Washington Lawyer - July/August 2019 - 15

I've learned that it's not what you
say you'll do, but what you do. You
want to lead by example and bring
people with you. You hope you've
inspired them, and they want to
copy what you've done.
A.J. DHALIWAL
Weiner Brodsky Kider PC

TRAINING FOR RISING LEADERS
A newly enhanced John Payton Leadership Academy, an
intensive training program to develop successful leaders
of the D.C. Bar, will return in March 2020. Launched in 2013,
the academy seeks to identify, inspire, and educate members
to lead within the Bar, in their professional settings, and in
the larger community.
The academy's curriculum covers leadership styles and
strengths, communication skills, teamwork and consensus
building, and problem solving and strategic thinking, among
other skills.
For details on how to apply and be part of the next class
of rising leaders, visit dcbar.org.

A WORTHY JUGGLING ACT
Those who answer the call to serve are part of a wonderful wave of generosity
across the nation. Some 77.3 million adults donated their time and resources to
an organization in 2017, according to the 2018 "Volunteering in America" report
conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).
"Each and every day, ordinary Americans are stepping up to support their fellow
citizens to help with needs both great and small because they understand the
power [that] service has to change communities and lives for the better," says
Barbara Stewart, chief executive officer of CNCS.
Yet a perceived lack of time keeps so many from making the commitment.
In a recent survey of 4,000 adults in the United Kingdom entitled "First Timers:
Kickstarting a Volunteer Revolution," 40 percent of respondents said that work
commitments keep them from volunteering, while 23 percent simply want to
do other things with their spare time.

"The year I was president was most challenging in terms of balance. It was like
having a second full-time job," Benitez says. "My job is unpredictable. But the
Bar is set up so you get to learn the flow. The staff was also very helpful."
Paul S. Lee, pro bono counsel at Steptoe & Johnson and a board member of the
Pro Bono Center, says Bar members who volunteer to lead simply make it work.
"You find that people take on more than they should; they go beyond the call
of duty. But they see the value in it and find the time," says Lee, a member of the
Bar's Board of Governors.
Having a supportive network at home and at work makes the juggling possible.
During his job interview at his firm, Dhaliwal made sure to mention his Bar activities, and his employer has been supportive ever since.
"It's two aspects: You have to care. You have to have a vested interest," says
Dhaliwal, a father of two. "You also need a strong team around you. It's a concerted effort to make sure the people around you buy into your goals and have
a stake in what you're trying to accomplish."
Lim says being Bar president, partner at her firm, and mother to two young girls
is an "intense combination." Sometimes she'd miss concerts, ball games, and
field trips, but with the understanding of her husband and children, Lim says
she's been able to juggle all three.
It's a trade-off for certain. But once a member decides to devote the time, the
Bar offers so many ways to jump in.
For example, leadership on one of the Bar's various committees. If your time is
limited, spend a couple of hours on a Saturday at the Pro Bono Center's Advice
& Referral Clinic, or during the week at its Landlord Tenant Resource Center.
Volunteer on a pro bono case. And if you're inspired to give more, throw your
hat into the ring for an elected seat.
"The Bar is like a deck of cards of opportunity," Pollak says. "You pick one thing
and do it for a while and then do something else."

Stacy Julien is a regular contributor to Washington Lawyer.

Photos: Celebration of Leadership, Patrice Gilbert Photography; Brigida Benitez, courtesy of Steptoe & Johnson
LLP; A.J. Dhaliwal, courtesy of A.J. Dhaliwal

JULY/AUGUST 2019

WASHINGTON LAWYER

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Washington Lawyer - July/August 2019

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