Washington Lawyer - July/August 2024 - 13

FEATURE
before getting a master's degree in public health at George Washington
University. Now she works in public policy for the federal government.
We are a mandatory bar, but we
have to operate like a voluntary
bar, in many ways, and make sure
that we are offering the benefits
and services that make membership
valuable.
I am also interested in supporting discussions around a more streamlined
intake process for clients seeking pro bono services. Looking for ways to
lower the barriers to entry - for both lawyers and clients - into the pro
bono world will be a focus of my term.
You have a very busy work and volunteer life. How do you fit in the
things that you enjoy in your personal life?
I'm a bit of a workaholic, so personal life gets very blended with work
life. In fact, I was at a recent ABA Bar Leadership Institute meeting where
someone said the new terminology is not " work-life balance " but " work-
life integration. " I thought that was an interesting perspective and one
that probably describes my philosophy. But I do have a personal life! My
wife, Grace, is [also] an attorney, and our first meeting was a setup thanks
to a mutual acquaintance. She worked in Silicon Valley and in Shanghai
We have two dogs around whom our lives seem to revolve. We got our
first because I needed to get out of the house. We got her when I took
my current job, which is primarily remote, and led to me working long
hours. Working at home was a new dynamic for me, and our dogs help
me get out and about during the day. They keep me in somewhat better
shape mentally and physically. They're both rescues. They run the house
and control our schedule, but they're wonderful and it's hard to imagine
life without them. I'm a big believer in adopting animals that need a
home.
In terms of what I do to relax, I'm a bit of a nerd. Sci-fi, zombie movies,
and RiffTrax (extra points if you know what that is) are likely to be on the
TV or iPad if I'm not working. It may run in my genes a bit. When I was a
kid, my mom took me to two Star Trek conventions, where at one I met
Mr. Chekov. I'll be stopping by a shopping mall outside of Pittsburgh on
my way to a conference to see where they filmed the 1978 version of
Dawn of the Dead. If you're an amateur psychologist and sociologist, like
I think I am, the zombie genre is an excellent commentary on human behavior.
Grace
and I also enjoy traveling. We try to maximize our trips, so we are
very active the entire time and often come home from our vacations exhausted,
but we certainly enjoy it. We may have a little less time for travel
over the course of this coming year, but I'm incredibly honored to be
in this role. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on the
Board, our members, and our staff to keep building on our successes and
making the Bar a resource and community for all of us to enjoy and benefit
from.
Reach D.C. Bar staff writer Jeremy Conrad at jconrad@dcbar.org.
2025-2030 D.C. Bar Strategic Plan
We need your input
Help the D.C. Bar create and map out its goals and priorities for
the next five years. This fall the D.C. Bar will begin developing its
2025-2030 Strategic Plan, and your feedback is a critical part in
defining the Bar's future.
Revisit our 2020-2025 Strategic Plan at dcbar.org/strategic_plan and
tell us what you think the Bar should prioritize over the next five years.
Send us your comments at
https://dc-bar.formstack.com/forms/d_c_bar_strategic_plan.
JULY/AUGUST 2024 * WASHINGTON LAWYER 13
http://www.dcbar.org/strategic_plan https://dc-bar.formstack.com/forms/d_c_bar_strategic_plan
Washington Lawyer - July/August 2024

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