OCBA UPDATE: Beginnings

By James G. Derian Our 2013-2014 fiscal year begins on July 1, and I'd like to start my term as president by introducing myself and sharing with you what led me to get involved and stay involved with the Oakland County Bar Association. When I graduated from Wayne Law School in June 1981 and became a member of the Michigan and federal bars later that year, our country was in a severe economic recession with runaway inflation. I felt fortunate to land a job at a well-established Mt. Clemens law firm, along with one of my Wayne Law Review colleagues. He got a business/transactional position there and I took the place of a recently resigned litigation associate who had been for the most part defending automobile negligence and insurance coverage cases. The firm assigned me half of the recently departed associate's 100-plus cases and virtually every week after that I was assigned another newly filed case to defend, until I reached the 100-case mark myself. The firm tried a lot of these cases on a regular basis in the circuit and district courts of Macomb County. At the time, it didn't always feel like such a great way for me to start my first two years of law practice, but in hindsight I wouldn't change a thing. Not only did I end up getting first-chair jury trial experience and other good training, but I also made some lifelong friends and became accepted into the closely knit Macomb bar. Learning to how to try jury cases and making new friends are good things, of course, but I share this story with you because it was my experience as a newly accepted member of the Macomb County Bar Association that sold me on the value of reaching out and getting involved with one's legal community. In some ways, becoming a member of the Macomb bar felt a bit like joining a fraternity. The Macomb bar was and still is a relatively cohesive community of lawyers. But I could not have fit in and become accepted into the fold there if I had not been led and accompanied by several older members of my law firm who regularly attended these monthly bar meetings. They introduced me around, included me in their discussions and, best of all, the firm paid for my bar dues. I'm sure there was some bar association business being transacted at these meetings, and I know the MCBA had some active committees and did many good works. But, honestly, what really left the biggest impression on me and led me into the fold was the camaraderie, the networking and the chance to get to know the judges outside the courtroom. I looked forward to going to these monthly meetings. The people there were fun to talk to and be with. When I left Mt. Clemens after two years to join a business-oriented law firm in Oakland County, I was fortunate to land at a firm whose chief litigation partner was a strong believer in bar association involvement for all the firm's lawyers, particularly the litigation associates like me. If it wasn't for this partner's support and leading example, I might not have even joined the OCBA and, if I did, I might not have remained a member for very long. Here I have to say it was a much more difficult and lengthy process for me to feel accepted into the OCBA community than it was in Macomb County. Some of that was no doubt a function of the sheer size and diversity of the OCBA's membership. But, rightly or wrongly, some of it felt like a cliquish, unwelcoming atmosphere to me. Other newcomers have also occasionally complained of feeling left out and unwelcome. One way we're trying to address this at the OCBA is by recruiting volunteer directors and committee chairs to greet people at meetings and offer to be helpful in some way. But every one of us can make a difference in this regard by simply looking out for our new associates and trying to be more open and friendly to new people. It takes a little effort, but it's not that hard and it can be a worthwhile experience. I've found it can also be a rewarding experience in many ways to get involved with the OCBA at a leadership level, starting with committee involvement. The OCBA provides many opportunities for lawyers, particularly young lawyers, to gain leadership experience. All you have to do is look at the New Lawyers Committee to see what tremendous leadership training opportunities there are in this organization. And there are many more such opportunities too, if you look around. I view getting involved with the OCBA as a career investment. Not only are we enriched by the many available avenues for learning and growing as legal professionals, but we are also presented with unparalleled opportunities for networking with other attorneys and getting to know the Oakland County circuit and district court judges on a first-hand basis. Equally important, we have a chance to boost our quality of life as attorneys by working in a friendly, cooperative atmosphere with the best and brightest lawyers in Oakland County to accomplish something for the bar. And, in the process, we have a chance to earn the recognition and respect of our peers. Last but not least, the OCBA provides us with opportunities to have the inner satisfaction of making a difference by giving something back to the community at large. So, these are some of the experiences and opportunities that have drawn me to the OCBA and kept me in the fold. Next month, I'll tell you about a new law-related education initiative the OCBA will be undertaking. This program will provide opportunities for volunteer judges and lawyers to go into a public or charter Pontiac school for an hour or two and take part in teaching about the U.S. Constitution to seventh- and eighth-grade students. More on that next time... Every month during the coming year, I'll be sharing a few of my thoughts with you on these pages. But I'd really like to hear from you this year too. What do you want and expect from our bar? What do you like and dislike about the OCBA? What would you like to see changed? What do you like and dislike about the things I say in this column? Your views matter to me. E-mail me at: james.derian@delphi.com. ------------ James G. Derian, corporate counsel for Delphi Automotive Systems LLC, is the 81st president of the Oakland County Bar Association. Published: Thu, Aug 22, 2013