Are you a leader?

OCTLA leaders are needed for Justice Day in Sacramento on May 2 and 3 – margaritas will be served!

2016 May

As president of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, I always remind our board members, officers and even our members to be leaders – to always assume a leadership role.  This begs the question, “what does it mean to be a leader?”

Some people may think that a fancy title (i.e., President-Elect, Parliamentarian or Executive Committee Member) is required to be a leader. And if you think that’s a requirement, then you would be wrong. A leader is simply someone whom others consistently want to follow voluntarily, regardless of that person’s title or position.

And to be clear, it’s not about bossing people around either. Though there are many traits of a strong leader, the one that sticks out the most to me is that a strong OCTLA leader is thinking about the needs of clients and colleagues before their own.

One of the best ways to show people you are a strong leader is to lead by example.  Here’s a good start: On Tuesday, May 3, 2016, join our members and other attorneys from around the state in Sacramento for Justice Day !

Justice Day is our opportunity as leaders in our community to meet with state legislators and key staffers in their Capitol offices to lobby on behalf of our clients and colleagues. What better way to show off your leadership skills (i.e., thinking about the needs of your clients and your colleagues before your own) than to join the thirty or so OCTLA members alongside other attorneys from around the state who will storm the Capitol with a mission to protect the civil justice system and defend the rights of our clients.

OCTLA consistently has a strong showing every year at this event. We have a mixture of seasoned veterans and novices. Even if it is your first time, CAOC’s outstanding lobbying team will guide you through the process. Plus, you will always be paired with a group of attorneys who will have experience in lobbying.

If you do decide to be a real leader and attend the event, it’s not all work! On Monday, May 2, 2016 (the day before Justice Day), OCTLA hosts its legendary Fiesta & Margarita Mixer at Vallejo’s Mexican Restaurant! This is a perfect opportunity for our members and our invited guests to mix and mingle with state legislators and fellow trial lawyers. And when you add margaritas and tacos to the mix, well…that just makes for a good time to be had by all!

I look forward to seeing my Orange County Leaders and guests on Monday, May 2, 2016, at our Fiesta & Margarita Mixer at Vallejo’s and Tuesday, May 3, 2016, for Justice Day ! HOOAH!