We each have an opportunity to inspire one another and the next generation of attorneys.
Our primary role as an attorney is to be a zealous legal advocate and adviser. This is an age-old expectation.
However, our profession demands more of us as members of a community (not just the legal community). A part of taking care of our clients’ legal needs is to understand their other needs; to be a part of something greater than self.
I have had the privilege to see these qualities in so many of my colleagues. It is inspiring. For each one of us that steps up beyond requirement, it inspires 10 more to do so.
Whether through work with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, volunteering for community service projects or taking on the specific pro bono needs of a client, we each have an opportunity to inspire one another and the next generation of attorneys.
Whatever your cause, which there are many, we are all called to serve.
Of course, most endeavors require fundraising. The uncomfortable feeling of asking others for their time or financial resources is a necessity.
We have a special platform as attorneys and legal professionals. When we speak, people often listen merely because of the letters after our names or how much we charge for our time.
My challenge to you is simple. Make a difference with the gifts you have been given. It is easy for us to get strapped down into our daily lives and focus on business. It is easy for us to say, “someone else will do it.”
In reality, if we do not, we are ignoring our larger purpose as a profession.
I have been fortunate to serve through the Tristyn Bailey Foundation, among others. The foundation seeks to encourage youth through four pillars of need: Victim advocacy; education on the dangers of social media to youth and their parents; self-defense for young women; and character development of children.
Through my service with the foundation and the family of Tristyn Bailey, I’ve seen lives and laws changed. Communities that were once separated by drastic economic and geographic differences have come together with a common goal of protecting and improving the lives of children, in a way not seen before in Northeast Florida.
By the time this article is published, the Tristyn Bailey Foundation will have completed its second annual golf tournament and family fun day. In partnership with many of you reading this, and many other businesses in the community, it is designed to bring families together to engage with one another to see what the idea of community really means.
On Feb. 1, 2025, the foundation will host its second annual gala to bring more awareness and funds to these causes. If you are not already involved in advocacy outside of your regular practice, I encourage you to check out the foundation. You can find more information about Tristyn and the foundation at www.TBStrong.org.
As television journalist Tom Brokaw once said, “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.” How will you make a difference?
Kathryn Stanfill is an attorney at The Hinson Law Firm where she practices estate planning, guardianship and probate, including probate matters involving personal injury and wrongful death.