Notes from the New Generation

Dear Counsel,

February asks us to love. It’s all around us, almost obnoxiously. Roses everywhere, balloons filling up stores. It’s a great reminder for us to show love to those in our lives. But in this profession where we’re called to critique, advise, and protect, no one really harps on what’s also just as important: loving yourself. 

Most of us chose this profession with a story to come served right up with it. We each come with a background, and a fire inside of us that inspired the reason we became attorneys. Most of us have a hope that we can make a change in our communities. At least for me, I’ve always wanted to make a change for the better in the lives of others, and I try to keep that momentum in the day-to-day work that I do. 

But then came the truth behind what practicing law looks like. And spoiler alert, it isn’t all the glitz and glamor that Kim Kardashian paints it to be in her Hulu legal drama Alls Fair. However, the phrase isn’t too far from the truth ‘all’s fair in love and war’ they say, and sometimes, practicing law feels like that in reality. We fight for justice, we fight for what’s right, and sometimes we even fight ourselves. 

So why can’t we take a step back for just a slight moment and give ourselves some grace? 

The days can be long and difficult; self doubt sometimes rears its ugly head in. But loving this profession, loving yourself as an attorney doesn’t mean your job is any easier, but instead it’s about embracing who you are, counselor. An advocate, a friend, a light in dark times. And no one said you don’t have to be that for yourself sometimes.

Personally, I’m learning daily as a new lawyer and a new mom that showing up with intention oftentimes matters more than showing up with perfection. Even though the little perfectionist that lives inside each of us makes that difficult.

So counselor, as you and I work through the quiet heartbreaks of being a new attorney. Let’s be a little kinder to ourselves and take a step back to remind that little law student who once dreamed of having the title Esq. at the end of their name that “they did that.” Here you are, living the dream of becoming an attorney, something we all couldn’t wait for at one point. Be proud of yourself, because becoming an attorney truly is a journey that many set out on but few complete. 

With that, my call for each of you this month is to love yourself, just a tad bit louder than you did yesterday. We are the new generation. A generation who truly understands the difference it makes when you lead with real empathy, resilience, and love. A generation who really can see that loving yourself isn’t weakness at all, but in reality is the foundation to a healthy career. Because when you look in the mirror and can honor the attorney you see staring right back at you, only then can you unlock the truest potential of the attorney this profession has been waiting for.  

Until next time,

Steph, Esq.