Nashville Bar Journal | December/January 2023-24

FROM THE PRESIDENT

December/January 2023-24 | Bahar Azhdari

I am the first attorney in my family, but it wasn’t always my plan. My dream was to be a doctor. I had it planned, right through to the specialty. And then, the NBA changed my life, and I had no idea it happened. It was my freshman year of high school, and I was in an upper school assembly watching a demonstration by my school’s mock trial team. The girls were smart, poised, and confident and they were discussing the rules of evidence as if they truly understood them. I was mesmerized and thought it looked like great fun. So, I signed up the next year and, clearly, the rest is history.

Now, I have the opportunity to lead the organization that changed my life. Early in my practice, I was introduced to the Young Lawyers Division and served on its Board until, reluctantly, I had to roll off. The YLD instilled in me a passion for the organization, and I am so proud of the work it does. Every year, the YLD works to make sure high school students have the same opportunities I did to step in a courtroom and see what it’s like to question witnesses and make objections. It also gives attorneys a chance to give back by volunteering as scorers or playing judge for a few hours. The YLD encourages fellowship, raises money for worthy causes, teaches young lawyers about service, and energizes them for bar leadership. Indeed, the legacy of the YLD is showcased by the number of members who become NBA Board Members and Presidents.

The YLD, however, is just one of the ways the NBA supports its members and the Nashville legal community. It offers diverse, engaging, and thoughtful CLEs. In 2024, we will be connecting with French counterparts through our Sister Cities partnership with Caen, and we will be taking a trip to the Netherlands for a CLE abroad. It encourages members to get to know each other better through happy hours and other social events. It offers in-depth analyses of current legal issues, researched articles on various topics, and a bit of fun though the NBA Journal. It tries to effect positive change through community outreach events like the Habitat for Humanity build, the YLD mural project, LRIS, and pro bono efforts. It allows us to hone our own practice areas, or learn about new ones, through the work of its committees.

The NBA does many things well, and, one of the best, is the relationships it builds. Everyone reading this has a story or ten! about how the NBA did more than the above, how it connected them with friends, mentors, and even opposing counsel; how through the NBA they were able to solve problems, refer matters, build their practice, and enjoy a laugh. Or maybe even discover their career.

The relationships we build matter. I hope you will join me as we continue to build relationships with each other and with the changing Nashville legal community. I hope you will encourage your peers and firms to join or to continue supporting the NBA. Let’s remember why we joined this organization and why we keep coming back. You know my reason. I hope you’ll find me and share yours.

I look forward to seeing what 2024 holds of the NBA, and I’m glad I get to do so with all of you.