Article of Interest

LeadershipSBOT: An Interview with the Class of 2018
By: the LeadershipSBOT Class of 2018

LeadershipSBOT is a program that identifies a diverse group of Texas lawyers who have been identified by their peers as leaders and exposes them to other leaders, TYLA, and the State Bar of Texas with the long-term goal of increasing diversity and engagement in leadership of the State Bar of Texas.

Over the past year, the LeadershipSBOT class of 2018 had the opportunity to network with each other and members of TYLA and the State Bar of Texas; we participated in activities designed to give us a better understanding of our leadership styles, strengths, and weaknesses; and we learned about activities of and how to participate in different sections and committees of the State Bar.

The 2017-2018 class of LeadershipSBOT reached over a thousand students with two programs: I Was the First. You Can Be a Lawyer Too!, a video series focused on pioneers from specific demographics that overcame adversity to have successful legal careers, and What Do Lawyers Do?, which provides practical information about scholarships, the LSAT, and the path to becoming a lawyer. 

1. What was your favorite part of LeadershipSBOT?

Rekha Roarty, Real Estate, Austin, Baylor Law School

Without question, the absolute highlight of the program for me was meeting other young lawyers from across the state. I made friends with so many people who I may not have ever met otherwise but who are now people I text on a regular basis. Professionally speaking, since my firm has a statewide practice, it has been valuable to know people when I have to travel for work to places where I previously would not have known anyone. I’ve also been able to refer cases to my LSBOT classmates and hire my classmates as local counsel.

Jacqueline Franklin, Barker & Fancher, Insurance Defense, Corpus Christi, Thurgood Marshall School of Law

My favorite part of LeadershipSBOT was meeting so many diverse young lawyers from all over the state. Living in a city like Corpus Christi, we have a small community of young lawyers. My local young lawyers association is always looking for new ways to engage our members and strengthen retention. Many of the individuals I met are also involved in their local bar association. Through LeadershipSBOT, I was able to exchange ideas with other class members on some of the challenges their local bar association also faces, and how they combat those obstacles.

2. What is something you learned from LeadershipSBOT?

Rekha Roarty, Real Estate, Austin, Baylor Law School

Previously, I’d always thought of “the bar” as some unattainable entity. It was cool to learn that the bar really does want members to be involved and values member input—not just from some lawyers but from all lawyers, whether newly licensed, licensed for 50 years, male, female, small city, big city, etc. The bar has lots to offer to its members and members should get involved.

Daniel N. Lopez, Cameron County Commissioners Court – Civil Legal Division – Litigation Counsel, Brownsville, Thurgood Marshall School of Law

Invest in your people. Your organization will yield large dividends. People are what drive our profession. As leaders we must empower our team members to see the best within themselves and help them work towards that. Communicate that you support them and their professional growth. When the inevitable mistake occurs, rather than get upset, ask for the resolution. Once the situation is handled, ask them to review their own performance, see where things went wrong, and ask for the fix to avoid the same mistake in the future.

3. What did you learn about your class members?

Austin Stevenson, Assistant City Attorney, McAllen, SMU Law

With so many different backgrounds, practice areas, ages, passions, and personalities, it would be easy to get lost or disconnect, but I learned that even the most diverse group can forge true bonds in a short period of time and work together to make a difference. 

Rekha Roarty, Real Estate, Austin, Baylor Law School

Everyone in our class was a leader but showed their leadership in different ways. I learned from them that leadership can be shown in different ways.

4. What advice would you give to someone who is interested in being part of a LeadershipSBOT class?      

Desiree M. Bedasa, Austin, University of Texas at Austin

Be open. You are not really going to know what LeadershipSBOT is about and how it will change you personally and professionally until you begin the program. But, once you complete the program, you will have learned more about who you are as a person and how to better work with others. 

Austin Stevenson, Assistant City Attorney, McAllen, SMU Law

Apply, apply, and reapply! It was such a great experience and even if you are not accepted your first year, or the dates do not work for you, apply and commit. Make sure you are doing LeadershipSBOT in a year where you are not overly committed to other out-of-work activities. This program is amazing and deserves your full attention and focused commitment. I promise you will get more than you give. 

5. What are your plans for service in the bar for this next year? 

Michael Razeeq, Shell Oil Company (commercial law), Houston, Tulane Law School

Over the next year, I will be an advisory member of the State Bar’s Public Affairs Committee and am looking to become more involved with the International Law Section.

Daniel N. Lopez, Cameron County Commissioners Court – Civil Legal Division – Litigation Counsel, Brownsville, Thurgood Marshall School of Law

I am currently serving as an advisory member of the State Bar’s Administration of Rules of Evidence Committee as well as the president-elect for the Cameron County Young Lawyers Association in which I will be serving under one of my LeadershipSBOT class members. I plan to contribute as much as I can to help each organization meet its goals through the application of their mission statements.  Additionally I will remain a local contact for the State Bar and am ready to serve at its pleasure.

Desiree M. Bedasa, Austin, University of Texas at Austin

I will be serving on the Legal Services to the Poor-Civil Matters Committee next year. 

Austin Stevenson, Assistant City Attorney, McAllen, SMU Law

I am thrilled and humbled to serve as an advisory member to the Diversity in the Profession committee to identify how the State Bar can partner with educational institutions and employers to encourage and promote talented, non-traditional individuals to pursue a legal education and career. 

Matthias Kleinsasser, Partner, Forshey & Prostok LLP, Corporate restructuring and bankruptcy, Fort Worth, University of Texas School of Law

I am an associate member of a committee that coordinates interaction between the State Bar and local bar associations.

Teresa Messer, Immigration Law, Houston, South Texas College of Law Houston

I will be serving on the SBOT Laws Relating to Immigration and Nationality Committee. 

Views and opinions expressed in eNews are those of their authors and not necessarily those of the Texas Young Lawyers Association or the State Bar of Texas.