Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
By Kate E. Trinkle, Ogletree Deakins
With all of the expectations lawyers face (especially early in their careers), it can be hard to carve out time away from learning to practice the law and break away from the billable hour to identify leadership opportunities where legal skills can provide a meaningful benefit for the Indianapolis community. The IndyBar Bar Leader Series program provides the perfect solution.
Although I held leadership roles within the first few years out of law school, I felt unprepared to take on longer-term commitments. I was still trying to get a handle on billing my time in 6-minute increments, meeting expectations, and learning to practice the law. In 2023, I entered my third year of practice and felt like I had finally gotten my feet underneath me. Having a better handle on my professional practice, I wanted to take my leadership roles within the Indianapolis community to the next level so I could better serve the needs of others. But, I had no idea where to start. I didn’t know where I would be helpful or where I could provide the most meaningful impact. So, I applied for the Bar Leader Series program in February of 2023.
As a class member of Class XX, I can confidently say that the Bar Leader Series program has solved the challenges I was facing with getting more involved. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know a group of 20 other attorneys with extremely impressive resumes and a strong desire to serve the community. Our program leaders, the Hon. Jane Magnus-Stinson and Magistrate Mario Garcia, have connected our class with a multitude of leaders in the Indianapolis community who are working hard to serve residents, address key needs, and make a positive difference.
Taking all that we’ve learned through our bi-monthly sessions, our class is now planning out the details of our class project. I won’t be the one to reveal any spoilers but what I can say is that the chance to learn from and work with some of the most prominent leaders in Indianapolis to provide a tangible benefit for others is invaluable for me, personally and professionally.
As we approach the end of the Bar Leader Series for Class XX, I feel grateful for what I’ve taken away from this program and I am excited to continue enhancing my legal and leadership skills while doing more for the Indianapolis community.
“So, if you’re a lawyer looking to take your leadership skills to the next level while addressing the needs of the community, the Bar Leader Series program is for you. You’ll work closely with civic and legal leader Robert Grand, former managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg LLP to identify the unique issues that our Indianapolis community faces, to learn from the Indianapolis attorneys and leaders working to close those gaps, and to implement a project that benefits the community in a meaningful way. You will also create lasting relationships with other attorneys in your leadership class who, like you, want to use their legal and leadership skills for the benefit of others. Not only will you take away so much, but you will also have your own class project that you develop with your class to put all that you learn into practice and give back to the community.”
If this intrigues you, I highly recommend you apply. Applications are due June 21, 2024 at www.indybar.org/barleaderseries and Class XXI will kick off in September 2024.•
Kate E. Trinkle is an associate at Ogletree Deakins where she practices employment law. Kate is a member of IndyBar’s Bar Leader Series Class XX.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.