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President's Page by Emily Ellison

With the arrival of March and Spring just around the corner, we are well underway into 2024 at the BCBA. Since the start of 2024, we have already held several fun activities and meaningful educational programs and events, including bowling in January, pickleball in February, numerous informative and useful CLEs, and a CBA Presidential lunch visit in January.

At January’s CBA Presidential lunch visit with Judge Nathaniel Baca, we had a meaningful discussion about some of the challenges of practicing law and how representing clients can take an emotional, mental, and physical toll on attorneys. I had the pleasure of being seated next to Judge Baca. Along with myself, we were seated with two other family law attorneys where we discussed how family law especially can cause secondary trauma for attorneys, as it often involves dealing with people going through one of the most difficult times in their lives who can be in challenging emotional states. We all agreed that taking care of our own well-being is essential to helping others. Someone made the comment that it’s like the saying when you fly: “Secure your own oxygen mask first before assisting others.”

As attorneys, especially in litigation, we can forget the importance of securing our own oxygen mask first. I don’t know about you, but I feel I may not have been securing my own oxygen mask first as much as I should have. For me, the past year has been the busiest my law practice has seen since my law partner/husband and I started our practice in 2018. While it’s a good problem to have, focusing on self-care has not always been a priority. Staying busy for extended periods, without taking care of ourselves, can lead to burnout. In my experience, practicing law is a uniquely stressful job. As an attorney, you cannot guarantee a certain outcome to your client. In court, the outcome is always uncertain, and, often, you must tell the client the likely outcome in court is not the outcome they like or what they expected. There can be difficulties with opposing counsel. Sometimes, it feels like everyone is against you—opposing counsel, the Court, and even your client.

Securing our own oxygen mask first can look like practicing self-care. Some examples of self-care for me include exercising, meditating, spending time in nature, playing with and walking my dogs, reading a book for pleasure, spending quality time with family and friends, participating in sports and hobbies, doing something that involves creativity, practicing gratitude, and being a part of a support network or community.

At the BCBA, we have a number of exciting activities and programs planned in March and beyond, many of which include connecting with others, hobbies, and playing sports. On March 7, 2024, the BCBA is hosting Speed Dating with the Judges, which will be held virtually. There will be breakout rooms with the judges that will rotate, so you will get to meet with multiple judges. We hope you can join us and get to know the judges in the 20th Judicial District, who we are grateful to for donating their time to strengthen the bench-bar connection.

We’ve found that members really enjoy social and activities-based events. On March 9, 2024, the BCBA will be hosting an event at the newly renovated Casa Bonita. The Justice for All Ball will be held on April 6, 2024, which is a fundraiser that benefits Colorado Legal Services and a great chance to meet and catch up with fellow BCBA members while supporting a good cause. If you’re interested in playing softball with the BCBA, we will soon be sending out information on how sign up and join the BCBA’s softball team, which plays from May to August.

Lastly, the BCBA is looking for several new Board members. More information will be sent out in the next month or so. Interviews for BCBA Board positions will be held on May 2.

I hope to see you at some of our events and programs this Spring. And remember, secure your own oxygen mask first.


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3269 28th Street

Boulder, CO 80301

(303) 440.4758

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