our agility has allowed us to offer a refreshed online Practice Management Center, where members can find advice to help transition through the complexities of working remotely. The CBA has scrambled to assemble and disseminate information that affects our members, which has ranged from conversations with courts to technology advice. We have also strengthened our Lawyer Referral Service to bolster access for individuals who need legal advice in these trying times. Our Traditional CLE Easy Pass is now available to be transitioned into an Online CLE Easy Pass, and the committee meetings have gone virtual. (As an added bonus—there are no challenges with parking!)

...as we navigate this brave new world with masks, I offer the following reflections from my experience that I find applicable to the situations we face as lawyers and as members of the legal profession.

While none of this has been easy, it has been made easier by the tremendous team we have working very hard to keep our association on course and offer our members a network of support to allow you to remain connected. I admit I have missed more than anything else as president the opportunity to meet with our members and connect on a personal level at our gatherings, which have been suspended to accommodate safety. Yet, I feel fortunate to have faced the challenges with you. With all of this, I close my final President’s Page with positivity. We have so much to be grateful for, despite the difficulties, when we choose

to use our most valuable asset—our minds—for the greater good and solve problems with new methods and tools but old resolve. So, as we embrace our future with the conditions we have, I encourage all of you to be ready to grow and look forward to the time when we meet again.

Amy Koorn, Esq.

Ohio Department of Youth Services amy.koorn@dys.ohio.gov

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