Washington Lawyer - July/August 2024 - 52

THE LEARNING CURVE
Lifting Up the Next
Crop of Leaders
By Josephine M. Bahn
A
s George Washington's
character sings in Hamilton,
" one last time . . . we're going
to teach them how to say
goodbye. "
It seems only fitting that my last column in
Washington Lawyer focuses on leadership.
I believe that one of the hallmarks of a great
leader is recognizing that the next crop of leaders
is ready to take the helm - be that in the
practice of law or in this space in this magazine.
In the legal profession, younger and newer lawyers
can only grow if seasoned practitioners
continue to impart their wisdom to attorneys
rising through the ranks. This is a true win-win
for both - younger lawyers learn and grow
in their practice, and seasoned lawyers can offload
some tasks on their never-ending to-do
list while imparting valuable lessons to the next
generation of attorneys.
When I pitched this column for the D.C. Bar
magazine nearly five years ago, I was directionless
and trying to navigate how to " market " (a
perceived dirty word) myself and " get my name
out there, " not really knowing what or where
" there " was. I had just had my first child and
was reeling with the postpartum need to prove
to my tiny new daughter that her mama could
do anything. I wrote about what I knew and
what I hoped the profession would actually be
like. Faking it until you make it has to be the
mantra of new law grads.
It's only now, after a job change, a second child,
and a position leading the largest organization
of young lawyers in the world, that I have begun
to realize the importance of making space
at the table for the new lawyers following us.
That's not to say that early career lawyers are
excused from the necessary, and largely uncomfortable,
effort of raising their hand to ask
for opportunities.
52 WASHINGTON LAWYER
* JULY/AUGUST 2024
I've written about the many ways young lawyers
can lead, from asking to draft a client alert
to seeking out networking opportunities in
their local market to showing interest in a niche
part of their practice. There's also asking a more
seasoned lawyer to review your work, mocking
up an elevator pitch for a networking opportunity,
and finding out where to get the best continuing
legal education classes in a specialty
area. Early career attorneys can also lead by
showing senior colleagues where they want
their growth and development to go. For those
of us new to the practice of law, it just might
feel like we're " writing like you're running out of
time " for a little while as we continue to get
more experience and opportunity.
On the flip side, experienced attorneys can help
newer ones by giving them space and grace.
Some may not necessarily be ready to grab
those opportunities - like that client alert you
will have to edit extensively because the new
attorney read the statute wrong, or that uncomfortable
mock elevator pitch you have to sit
through. A little bit of grace during those failings
goes a long way. There is nothing more demoralizing
to a new lawyer than a seasoned colleague's
lack of confidence in them.
While this exercise in career development can
be painful for the more senior lawyer, in the
end these growing pains will help both the
young lawyer and the more seasoned practitioner
rise together. A rising tide lifts all boats.
In the coming editions of the magazine, you
will hear from early career lawyers who have
amazing insights on topics just like these. I encourage
all of my young and new lawyer colleagues
to answer the call to share their legal
journeys with our readers. Sometimes learning
is leading from the front, volunteering or
speaking up when it's scary, and challenging
yourself. Don't throw away your shot.
Josephine M. (Jo) Bahn is a construction law and
commercial litigation associate at Cozen O'Connor.
Bahn also serves as the D.C. Bar's Under 36 Delegate
to the ABA House of Delegates and is immediate
past chair of the ABA Young Lawyers Division.
'Newly Minted' Launches Soon
Starting in the September/October
2024 issue of Washington Lawyer,
look for the Bar's new column
featuring early career lawyers who
will be sharing their successes and
challenges while navigating their
first few years of practice.
Interested in contributing?
Pitch us at editorial@dcbar.org.
Washington Lawyer - July/August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Washington Lawyer - July/August 2024
