CBA Record July-August 2026

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nikki Marcotte Laurie & Brennan, LLP ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anne Ellis 2E Services, LLC SUMMARY JUDGMENTS EDITOR Daniel A. Cotter Aronberg Goldgehn YLS JOURNAL EDITORS Katherine Hanson First District Appellate Court George Schaller Duane Morris LLP CBA RECORD

EDITOR’S BRIEFCASE

BY NIKKI MARCOTTE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Bridging the Generational Divide with Mentorship and Leadership

T he legal profession has always been built on the transfer of knowledge from one generation to the next. Not so long ago, young lawyers learned by observ ing experienced attorneys in action—sitting through lengthy cattle calls and watching courtroom advocacy, listening on calls with clients and opposing counsel, attending depo sitions, and asking questions along the way. These experiences taught young lawyers how to engage with the profession, build relation ships, and develop practical skills that cannot be learned from a textbook. It was also a time when initiative was often rewarded with responsibility, guidance, and mentorship.

Daniel J. Berkowitz Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston & Zimet LLP Jacob B. Berger Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC Amy Cook Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Anthony F. Fata Kirby McInerney LLP Meredith A. Geller Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Judge Jasmine Villaflor Hernandez Circuit Court of Cook County Kaitlin King Hart David Carson LLP Theodore Kontopoulos Internal Revenue Service J. Kopczyk Attorney at Law Kathryn C. Liss DePaul University College of Law Marissa Longoria Circuit Court of Cook County’s Clerk’s Office Clare McMahon Reed, Centracchio & Associates, LLC Pamela Sakowicz Menaker

After a global pandemic and amid rapid technological change, that foundational learn-by-observing model risks becoming obsolete—and with it, the ability for new generations of lawyers to evolve, make core connections, and eventually thrive in prac tice. Virtual hearings, remote work, and increasingly demanding caseloads have cre ated efficiencies, but they have also reduced opportunities for younger lawyers to learn through proximity and observation. As those opportunities disappear, so do important pathways for professional growth and connection. The consequences are becoming increasingly apparent. Many law students and young lawyers I talk to describe feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, unsupported, and unsure of themselves. They are often expected to perform at a high level without receiving the same kinds of exposure to the profession that previous generations enjoyed. As they struggle to find their footing, some are seen as uninterested, unreliable, or unteachable. Those perceptions then reinforce generational stereotypes and may discourage experi enced attorneys from investing in the next generation. At the same time, many seasoned professionals I talk to express a familiar frustration: “The kids these days just don’t get it.” There is often some truth behind the concern, but an important question follows: Why is the gap growing, and what can we do about it? Here’s the short answer: As our profession evolves, so too must our approach to mentoring. Gone are the days when young lawyers could learn everything through in-person observation alone. Technology has diminished many of those opportunities, creating a gap between what younger attorneys are expected to know and what they have had the chance to experience firsthand. Despite this, they are still expected to develop court room skills, professional judgment, and business acumen, but often with fewer oppor tunities to see those skills modeled in real time. That is where intentional mentorship becomes essential.

Clifford Law Offices Kathleen Dillon Narko Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Alexander Passo Latimer LeVay Fyock LLC Trisha M. Rich Holland & Knight LLP Adam J. Sheppard Sheppard Law Firm, PC

Richard Lee Stavins Kevin A. Thompson Levin Ginsburg Rosemary Simota Thompson

THE CHICAGO BAR ASSOCIATION Sharon Nolan Director of Marketing

6 July/August 2026