June Editor's Column
by Jason T. Vail
It began when we were law students, and it continues to this day: We are reminded, encouraged, cajoled, and even sometimes sternly warned, of the importance of living a balanced life. As attorneys, we are told that we should find activities to offset our professional lives and our work so we do not find ourselves consumed by the stresses inherent in the practice of law. For many of us, this is often easier said than done; after all, the practice of law tends to frequently attract type-A, workaholic personalities, for whom relaxation is an alien concept. Nevertheless, the importance of a balanced life cannot be understated and is necessary for everyone, particularly lawyers. According to the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, attorneys and judges experience alcohol abuse problems at rates higher than that of the general population, and that stress from the practice of law and the pressure of high workloads frequently leads to chemical dependency and mental illness issues. Further, emotional stress and drug and alcohol abuse contribute to the majority of disciplinary actions against attorneys. In short, if we fail to find healthy ways to escape the pressures of our daily work, it becomes increasingly likely that we may fall into unhealthy escapist behaviors that could ultimately be detrimental to both our professional and personal lives.
As a member of the WYLD, you need not look far to find activities and opportunities that allow you to set aside your caseload and have fun. I invite you to look over the calendar of events listed here and suggest that you consider joining one or more of our list serves to stay on top of the various goings-on within the WYLD. In particular, the WYLD Membership Committee has frequent gatherings and events at which you can put your daily work firmly behind you and simply enjoy the collegiality of your fellow members of the Bar. Membership Committee activities are regularly showcased in De Novo, and you will find articles about this committee's recent events in this issue. And if socializing is not your thing, there are many other WYLD committees, as well as opportunities to connect with your local bar association YLD and its activities – again, all regularly featured in De Novo.
Also in this issue are three articles written by young lawyers, which describe the things they have discovered to help counterbalance their legal practices. Vanessa Vanderbrug writes about how her volunteer work with the King County Neighborhood Legal Clinics has allowed her to give back to the community while learning and growing as an attorney. Jennifer Karol recounts the challenges she faced when she decided to take up part-time teaching in addition to her busy practice. Finally, Betsy Vo and Heidi Ellerd provide helpful tips and insights on how to balance being a full-time new parent and full-time attorney. It is a tremendous benefit to the De Novo readership to have exceptional young lawyers willing to take the time to share their experiences, and I encourage more of you to consider contributing pieces of your own.
Finding and living a balanced life is indeed crucial, and is a skill we all need to learn as young lawyers. I hope that between the inspiring stories from fellow young lawyers in De Novo and the ample opportunities provided by the WYLD (which are both professionally beneficial and just plain fun), we can all find ways to strike an appropriate balance in our own lives.
Jason T. Vail is editor of De Novo. Mr. Vail is a staff attorney with the Seattle office of Northwest Justice Project, and is a staff attorney-legal editor with the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law's legal journal, Clearinghouse Review. He can be reached at 206.464.1519, or jasonv@nwjustice.org. All opinions are solely his own and not those of the WYLD, the WSBA, or De Novo.
--
WYLD Upcoming Meetings and Events
June 9 – Board of Trustees Meeting, Yakima
June 9-10 – ATJ and Bar Leaders Conference, Yakima
June 14 – De Novo Editorial Advisory Board Meeting, Noon at the WSBA
June 16 – Practice Conditions Forum at the Museum of History and Industry
June 20 – Membership Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. at the WSBA
June 21 – New Admittee Reception, 4 p.m. at the WSBA
Get Involved! Join a WYLD E-Mail List!
If you are interested in joining a WYLD committee or volunteering for one of programs, the best way to get information is by joining one of our many e-mail lists! To join one of the e-mail lists, please contact the WYLD Liaison, Amy O'Donnell at amyo@wsba.org.
The WYLD has list serves for the following groups:
ABA Committee
Committee for Diversity
CLE Committee
Editorial Advisory Board (EAB)
Membership Committee
Pro Bono/Public Service Committee
Practice Conditions Committee
Trial Advocacy Program
