President’s Message

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE By: Jason H. Long

Lewis Thomason P.C.

CELEBRATE DIVERSITY

For those who know me, you know that I am not one prone to making absolute statements. Very rarely do I see an issue as black or white. I always feel like there is another side to the story and that other side may be correct. At times, this approach to life can be a blessing, giving me the opportunity to appreciate and anticipate arguments from the other side. At times, it can be a curse, causing me to agonize over relatively straightforward decisions or stirring me to inaction when I cannot fully get behind a concept. However, every once in a while, someone makes a statement or takes a position that I simply know to be absolutely true. I relish those moments when I can wholeheartedly endorse a concept or argument because I can’t see a reasonable alternative position. It is liberating.

I had one of those moments thirty-four years ago when I first walked on the campus of my undergraduate school and saw that someone had hung a banner outside of my freshman hall reading “Celebrate Diversity!” That was a message I could whole-heartedly get behind. First, it asked me to “celebrate,” which, as an eighteen-year-old full of restless energy, I was always happy to do. Second, it promoted “diversity,” something that I intuitively believed made for a better community and better people. I wanted to be open to new experiences, new cultures, and new ideas, so the concept of diversity spoke to me on a fundamental level.

The phrase came back to me this week as I prepared to write my President’s Message. As I have said many times this year, we need to celebrate who we are as a bar and where we are going. Nowhere is this more true than in our need to celebrate our diversity. The more perspectives, viewpoints, backgrounds, and cultures we bring to the practice of law in East Tennessee, the stronger our system of justice for all in our area will be. It is our duty, as stewards of that system of justice, to promote a bar that properly reflects the citizenry it serves. Moreover, I cannot help but believe that a diverse community will make us all happier lawyers, appreciating perspectives that go beyond our own personal limitations.

Our Diversity in the Profession Committee is one of the most active and hard-working committees of the KBA. That is how it should be. They have an important mandate that requires many dedicated and talented volunteers. That having been said, they exceed expectations every time they have been called upon and this years’ CLE and reception for the law students is no exception.

This year, we will be meeting at the Foundry the afternoon of September 29, 2022, beginning at 4:00 p.m. The program is entitled “Taking Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) to the Next Level: Unbiased Mentorship and Sponsorship.” The program is designed to focus upon the importance of mentoring and sponsorship, to address how to overcome implicit bias in these relationships, and to consider the challenges diverse lawyers face in establishing mentoring and sponsorship relationships. We will discuss strategies for employers in addressing implicit bias and other obstacles in their mentoring programs. In short, the program is designed to empower both employers and diverse lawyers to access resources and strategies to maximize the potential for success. The more we can empower diverse attorneys to succeed in the Knoxville bar, the more likely we will be to retain that talent and grow as community reflective of all of our citizens. Our guest speaker is Luther Wright, Jr. with Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. Mr. Wright is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and a member of the Labor & Employment team at Ogletree. He serves on the firms’ Diversity & Inclusion Practice Group and has dedicated a significant portion of his career to providing advice and guidance to clients on diversity related issues. We are lucky to have his expertise as a resource for the Knoxville Bar on this important issue. In addition, the CLE and reception presents a chance for Knoxville attorneys to participate in the Buddy Match Program. For those who lament that the Knoxville Bar has grown too big and no longer feels like a close-knit family, or those simply looking for an opportunity to do something to foster diversity and inclusion on an individual basis, the Buddy Match Program is the perfect opportunity. Buddy Match pairs members of the bar with students attending the program for networking during the program and the reception. It is a great opportunity to meet some up-and-coming lawyers and introduce them to our wonderful bar. The commitment can be as little or as much as you would like. We ask that Buddy Match participants spend some time with their student before the program to get to know one another and then commit to helping that individual meet folks during the event. After that, the level of participation is really up to you and your buddy. Some buddy matches have gone on to form lifelong friendships within the bar while others have simply provided another professional acquaintance and point of contact within the community. Either way, both participants benefit, and it is a simple, fun and engaging way for each of us to make a difference and enhance the quality of our bar.

In this year of celebration, I hope you will join us to Celebrate Diversity. Please take a moment to register for the program on the KBA website and volunteer to participate in the Buddy Match Program. I can guarantee that this is one opportunity that you won’t regret taking advantage of.