CBA Record January-February 2022

Goldgehn would temper Curcio’s advice. He warned of the danger of burn- out, especially among the bigger firms where there is a heavy emphasis on billable hours. “There is no time to enjoy what you have done or what you have accomplished.” Goldgehn said. He advises lawyers to not forget their family or other interests: “You can’t make it all-consuming. It is a long ride.” So where is the balance, and how do you find your way in a demanding profession? A Calling Back in the 1950s, only a small percentage of women and minorities were enrolled in law school or members of the bar. This presented a challenge when we wanted to represent a wide demographic of senior attorneys for this article. When Sharon L. King attended Val- paraiso University School of Law, she was the only female law student, and the faculty was all male. King said her legal career began when she graduated from a women’s college (Mount Holyoke) and became fully aware of the lack of opportunities available for women in the workplace. Although she was in the vast minority in law school, she said she had a supportive law school experience and graduated first in her class. She found, though, that law firms generally were not hiring women. However, she said she found “good fortune” when she was accepted to the Attorney General’s Honor Program at the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. where she briefed and argued federal tax cases in United States Courts of Appeals through- out the country. When asked about her life lessons, King quotedMaya Angelou: You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you. Judge William Bauer served in the United States Army from 1945 to 1947. He served as a DuPage County Assis- tant State’s Attorney (1952-1956), First Assistant State’s Attorney (1956-1958), and State’s Attorney (1959-1964). From 1964 to 1970, he served as a judge on the Illinois Circuit Court for the 18th Judicial Circuit in DuPage County. In 1970, he was appointed United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. In 1971, he was appointed as a judge on the United

States District Court for the Northern Dis- trict of Illinois. Since 1975, he has served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (Chief Judge, 1986-1993). When asked to impart a life lesson from his legal career, Judge Bauer said, “Face every problem separately, which means take life as it comes.” On the topic of making career choices, Judge Bauer said, “Certain decisions are difficult to make; planning your profes- sional life is not. Once you decide to be a lawyer, that’s the last decision you need to make. Deciding to take a job is not a problem, just take what you like.” Edgar Blumenfeld , a Navy Veteran of World War II and a sole practitioner for 60 years, agrees. Blumenfeld said, “It is imperative that a lawyer practices in an area of law that they like and that holds inter- est for them. Otherwise, you are spending countless hours doing something that is not suitable for you.” Looking back on a career concentrating on litigation, mostly in chancery court, Blumenfeld said, “As a sole practitioner, there were times when it seemed that prac- ticing in a firm might be a better idea, but ultimately, there was a great deal of pride in creating my own career and business while maintaining my independence.” Sidney Axelrod’s legal career began as a member of the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He then went into private practice, which continues today in the Circuit Court of Cook County Domestic Relations Division. Reflecting on his career, Axelrod recommends that before hanging out one’s own shingle, attorneys should gain work experience with a small law firm in an area of interest. Also, he said, attorneys should try to be as social as possible. Having a broad network may not only lead to business opportunities, but it is also a way to enhance your career both personally and professionally. DoingWell by Doing Good While practicing at theDOJ, King obtained an LLM inTaxation fromGeorgetown Law School. She then joined Isham, Lincoln & Beale as an associate before being named partner. She retired as a partner from Sidley Austin. A constant throughout her career has been her involvement in bar associa- tion and pro bono activities. “A law degree provides you with many opportunities to

JudgeWilliam Bauer

Sidney Axelrod

Joseph Stone

Newton Minow

Stanley Block

Ronald Domksy

22 January/February 2022