SBAND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CHANGE CAN BRING
OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH
TONY J. WEILER
SBAND Executive Director
“Even though things change, one thing
remains constant for lawyers: we make
decisions every day that not only impact
clients, but that shape the lawyer we are.
Professionalism and ethics are not only
important tenants of those decisions, but
often what make us who we are. Striving
to do what is right is often difficult, but
necessary in all our transactions whether they
be work related or personal.”
Those were words I wrote in the first few
months I served as your executive director,
some six plus years ago, and they still ring
true today. We deal with change constantly
in our lives and in our profession, and how
we look at change can impact our work and
our personal decisions. Just like the weather
in North Dakota, if you don’t like it, wait five
minutes! Perhaps this time of year, with a
change from fall to winter, I have a chance to
reflect on changes that take place at SBAND.
One thing we talk about at SBAND is
whether what we are doing adds value to our
members and ultimately helps you do what
you do better. If the answer to the question
of why we do something is “that’s how we’ve
always done it,” then perhaps it’s time to
analyze whether that truly is the best way to
accomplish any goal. It very well may be, but
it doesn’t hurt to look at whether there can
be improvement or streamlined efficiency.
Like our changing weather patterns, there
are some constants, but as we know, there
certainly can be variables.
The same is true for the practice of law. It is
sometimes difficult to keep up with all the
changes in our profession, yet lawyers face
those challenges daily. From new clients
to old, from one case to the next, and from
similar cases but dissimilar facts. One good
thing about change is it can allow us to see
our experiences from a different perspective,
and if we don’t see the change around us, it
can often lead to unpleasant results. Change
often brings opportunities for growth, and
we all need that in our professional and
personal lives.
That doesn’t, however, mean we must change
simply for the sake of changing. At SBAND,
we are constantly looking at ways to make
positive changes for our members. At the
same time, we don’t want to forget what
we do well that helps you in your practice.
We are mindful you are busy lawyers who
want to do your jobs well for your clients,
make a living, and enjoy the fruits of that
living. Our job is to hopefully make your job
easier. In her column, SBAND President
Aubrey Fiebelkorn-Zuger outlines some of
the member benefits that we offer to make
your practice better. We also detail some of
those member benefits on page 26. We are
always looking for new and innovative ways
to make changes in the practice better for
our members, and we will continue to do so
by not only re-visiting our current member
benefits but seeking out new benefits as well.
In the next couple months, you will receive
a survey asking what we can do better to
serve you as your professional association.
This will help the Board of Governors and
the staff and I at SBAND focus on what
you want us to do most. It will also give you
an opportunity to tell us a bit about your
practice areas, so we can determine if certain
lawyers are looking for certain benefits that
might be different than your colleagues. We
do this with a sense of looking toward a great
future at SBAND and a continued thriving
practice of law in North Dakota.
Finally, we have established a Futures Task
Force to analyze where we stand with
regulating the profession in conjunction with
the North Dakota Supreme Court. This was
prompted by challenges we and most unified
bars are facing, and it’s best for the bar and
the profession to tackle these challenges head
on and, perhaps, get ahead of them as well.
If you have any questions or thoughts on
what that might entail, please reach out to
me via phone or email. It’s a great day to be
a lawyer!
FALL 2019
5