From Inspiration to Perspiration

September 2024

By Betty Williams
President, CLA

We are all familiar with quips such as, “Most people don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan,” and “Bodies in motion stay in motion; bodies at rest, stay at rest.” Notions that those who have written plans, a strong worth ethic, and a positive attitude, will more readily achieve their goals, is also nothing new.

But what about the work? Certainly, watching any part of the Olympics, whether in person, or in social media clips, one cannot deny the feeling of pride and inspiration as we watched our athletes compete in the most recent Olympic games in Paris, France. We are too smart not to know that no amount of talent is sufficient to reach such towering goals, including even competing in the Olympics regardless of their results.

Lawyers by and large spend a lot of time behind a desk. Seated, behind a desk. Our victories come in many forms, including in a courtroom, with an administrative agency, by resolving disputes for clients, or creating new legal structures or agreements, to name a few. Our work can feel equally as exhausting as some of the Olympic athletes’ experience, which can be eased through membership in CLA. We have a team of approximately 50,000 attorneys who can provide support in a variety of ways, as basic as a phone call to a colleague with expertise in another area of law, or by serving as co-counsel. We have resources for physical and mental health and wellbeing for all of our members as well.

To further enhance our professional community, CLA is introducing a dynamic online community platform which will serve as a space for CLA members to share expertise and insights on various legal issues, and to connect with member- practitioners in all areas of law throughout the state, and beyond. The forum will provide a unique opportunity for attorneys to ask questions and seek guidance from more experienced practitioners, and to assist clients who may request a referral in an area outside the attorney’s expertise, or physical location. By fostering a collaborative environment, members will be able to exchange knowledge, discuss best practices, build professional relationships, and better serve their clients. By leveraging the collective wisdom of the CLA legal community, the online platform aims to contribute significantly to the professional growth of all CLA members.

My most recent inspirational experience came from a two-day delegation to Mexico City, with a key purpose being to meet with leaders of Mexico’s three primary bar associations and to sign the third Friendship Agreement between CLA and the Mexican Bar Association, completing our triad of such agreements with Mexico.

While we were there, we had significant discussions regarding outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Orbador’s plan to remove most judges from office in the coming weeks, including Appellate and Supreme Court justices. Elections would have to be scheduled to elect judges by popular vote, instead of being appointed based on experience, education, and other factors.

The lawyers we met with, like CLA leaders I regularly convene with, care deeply about what we do as lawyers, and about our judiciary. We care about the rule of law, and access to justice. Our colleagues are concerned that such a move will undermine judicial independence and expose the judiciary to political and criminal influences. Thousands of judges and judicial workers are now striking in Mexico. We heard echoes in the halls of the Supreme Court as many workers had already departed. Supreme Court Justice Alberto Perez Dayan discussed his concerns at length when we met in his chambers.

Whether we are sweating it out on our laptops, or out on the track, it takes dedication, determination, and a lot of hard work to reach goals. I am inspired by the work I see our colleagues in Mexico undertaking in an effort to stop, pause, or even adjust to the changes that will follow if the reformation occurs as President Orbador’s final act as the country’s President.