Coming from private practice, I found that mindreading was
never necessarily one of the mandatory skillsets for success. Clients always told you want they wanted.
Loudly, repeatedly, perpetually, urgently. Some mindreading of the judge could
be helpful, but that skill was fleeting, especially for those who subscribe to
the “legal realism” theory of jurisprudence. In private practice, mindreading would never
triumph over knowledge, good preparation, hard work, stellar communication and
a little bit of luck.
As I’ve just passed my one-year mark here as the VBA
Director of Education and Communication, I realize we, the bar association and
our esteemed Board of Managers, endeavor to mind-read. All the time. The Board meets monthly and is always
discussing possible ways to improve the member experience. The Board also has its “annual retreat,” and
while it was a sad day when I learned that the retreat had nothing to do with
spa treatments, outdoor adventures and cocktails, the retreat is essential to
our growth and function as an organization.
At the annual retreat last week, the Board got a new primer and
refresher on all of the VBA’s services, benefits and programs and got to
discuss the future for our members, as it always does.
When discussing the future of the profession and the
association, a certain level of prognosticating is, of course, in order. But when you couple that with trying to read
the minds of 2,300 members, it becomes quite daunting. We try to get into the minds of our members,
but even at our most clairvoyant moments, we are destined to periodically come
up short due to the diverse interests of our members. Meeting survey responses are often
frustratingly hysterical: best CLE options ever/worst CLE options ever; more
substantive law sessions/more law practice management sessions; great food/horrible
food; more family law/less family law; more social events/we only have time for
CLEs; more top-notch entertainment/we’d rather see entertainment with just
family or friends; more wellness/less wellness and the dichotomies go on.
Trying to please 2,300 members at least keeps us forever on our toes!
As I embark upon another year here at the VBA, please be
reminded that the VBA is here to help you help people. We are here to help you become more
knowledgeable, more efficient, more connected with your community and with
other lawyers. Our job is to help you do
yours and to help you compete effectively in the legal market. But our mind-reading skills are lacking.
If there are topics
you feel are worthy of CLE programs, please tell your section chair, tell me,
talk about it on VBA Connect and share with your colleagues.
If there is a new technology, software, app or product that
you believe will make your practice more efficient, post to the technology
community on VBA Connect or email me and we can see if we can get a group
discount, presentation or product review from other members.
I often wonder how we ever functioned without the collective
wisdom that the robust Internet provides.
Soon, our thoughts about VBA Connect’s online communities will be no
different. To further curtail the need
to mind-read, we are again due for a broad membership survey to canvas our
members’ wants, needs and expectations.
If you take the time to respond, we will endeavor to make it worth your
while.
Email your wisdom, suggestions, stories, requests or thoughts to jeb at vtbar dot org.
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