the Atlanta Bar ? And I am sure , like many of you have as well , I have given and received many answers to this question . There are the usual culprits , such as networking , satisfying CLE requirements , and business development opportunities .
Beyond such surface-level responses ; the true WHY goes much deeper . It is the developed friendships that form the bonds of our tight-knit legal community . It is our shared commitment to serving others and one another . It is , in essence , the Atlanta Bar ’ s own motto , that we are “ Lawyers Who Serve .” This motto will be the guiding focus of our next Atlanta Bar year . As we continue reopening efforts and gather more often together , I challenge each of us to consciously re-commit to that motto and focus on who we , through the Atlanta Bar , serve .
Three key Atlanta Bar service areas are consistently evident . First , we serve future lawyers and leaders . From the founding of the Truancy Intervention Program , the Summer Law Internship Program , the Minority & Diversity Clerkship Program and many more , the Atlanta Bar has consistently served multiple generations of lawyers and leaders . I encourage each of you to join me this year as we work together to realize continued growth of our support of these programs .
Second , we serve each other . Whether this is through Section events , Wellness Committee hosted outings , mentoring through SideBar , or thoughtful book discussions held in Book Bar , the Atlanta Bar continues to innovate new ways serve our members . This year , our focus will be to meet our members at all stages of their career and lives , hosting programs and events that at least in some aspect nurture and care for each other . I encourage each of you to take advantage of the many opportunities available this year with these and other Atlanta Bar programs . Be sure to invite your friends and colleagues !
Finally , we serve our local community . From the founding of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society to our vibrant partnerships with organizations such as the Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta , the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network , and Georgia Lawyers for the Arts , the services supported by the Atlanta Bar are extensive . This year , we plan to host not only periodic service-focused events , but also a Bar-wide Day of Service , which will bring us all together next April to get our hands a bit dirty while making a tangible impact in our community .
I am truly excited to serve you this coming year as we emerge from the pandemic to build upon the Bar ’ s legacy of service . The importance of service was first instilled in me by my grandfather , a minister and educational leader in his community many years ago . Perhaps unbeknownst to him , I was watching and learning from his example . Similarly , the next generation of leaders and lawyers are presently watching and learning from us . So , I thank each of you for being shining examples of service to our profession , to each other , and to our community .
Christopher P . Lightner Atlanta Bar Association President www . atlantabar . org THE ATLANTA LAWYER 5