Robert S. Clark Federal Bar Association April 25, 2014 FBA LEADERSHIP: Achieve Success in Chapters, Sections, and Divisions by Empowering the “Extended Board” Federal Bar Association

Recognize Your “Window of Opportunity” Investing 5 minutes today will save 5 hours later. The first 30 days of momentum will carry you forward throughout the year. Vision is the key to leadership, and begins NOW.

Federal Bar Association

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up someplace else.” –Yogi Berra

Federal Bar Association VISION “The vision of an organization acts as its magnetic north. It possesses the extraordinary ability to attract human energy. It invites and draws others to it by the force of its own appeal.” Posner and Kouzes, The Leadership Challenge, at 118.

Federal Bar Association Week One Envision and Define Success Week Two Identify Leadership Targets Week Three Make the Calls and Invite your Board Candidates Week Four Kick-off Organizational Meeting The “Thirty Day Formula” to Success

Federal Bar Association Envision roles that others must play in the short and long-term success of the section or division. Prepare yourself to communicate the vision simply, clearly, and often. Envision and articulate the role of your chapter, section, or division and the difference the FBA can make The FBA is truly “federal” in its structure, i.e., both a national and local presence with importance Week One - Envision and Define Success (3 hours)

Federal Bar Association 9 Private Victories Precede Public Success

Federal Bar Association Expect the best of ourselves “Everyday courage has few witnesses. But yours is no less noble because no drum beats for you and no crowds shout your name.” –Robert Louis Stevenson

Federal Bar Association VISION: What will set your FBA Chapter, Section, or Division apart from other organizations?

Federal Bar Association Law is the Foundation for a Free and Democratic Society “Laws are the wise restraints that make us free.” 12

Federal Bar Association Law is the Foundation for a Free and Democratic Society Rule of Law depends on –Independent judiciary –Due Process –Integrity of federal legal system 13

Federal Bar Association Law is the Foundation for a Free and Democratic Society Societal stresses test our collective commitment to the Rule of Law Public and private turmoil can challenge the application of foundational principles What can we do to support the Rule of Law in our community and nation?

Federal Bar Association Law is the Foundation for a Free and Democratic Society Tocqueville was... interested in the cultural impact of the law and its institutions. The notion of law itself permeated American cultural understanding. J. Thomas Wren, Inventing Leadership, pp , quoting Democracy in America, 1:93- 94

Federal Bar Association Law is the Foundation for a Free and Democratic Society “In America,” [Tocqueville] observed, “... it may be said that no one renders obedience to man, but to justice and law.” This American devotion to law created nobility in American aspirations equivalent to civic virtue.... If such commitment to the greater good “be connected with the thoughts, the passions, and the daily habits of life, it may be consolidated into a durable and rational sentiment.” In this way respect for the law transcended mere obedience and became the basis for virtuous citizenship. J. Thomas Wren, Inventing Leadership, pp , quoting Democracy in America, 1:

Federal Bar Association Munich, April 1933

Federal Bar Association 18 Dr. Martin Luther King drew an important distinction between obligations that are enforceable and those that are unenforceable. He stated: “the former are regulated by the codes of society and the vigorous implementation of law enforcement agencies. Breaking these obligations, spelled out on thousands of pages in law books, has filled numerous prisons. But unenforceable obligations are beyond the reach of the laws of society. They concern inner attitudes, genuine person-to-person regulations, and expressions of compassion which law books cannot regulate and jails cannot rectify. Such obligations are met by one’s commitment to an inner law, written on the heart.” December 27, 1962, speech at Vanderbilt Law School

Federal Bar Association John Fletcher Moulton [English Barrister and Judge] “The real greatness of a nation, its true civilization, is measured by the extent of [the people's willingness] to be obedient to the unenforceable.”

Federal Bar Association Law is the Foundation for a Free and Democratic Society “Materialism, among all nations, is a dangerous disease of the human mind, but it is especially to be dreaded among a democratic people because... this taste, if it become excessive, soon disposes men to believe that all is matter only; and... hurries them on with mad impatience... [in a] fatal circle within which democratic nations are driven round.” Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Chapter XV.

Federal Bar Association VISION: What will set your FBA Chapter, Section, or Division apart from other organizations? Provide service to the profession and justice system Enable mutual access among judges and attorneys Improve professionalism and collegiality Offer focused and high-quality CLE Provide a newsletter that is substantive and valuable Honor and recognize exemplary judges and attorneys

Federal Bar Association FBA VISION The Federal Bar Association will be recognized as the premier bar association serving the federal practitioner and judiciary.

Federal Bar Association FBA MISSION To strengthen the federal legal system and administration of justice by serving the interests and the needs of the federal practitioner, both public and private, the federal judiciary, and the public they serve.

Federal Bar Association Week Two - Identify Leadership Targets (5 hours) A strong board is the foundation for success Delegation and empowerment are keys Don’t limit yourself to FBA members A “Presidential Selection” is a powerful motivator Work within your own bylaws Recognize the value of a leadership “ladder”

Federal Bar Association Identify your core groups of constituency and a good candidate from each group

Federal Bar Association Liberty Science Center Jersey City, NJ

Federal Bar Association ENTHUSIASTIC LEADERSHIP General Eisenhower, North Africa, Nov. 1942: “Optimism and pessimism are infectious and they spread more rapidly from the head downward than in any other direction. Optimism has a most extraordinary effect upon all with whom the commander comes in contact. With this clear realization, I firmly determined that my mannerisms and speech in public would always reflect the cheerful certainly of victory—that any pessimism and discouragement I might ever feel would be reserved for my pillow.”

Federal Bar Association If you don’t know good candidates, seek input and ask for suggestions from judges, former board members, senior leadership of law firms, law school professors, etc. Find at least one “Bright Star”: a future leader who will join the FBA and the Board. Typically, late 20’s to early 40’s. Ambitious, energetic, dependable, and shares the Vision.

Federal Bar Association

Board positions and alignment. Consider:

Federal Bar Association Week Three - Make the Calls and Invite Your Candidates (3 hours) , or print and hand deliver basic FBA material along with a personal note. Call and be an advocate for the FBA: Share the Vision Flattery doesn’t hurt: “Judge Jones recommended you as a fine lawyer.” Be clear in what you are asking. Call continuing Board members to express gratitude, share the Vision, and obtain a clear re- commitment.

Federal Bar Association Simplify the duties for your candidates Average time required = 2-3 hours per month plus attending FBA events If your budget allows, board members should receive free admission to all events Four basic job functions: –Join the FBA, if not already a member –Attend monthly board meetings (12-18 hrs/yr) –Take on one major responsibility or event (8-10 hrs/yr) –Submit one short newsletter piece during the year (3-4 hrs/yr)

Federal Bar Association 33 Keep in mind the Opportunities & Benefits the FBA Offers Large “social capital” – i.e., opportunity to develop relationships with judiciary and prominent attorneys Relationship building / networking “Big branding opportunity” Mentoring Professional development

Federal Bar Association Week Four - Kick-off Organizational Meeting (2 hrs planning; 90 min. for mtg.) WORK ON THE AGENDA WELL IN ADVANCE PREPARE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: A roster with full contact info Short written summary of the Vision List of roles and duties A “wish list” calendar, with tentative assignments for each event Assign the treasurer to prepare a draft budget in advance (based on the calendar) Consider “Dropbox” or another means of sharing that will enhance access to key information

Federal Bar Association Consider some of the following when preparing the calendar and budget: Monthly board meetings Annual Federal Practice or Subject Matter Seminar Quarterly or monthly CLE luncheons Occasional CLE speech from elected or appointed officials Quarterly newsletter with submission deadlines and publication dates Annual recognition banquet Judicial Service Award Distinguished Attorney Award Appreciation to outgoing President Recognition of retiring Court personnel

Federal Bar Association Your total time invested in the first 30 days: 15 hours

Federal Bar Association Keep the Momentum Rolling for the Remaining 11 Months Communicate Early and Often –Set up a group address for and use it Always use an agenda, keep meetings focused, and end on time –Regular board meetings should not exceed 60 minutes –One key role of a leader is to prepare for meetings and have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish before the meeting begins.

Federal Bar Association Make sure regular meetings happen. Delegate to your president-elect if you can’t attend. Price your events so FBA members can pay national dues at “no cost”. Obtain useful lists from the clerk’s office –Attorneys with “active cases” in federal court Use newsletters as a recruitment tool and as a service to the profession –Budget for distribution beyond membership.

Federal Bar Association Find a board member who can make a conference room and/or secretarial assistance available for board meetings, lunches, and other events. Involve leaders of national board, other FBA entities, Circuit Vice Presidents –Invite others to attend board meetings and events –Add to your group list –Ask for input and advice on a regular basis

Federal Bar Association BELIEVE IN YOUR ABILITY TO CULTIVATE LEADERSHIP SKILLS General Eisenhower, 1943, to his son at West Point: “The only quality that can be developed by studious reflection and practice is leadership.”

Federal Bar Association THE FOUNDATION FOR LEADERSHIP IS INTEGRITY People of integrity do the right thing not because it's convenient or because they have no choice. They choose the right thing because their character permits no less. Conducting yourself with integrity has three parts: Separating what's right from what's wrong. Always acting according to what you know to be right even at personal cost. Saying openly that you're acting on your understanding of right versus wrong. –United States Army Leadership Field Manual

Federal Bar Association HOW A PERFECT GAME ILLUSTRATES CHARACTER

Federal Bar Association DELEGATION AND EMPOWERMENT: The Art of Motivating Others General Eisenhower: “The art of leadership is deciding what to do, and then getting others to want to do it.”

Federal Bar Association EMPOWERMENT AND TEAMWORK Stephen Ambrose: “In the decades I’ve been studying [WW II], I’ve learned that the essential part of the American victory was the men in its Army. Specifically, they gave it a special spirit, teamwork.... No other army emphasizes democracy as we do, because we have learned and know that democracies produce great armies.”

Federal Bar Association EMPOWERMENT AND TEAMWORK “The American Spirit includes the freedom to improvise, to make decisions and carry them out, for all to become leaders. When Hitler declared war on the United States, he was betting that German soldiers, raised up in the Nazi Youth, would always outfight American soldiers, brought up in the Boy Scouts. He lost that bet. The Boy Scouts had been taught how to figure their way out of their own problems... ”

Federal Bar Association EMPOWERMENT AND TEAMWORK “In the German, Japanese, and Soviet armies, when the platoon leader, usually a lieutenant, got killed or wounded, the private, corporals, and even sergeants waited for orders.... In the American Army, the natural leader among the enlisted men, whether a private or a sergeant, would step forward and say, ‘This is what we will do’ and it was done.” –Stephen Ambrose

Federal Bar Association Your Leadership Mantra Share the Vision Listen and accept suggestions Delegate and empower Follow through Express appreciation Success is inevitable if you follow this template. Guaranteed.

Federal Bar Association EXERCISE 1: WHAT IS YOUR VISION? DRAFT A SHORT STATEMENT OF THE ROLE YOU WANT AND BELIEVE YOUR CHAPTER, SECTION OR DIVISION CAN PLAY IN SERVING ITS MEMBERS AND THE PROFESSION (AND / OR LIST YOUR OBJECTIVES FOR THE NEXT YEAR)

Federal Bar Association EXERCISE 2: Identify a board candidate from each group your section or division is likely to serve

Federal Bar Association If your list of prospective board members is not long enough, write down the names of judges, former board members, senior leadership of law firms, law school professors, etc., from whom you will seek suggestions. Who will be your successor in 5 to 10 years?

Federal Bar Association EXERCISE 3: Align leaders in suitable Board positions

Federal Bar Association EXERCISE 4: Outline a tentative calendar for use in your Kick-off Board Meeting Monthly board meetings Annual Federal Practice Seminar Quarterly or monthly CLE luncheons Occasional CLE speech from elected or appointed officials Quarterly newsletter with submission deadlines and publication dates Annual recognition banquet