Bench & Bar November/December 2025

2. SEPARATE YOUR VALUE FROM YOUR TITLE Your worth is not defined by the rate you bill an hour or your title. Morrison’s reminder—“[y]ou are not the work you do”—is a call to preserve your identity. Sure, we are all proud to be lawyers, but do not be afraid to be “more than a lawyer.” Cultivate interests outside the law. Stay connected to people and places that remind you of who

you are beyond the office. 3. DO THE WORK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR KYLE R. BUNNELL is the chair of the Young Law yers Division of the KBA and is also a member of the KBA’s Publication Committee. He is an attorney in the Lexington office of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP where he focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, as well as bad faith insurance, equine law, and product liability. In addition to his bar service, he is active in the community. He is the vice-chair of the University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law Alumni Association and serves on the board of the Children’s Law Center. WELL—BUT KNOW WHY YOU’RE DOING IT Excellence should be a personal standard, not just a professional expectation. Whether you’re drafting a motion or preparing for trial, do it with pride—but also with purpose. Ask yourself: Are you learning? Growing? Serving justice? If not, it may be time to reassess your path. You should never be afraid of having difficult conservations with yourself when your cup is not full. 4. REMEMBER WHERE YOU LIVE “You don’t live there. You live here.” Morrison’s father wasn’t just talking about geography—he was talking about belonging. Your real life is with your people: family, friends, mentors, and communities. Let those relationships ground you and always nurture them. They are your true home. In conclusion, you must always strive to be the person you are. A law degree changes the way you think, read, and argue – but it does not change the molecular makeup or the essence of who you are. The law is a noble profession, but it is not your whole life. As you build your career, never stop building or fostering your character. As you meet obligations, honor your boundaries. And as you do the work, never forget the person you are. Let Toni Morrison’s words—and the oath you swear as you enter this profession—always guide you—not just in how you work, but in how you live.

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