SBAND PRESIDENT
Call for CLE Speakers
SBAND PRESIDENT
SPRING EXPLORATION
JOSEPH WETCH SBAND President
One of my first articles for The Gavel was about summer . I described the Fargo parks and neighborhoods as alive with activities in the warm sunshine . I talked about how it was encouraging that the season was so full of vibrancy and life . Now , as I write one of my last articles , the new spring is upon us . People are working in their garages and preparing their boats for the lakes . They are preparing seed beds and flower gardens . Families are putting away the hockey skates and sticks and getting out the soccer balls . Children can see the end of the school year in sight .
For me , spring is one of the best seasons . It hearkens the sweet summer to come and yet reminds of the cold winter that was just upon us . It is , as they say , an awakening of sorts . Not just on a seasonal basis , but in other ways as well . It can be one of the more rewarding times to engage in selfexploration . Self-exploration of a personal nature and of the practice of law .
Personal self-exploration begins with a question about my service to others . Am I being as effective in my desire to help others as I can be ? Am I being as effective in my service to the Bar as is possible ? Are there more things I could be doing or things I could be doing better ? The answers to these questions are revealing and are sometimes not what I would like . But this is part of the dusting off of the cobwebs and searching out what is real in terms of my service to others and , along the way , my own satisfaction .
Self-exploration of the practice of law can mean many things . For me , it begins with an examination of how I am serving my clients . Am I thoughtful in each bit of advice I give ? Are my case themes as sharp and defined as they can be in service of the client ’ s case ? Am I doing everything I ethically can to advance the client ’ s cause ?
Spring is a good time , perhaps the best of times , for self-exploration . As the new year begins and we look forward to the year to come , see if self-exploration will help ground you for the upcoming year .
Call for CLE Speakers
SBAND and the North Dakota CLE Commission sponsor seminars and programs throughout the year in all sorts of formats , including live , webinars and IVNs .
We want to know about SBAND members who have ideas for topics or who are interested in being a presenter .
Contact Carrie Molander at carrie @ sband . org
4 THE GAVEL