CBA Record March-April 2025

PRESIDENT’S PAGE BY JOHN C. SCIACCOTTA It’s Never Too Early to Begin Building Your Legacy

The Chicago Bar Association www.chicagobar.org President John C. Sciaccotta Vice President Judge Nichole C. Patton Treasurer Jonathan B. Amarilio Secretary Trisha Rich Immediate Past President Ray J. Koenig III Executive Director Beth McMeen BOARD OF MANAGERS Daniel J. Berkowitz Tracy Brammeier Maggie Mendenhall Casey Erin Clifford Nishá N. Dotson John C. Ellis Josie M. Gough Brian Haussmann Judge Kenya A. Jenkins-Wright Michael Kozlowski Francine D. Lynch Justice Margaret Stanton McBride Kenneth A. Matuszewski Peter McNamara John Mitchell Sari Montgomery

foundation of your legal career.” What he never expressed, but what now has become obvious to me after prac ticing law for approaching 40 years, is that you begin to build your legacy as a young lawyer by learning your trade and by estab lishing relationships and making friends in the profession. This is the foundation that eventually will allow you to make a substantial impact upon others and to and for the legal profession throughout your career. It wasn’t until about 12 years ago (when my son Michael began law school) that this viewpoint came into much clearer focus for me. When my son began law school, we would often talk about his classes, and I would answer his questions and assist him with his moot court and trial advocacy presentations. It was during this time that Michael helped to reinvigorate my legal career. I had been practicing for about 26 years by then, and at that point Culver— my dear friend and mentor—had sud denly passed away a few months earlier. I was grieving. I had lost a father figure and mentor who inspired me to become the best lawyer I could be and to become active in the CBA. My son’s beginning of law school brought me back to my own beginnings; I began to reflect upon why I had become a lawyer and recalled why I had wanted to be a lawyer since I was five years old. It was also then that I first became aware of building a legacy that would honor my mentors and my family. Recognizing this, I shared with my son that his legal career and his ultimate legacy begins during law school. So, here are my recommendations to all young lawyers (and to all lawyers) to help build your legacy:

B eing involved in the Young Lawyers Section was very gratifying and rewarding during my early years as a lawyer. During my YLS years I made many of my dearest friends and met many fine lawyers, judges, and titans of our pro fession. The YLS was where one of my mentors, Richard W. Culver, encouraged me to become active in the CBA’s Judi cial Evaluation Committee. Culver would very often advise me to “make friends in the practice of law and develop relation ships.” This could not have been better advice, and I’ve followed it for my entire legal career. It has always served me well. Culver also expressed to me that your legal career begins during law school. It’s where you begin to develop relationships and to make friends. These friends can someday become clients, referral sources, references, and close confidants. He always suggested to keep building your reputa tion, your résumé, and your experience. This, he would often say, “will become the

Eirene N. Salvi Brendon Stark Justice Rena Marie Van Tine Judge Andrea R. Wood

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