Continuing Legal Education and the Pursuit of Excellence: A Member’s Reflection
9.27.2024
Little did I know when I attended my first New York State Bar Association continuing legal education program that I would begin a journey in what I can steadfastly profess has been one of the most important facets of my professional development. I know the same is true for countless attorneys across New York State and beyond.
The most important asset of NYSBA is its members, and the association has the most coveted practitioners across the universe of practice areas who offer CLE programs. CLEs have provided me with invaluable lifelong learning opportunities while expanding my professional network.
As the association transitions its membership model, members will have access to any number of CLE programs that will only enhance the opportunities for professional growth.
I have witnessed the value of the association’s commitment to CLE through my involvement with the Young Lawyers and Elder Law & Special Needs sections. However, I became truly aware of both the breadth and reputation of the Association’s CLE programming as a member and leader of the CLE Committee. I attribute our success to three things: the commitment of leadership and staff, the commitment to innovation and the excellence of the Association’s practitioner members.
Simply stated, the leaders of the association, including staff leadership, have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensure that the New York State Bar Association is the place for an attorney, regardless of years in practice, to participate in continuing legal education programs. CLEs are routinely produced that have bar-wide appeal, while other programs are specifically focused on unique topics for a select group of members. Merely days into the COVID-19 pandemic, the association quickly pivoted to remote programming, ensuring that members had immediate access to new CLEs and engagement without interruption.
Support Early On
Nearly two decades ago, I had just gained admission to the New York State Bar and obtained my license to practice law. I was living at my childhood home in Buffalo and set forth a statewide search to find my first job as an attorney. During this time, I started to review my ongoing obligations to maintain my license. I quickly familiarized myself with the continuing legal education requirements for newly admitted attorneys.
As I was looking for work, I thought it would be a good idea to register for some CLEs in order to fulfill credit requirements, learn about various practice topics and hopefully meet people. Since the New York State Bar Association provided me with a complimentary membership for my first year of admission, I eagerly looked into CLE programs offered in Western New York.
Later settling in the Capital Region and starting work at the firm where I continue to serve as one of two principal attorneys, I was encouraged by my now-partner to get involved with NYSBA, initially with the Young Lawyers Section. My first official NYSBA program was the fall meeting of the Young Lawyers Section, which was held at the Bar Center in Albany. I was invited to attend the Executive Committee meeting where section business was discussed. I also had the opportunity to attend the section dinner and networking programs. The bulk of the fall meeting, however, was a full slate of CLE programs designed specifically for young attorneys, covering a variety of topics including skills, practice management and ethics. The sessions were conducted by experienced attorneys from many parts of New York State. I left that meeting with the sense that I had found a new home for professional growth as a young attorney. NYSBA literally checked all the boxes for content, mentoring and networking. NYSBA’s CLE program, though, was at the very center of it all.
I had the great fortune from the very beginning of my career to become active as a leader due to the support I found at NYSBA. After joining the Young Lawyers Section’s Executive Committee as a district representative, I was elected to become an officer of the section, first as secretary, and in succession, treasurer, chair-elect and chair. As the Young Lawyers Section was designed for attorneys in practice 10 years or fewer, the work of the section was carried by a relatively small number of people. Each officer was involved in nearly all the section’s major events and activities, most of which included continuing legal education programs. Only a few years after attending my first NYSBA event, I found myself as chair-elect and tasked with chairing the section’s fall meeting. A significant part of the planning involved creating the CLE agenda, choosing topics and finding speakers. This was daunting, to say the least, but incredibly satisfying, both as the meeting concluded and now as I look back at the experience itself. I felt an absolute commitment to the young attorneys like me who were going to be attending to learn practical information we could take back with us to our offices and put into practice.
Trial Academy and Section CLEs
The Young Lawyers Section, through the vision of two of our former chairs, went on to become the host of one of NYSBA’s signature programs: Trial Academy. This started during my tenure as an officer of the section, and I had the honor of serving as a program co-chair. Trial Academy serves as a bootcamp for young attorneys to learn trial skills from some of the foremost practitioners across the state, including attorneys in private practice, prosecutors and judges. Continuing legal education is at the center of Trial Academy. With lectures, small breakout rooms where attendees give presentations and receive constructive critiques, as well as social events, participants have a chance to learn directly from experts in the field while earning CLE credits. In speaking with the dedicated Trial Academy faculty over the years, I am always impressed by how much they say that they learn themselves simply by being immersed in an educational environment. To this day, about 15 years later, the Trial Academy continues to be a highlight of the association’s CLE offerings.
At the time I began practicing law and was starting to attend NYSBA CLEs, I was also growing a practice in trusts and estates and elder law. Becoming active in the association’s Elder Law & Special Needs Section was a prerequisite to advancing in a practice like mine. The Elder Law & Special Needs Section has always been led by the preeminent voices of elder law in the state. The most sought-after CLE programs for elder law attorneys have been hosted by NYSBA. After some time, I was honored by the opportunity to present at these programs as a speaker. Typically, I would be assigned a topic for a one-hour presentation, on such topics as housing options for the elderly, Medicaid rules and regulations, and planning strategies, among others. Experience in continuing legal education goes to another level when you are presenting to a room of your peers. It takes countless hours to prepare an informative and organized one-hour presentation with supporting materials. You learn as you listen, but also through preparation. The NYSBA CLE model advances education regardless of status as an attendee, speaker or member of the program faculty.
Pursuit of Excellence
I view continuing legal education as a “pursuit to excellence.” Regardless of how many years one has practiced, there is always more to learn. At times we learn on our own, and at other times we learn collaboratively. This summer, I had the opportunity to attend the Elder Law and Special Needs Section’s summer meeting in Montreal. I was able to take in the sights of a world-class city with my family, all while attending three days of continuing legal education programs in my practice area. This time, I was simply an attendee, with no responsibilities to plan or present. Not surprisingly, my very capable colleagues did a fantastic job of taking care of those responsibilities. We know the practice of law will continue to change and evolve. Thankfully, NYSBA provides us with a home for professional growth and the pursuit of excellence.
James R. Barnes is a shareholder of Burke & Casserly, a law firm in Albany, New York. He focuses his practice on elder law, trusts and estates, guardianship, special needs planning, business formation and succession planning. James is the Chair of the Fellows of The New York Bar Foundation. He also serves on the Executive Committee of NYSBA’s Elder Law and Special Needs Section.
