SBAND PRESIDENT
Call for CLE Speakers
SBAND PRESIDENT
SPRING EXPLORATION
JOSEPH WETCH SBAND President
One of my first articles for The Gavel was about summer. I described the Fargo parks and neighborhoods as alive with activities in the warm sunshine. I talked about how it was encouraging that the season was so full of vibrancy and life. Now, as I write one of my last articles, the new spring is upon us. People are working in their garages and preparing their boats for the lakes. They are preparing seed beds and flower gardens. Families are putting away the hockey skates and sticks and getting out the soccer balls. Children can see the end of the school year in sight.
For me, spring is one of the best seasons. It hearkens the sweet summer to come and yet reminds of the cold winter that was just upon us. It is, as they say, an awakening of sorts. Not just on a seasonal basis, but in other ways as well. It can be one of the more rewarding times to engage in selfexploration. Self-exploration of a personal nature and of the practice of law.
Personal self-exploration begins with a question about my service to others. Am I being as effective in my desire to help others as I can be? Am I being as effective in my service to the Bar as is possible? Are there more things I could be doing or things I could be doing better? The answers to these questions are revealing and are sometimes not what I would like. But this is part of the dusting off of the cobwebs and searching out what is real in terms of my service to others and, along the way, my own satisfaction.
Self-exploration of the practice of law can mean many things. For me, it begins with an examination of how I am serving my clients. Am I thoughtful in each bit of advice I give? Are my case themes as sharp and defined as they can be in service of the client’ s case? Am I doing everything I ethically can to advance the client’ s cause?
Spring is a good time, perhaps the best of times, for self-exploration. As the new year begins and we look forward to the year to come, see if self-exploration will help ground you for the upcoming year.
Call for CLE Speakers
SBAND and the North Dakota CLE Commission sponsor seminars and programs throughout the year in all sorts of formats, including live, webinars and IVNs.
We want to know about SBAND members who have ideas for topics or who are interested in being a presenter.
Contact Carrie Molander at carrie @ sband. org
4 THE GAVEL