PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

By Barrett H. Reasoner Gibbs & Bruns, L.L.P.

HBA Offers Ways to Help Yourself and Others During Hard Times

The economic downturn of the last two years has affected people throughout our community with varying degrees of severity. The economic climate has also substantially affected our profession. First, it is no secret that the prospects for recent and upcoming law school graduates are not as bright as they have been in recent years. Law school deans from around the state have reported that the job market for their graduates is as tough as it has ever been. I remain convinced that a law degree is one of the most valuable graduate degrees you can obtain. A legal education teaches you how to think in a focused and disciplined way, and opens up job opportunities in almost any field. The job market for law school graduates also tends to go through cycles, and the market here in Houston has historically been as strong and resilient as any in the country.

In the meantime, however, bar associations are making significant efforts to help new law graduates transition into the practice of law. State Bar of Texas President Roland Johnson has created two new resources in this area. On the website www.afterthebarexam.com, new graduates have access to free videos about finding your place, managing your practice, ethics and professionalism and connecting with the profession. The HBA has placed a link to this site on its homepage as well. The State Bar has also implemented a Transition to Practice mentoring program for new lawyers. For many years, the HBA’s Professionalism Committee has also had a mentor/protégé program, which allows new lawyers to have a mentor in the area of practice that interests them. In addition, our HBA CLE Committee has tailored its offerings this year to include more relevant information for new lawyers setting up their own practice and for more experienced lawyers who are setting up a solo practice for the first time.

Another impact of the economic downturn is that some practice areas are thriving while others are suffering. By most accounts, the practice for lawyers in the corporate and real estate transactions areas, for example, has been relatively slow. On the other hand, bankruptcy practices and some types of litigation have been busier. Those who have been in the profession for years know that the ebb and flow of different practice areas is something that also goes in cycles. Whether your practice area is up or down at the moment, membership in an HBA section is well worth your time. It offers great networking possibilities as well as the opportunity to hear from lawyers who are going through the very same things you are. Whether it is advice about building your practice or even just hearing that “this too shall pass” from someone who has been around long enough to know, you will benefit from the professional fellowship.

At the macro level, the downturn has been less severe in Houston than elsewhere in the country, but that is of little comfort to individual Houstonians suffering the effects. In reaction to this, the Houston Bar Association has set up a Consumer Task Force, which is charged with insuring that our legal advice clinics are providing advice that is tailored to meet the needs of the current times. Peggy Montgomery of ExxonMobil is Chair of this task force, and this group has already accomplished a great deal. The Consumer Legal Clinic in November served about 60 Houstonians with consumer-type problems. I recommend Peggy’s article in this issue that describes the task force’s activities. I also urge you to come out and help at one of their events. Although times are harder than usual in our profession, there are many ways to help yourself and to help others.

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