It’s probably fair to say that each attorney wants to be competent in his or her area of practice, but how can you set yourself apart in a particular area of law and take your practice to the next level? Having just reached my ninth year as an elder and special needs law attorney and my third year as a Board-Certified Specialist in elder law, I’ve recently reflected on what factors of my practice and education have supported developing a broad knowledge base in this area of law.

One factor of my practice and volunteer involvement that cannot be understated is with the NCBA Elder and Special Needs Law Section. Early on in my practice, a former colleague volunteered me to present recent developments at the Elder and Special Needs Law Symposium. Presenting in front of such a large group seemed a daunting task, particularly since I was certain that I would forget the entirety of my research. I was also certain that everyone in the audience would know more than me.

Much to my surprise, I found the section to be warm, welcoming, and supportive. After my presentation I received great feedback, inquiries about the details of some cases, and participated in engaging discussions about the recent developments. I went on to present recent developments at the Symposium for several years and presented on other topics more recently. The section is always looking for help with CLEs, whether it’s presenting or planning the events.

It was through this participation at the Symposium that a section council member asked if I had interest in assisting with the section’s newsletter (which is now this blog). That newsletter committee involvement led to serving on the section’s council, which then led to becoming an Officer of the section, culminating in my service as Chair of the section for the 2020-2021 NCBA fiscal year.

Involvement with the section at each of these stages provides me with a multitude of benefits. By presenting at CLEs, I stay up-to-date on recent changes in the law and important cases. Attending CLEs, volunteering with the council, and serving as an officer with the section allows me to meet other elder and special needs law attorneys throughout the state. Those other attorneys are a tremendous network to have, as they can assist in substantive areas of law, serving as sort of a “brain trust” for unique issues that arise. This network of other elder and special needs law attorneys through the state are also excellent referral sources (both to and from).

What does this mean for you?

Volunteer. Participate. Present. If you want to take your practice to the next level, get involved with your NCBA section. In exchange for your investment of volunteer time, the benefits you get in return will be tenfold and ultimately expose you to an invaluable network of colleagues throughout the state.

How do you get involved?

The easiest way to get involved is to reach out to an existing officer or council member of your section. If you already know someone serving in one of those positions, reach out to them directly. If not, reach out to the chair of the section who will be best equipped to identify areas where the section could use your help. You may also reach out to me directly, and I am happy to help connect you with the right people.

[Editor’s note: The Chair of the section the 2021-22 bar year is Colin Austin. Please feel free to reach out to Colin, Kathleen, me (John Potter), or any other council member if you are interested in getting involved in the section. I personally have found these folks wonderful colleagues and a joy to work with.]

January 10, 2022/by ElderLaw