Feature Article
Why JOIN THE ATLANTA BAR?
By Jessica J. Wood
with contributions by Joe Hoffman,
Lynn Roberson, Rita Sheffey, Will Smith
A
s the Atlanta Bar starts its new fiscal year, helmed by
President Harold Franklin, it is a great time for you to
consider joining, re-joining and encouraging others to
join our Bar. Consider the following incentives.
1. CLE/education. Did you know that your membership
entitles you to a $75 CLE coupon? You can choose from
a variety of convenient live presentations and webcasts
including the upcoming Fantasy Supreme Court League:
The Final Four, The Passion of the Barrister: An Ethical
Lawyer is a Happy Lawyer and Understanding Patent Law.
2. Friendship. Former Atlanta Bar President Rita
Sheffey, Assistant Dean for Public Service at Emory Law
School points out that the Bar “is all about the wonderful
people -- great networking, leadership opportunities, and
lifelong friendships.” The varied events create an excellent
foundation for learning more about other attendees and
forming closer relationships.
3. Health. Business litigator and Atlanta Bar Basketball
League Co-Commissioner Joe Hoffman touts the benefits of
“breaking a sweat with fellow lawyers.” For more information,
please contact http://kkgpc.com/JosephHoffman. Other
active options include the Atlanta Bar Legal Runaround 5K.
4. Leadership opportunities. The Atlanta Bar has twentytwo Sections, as well as a Law Student Outreach Committee,
Membership Committee and Managing Partners Committee.
You have plenty of opportunities for participation and input.
5. Mentoring. Former Atlanta Bar President Lynn Roberson
points out that “being active in the bar has given me so
much in terms of leadership opportunities and now in my
later years of practice, opportunities to really give back to the
younger folks coming up through the ranks. It has been a
very rewarding ride and I have definitely taken out far more
than I have put in!”
7. Professional development. Lynn Roberson, a litigator,
notes that her Bar involvement allows her “to get to know
many and varied members of the bar and bench in a nonadversarial setting (and for them to get to know ME) so
that professional actions go more smoothly and I feel more
comfortable in the courtroom and deposition conference
room. I also get to learn from the best as only the best
lawyers and judges show up regularly at bar events, I
think because they are committed to making the practice
of law better.” Personal injury attorney Will Smith echoes
these sentiments: “it matters to me that I know and respect
opposing counsel. The Atlanta Bar puts me in conta