Washington Lawyer - September 2019 - 5

YOUR VOICE

Letter From the Editor

COMMUNITY * CAREER * PROFESSION * PRACTICE MANAGEMENT * SERVICE

Dear Readers:

elcome to the September issue of Washington Lawyer. We hope you
had a relaxing summer and feel renewed and recharged to take on the
fall activities and hectic schedules that September often signifies.

At Washington Lawyer, we spent our summer checking in with you. In July we
launched an online readership survey to find out which sections you find most
engaging and what stories you would like to see more of on these pages. Many
of you had a lot to say about the overall look and feel of the magazine, and, in
response, we have started to implement some changes to make this publication more relevant to you.
This issue features the launch of an American Bar Association column, which will
run several times a year, bringing you another perspective on issues impacting
the legal community in Washington, D.C., and beyond.
For those of you who rely on our Calendar of Events and other timely content
for planning, we have adjusted our mailing schedule - your Washington Lawyer
will begin arriving earlier to your home or office. Of course, our digital edition
is always available at dcbar.org at the beginning of each month.
In the coming months we will continue to take your feedback, review other
aspects of the magazine, and make updates. It remains our mission to ensure
that Washington Lawyer is a true reflection of the diverse voices of the D.C. Bar
as we work to deliver the member-centric stories you have requested.
Our goal is to enhance our print magazine while we expand our digital content,
incorporating video content and podcasts produced in our very own broadcast
studio to increase member engagement.
Thank you for reading Washington Lawyer.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BAR MAGAZINE

JULY/AUGUST 2019

PITCH US!
Celebrating Membership
& Leadership

e welcome
submissions
from attorneys
and other professionals who wish to
share their expertise on law-related topics
in Washington Lawyer and at dcbar.org.
Articles must be original and previously
unpublished. All submissions are open
to editorial review and revisions.
For more information, email editorial@dcbar.org.

Andrea T. Williams
Editor in Chief

My First Encounter With

Jake Stein

ake Stein was my grandfather's cousin, making him my cousin twice
removed. When I decided to go into the law while in college, my father
repeatedly suggested I reach out to Jake for advice, or possibly assistance
with getting into one of the prestigious law schools he was associated with in
Washington, D.C. Whether it was out of stubbornness or humbleness, I did not,
as I did not want to appear to Jake, whom I only knew through news articles, as
simply trying to ride his coattails.
After being admitted into law school at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh,
I decided to reach out to Jake of my own accord. I sent him an email with my
résumé, introducing myself and explaining that I was looking for work as a
summer law clerk. Had I known him better at the time, I would have opted to
send a written letter with a pun of some sort. Fortunately, Jake was gracious
enough to invite me to his office on Connecticut and K. I was prepared to
discuss the potential of clerking for his firm and my interest in going into white
collar criminal defense. To my surprise and, at the time, to my chagrin, he did
not once mention anything about clerking at the firm, but told me in-depth
stories about his former cases, his journey to becoming a lawyer, and one piece
of advice: "I suggest you write a book."
At the conclusion of our meeting, I was both happy that I had finally met this
gentleman and a bit perplexed about why I bothered making the trip. A few
weeks later he contacted me and suggested I come to his office a second time.
At this meeting, I met with Jake and a gentleman who was winding up his years

of work editing Jake's publications, the Trial Handbook for District of Columbia
Lawyers and the Trial Handbook for Maryland Lawyers. Jake offered me the
opportunity to edit the pocket parts for both publications, which I did, along
with Closing Arguments and The Law of Law Firms, throughout my remaining
years in law school and for some time thereafter.
Over the years I was fortunate enough to get to know Jake as a colleague but,
unfortunately, never as a family member. He seldom discussed his family or his
relationship with my grandfather, which I knew was somewhat conflicted over
issues that I did not care to know. I was content with knowing Jake lawyer to
lawyer, and I am not only a better lawyer but a better person for it. His wisdom,
stories of his jury trials, quotes from various authors and poets of the past, and
eccentric mannerisms were the things I looked forward to when traveling to
meet with him, and the things that stick with me to this day.
In the decade I knew him, I only scratched the surface of a truly great lawyer
and an even better man. I only wish I could have attended the celebration
of life held in his honor to listen to the stories of many others who knew and
admired him.
Benjamin J. Steinberg
Warrendale, Pennsylvania
Washington Lawyer welcomes your letters. Submissions should be
directed to Washington Lawyer, District of Columbia Bar, 901 4th Street
NW, Washington, DC 20001. Submissions are also accepted by email at
editorial@dcbar.org. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.
*

SEPTEMBER 2019

WASHINGTON LAWYER

http://www.dcbar.org http://www.dcbar.org https://www.dcbar.org/

Washington Lawyer - September 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Washington Lawyer - September 2019