PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
each other, and our willingness to sacrifice
some of our personal present for the greater
good of the larger Atlanta community.
In the Walsh household (with four kids
between 6th and 11th grade), the abrupt
cancellation of youth sports, the transition
to virtual learning, and the shelter-in-place
order meant that the six of us have eaten
most meals together as a family for several
weeks in a row. That
has not happened since
– well, ever. We have
played countless family
games of H-O-R-S-E in
the driveway, gone for
long walks and bike rides
(while politely steering
clear of our neighbors),
thrown
baseballs/
softballs/footballs,
played “World Cup”
soccer games, and binge
watched old sitcoms (we
are working our way
through Community as
we speak). We have even
taught the grandparents
the
wonders
of
“FaceTime” to stay
connected. It has almost
been like a timeout for a family which – like
so many others in the larger Atlanta Bar
family – was living at a pace so frenetic it was
barely sustainable. I have little doubt that
we are closer as a family now than perhaps
we have ever been (even if that “closeness”
remains a tinder keg waiting to explode at
any moment into a trampoline battle royale).
and conducting depositions remotely on
a regular basis, while transactions were
prepared and consummated in a similar
fashion. We have all found innovative
ways to ensure that our respective clients –
whether they be multinational corporations,
local businesses, or indigent families –
continued to receive critical legal services
during the most challenging circumstances.
When this pandemic passes, the local legal
Our close knit Atlanta Bar
fundamental improvements that will make
our Bar more compelling, relevant, robust,
and appealing than it has ever been before.
So as we approach the close of another
Atlanta Bar year – and hopefully the end
of the public health emergency that has
engulfed us for several weeks now – we
remain grateful for our Atlanta Bar family and
optimistic about the future that lies ahead.
I hope the silver linings of these difficult
times shine brighter and brighter for you,
your families, and your colleagues. I hope
our close knit Atlanta Bar family can provide
you with fellowship and peace of mind as
we work past these difficult times together.
family can provide you with
fellowship and peace of mind
Ryan K. Walsh
Atlanta Bar Association President
as we work past these difficult
The local legal community has also learned
to adapt to this new normal. Over time,
most lawyers and staff retreated to home
offices, learning to complete their tasks in a
virtual world. In those early days, schedules
were overloaded with videoconferences,
as firms and companies tried desperately
to keep everyone in touch. Even the
least tech savvy among us became well-
versed in the ways of Zoom, WebEx,
and other videoconferencing platforms.
Soon, litigators were attending hearings
times together.
workforce will be much more nimble and
capable than when these troubles began.
I am very proud to say that throughout this
pandemic, your Atlanta Bar Association
leadership and staff have continued to
work to find ways to support our Atlanta
Bar membership. Despite the absence of
in person activities, Terri and her staff have
continued to identify innovative ways to
hold business and social events through
Zoom and other media. The Bar established
a COVID-19 resource page accessible to
the Atlanta Bar family via the website. We
have been in communication with our
public interest partners –Atlanta Legal Aid,
AVLF, TIP, and GAIN – to find ways that
we can help them as they face increased
challenges during the pandemic. Our
Innovation Study Group has shifted into
overdrive, working under co-chairs Judge
Sara Doyle and Steve LaBriola to explore
www.atlantabar.org THE ATLANTA LAWYER
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