CBA Record March-April 2026

County Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, where I presided over mental health matters, election law, adoptions, civil asset forfeiture, real estate law, and more. That foundation served me well when I was later assigned to the Law Division – Trial Section, where I am today. My time at Liberty Mutual practic ing transportation defense and later at a law firm doing medical malpractice gave me insights into how insurance companies and corporate defendants think, perspective I’d never have gained on a traditional path. My experience in private practice taught me what it means to run your own operation. And my decision to return to the SAO after having three children taught me that honoring your season of life isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom.What looked like detours were essential preparation for work I didn’t even know I’d be doing. I think about this often as I watch my son Myles navigate the college application process. He’s interested in computer science and runs track. The temptation is to believe there’s one “right” pro gram, one optimal choice that will set everything else in motion perfectly. But life, like law practice, rarely works that way. The skills he develops, the perspectives he gains, the character he builds, matter more than whether he follows a predetermined timeline. The same is true for young lawyers trying to find their path. Maybe you’re in Big Law but wondering about government work. Maybe you’re a public defender questioning whether you should try private practice. Maybe you left somewhere and now you’re wondering if you can go back. Maybe you’re several years out and watching peers get appointed to positions you thought you wanted, feeling behind. You’re not behind. You’re exactly where you need to be to learn what you need to learn. Here’s my practical advice for navigating an unconventional timeline: Build relationships, not just resume lines. My progression in CBA leadership happened because I spent years building genu ine relationships across our legal community. When opportunity came, people knew my work and trusted my judgment. Young lawyers often focus so intently on credentials that they underin vest in connections. Remember that someone is watching your unconventional path and finding hope in it. Every time I’ve shared my nonlinear

journey, younger lawyers have told me it gave them permission to trust their own instincts, to make the move that didn’t “make sense” on paper but felt right in their gut. Stay curious about the detours. When I moved from prosecu tion to insurance defense, I could have spent that time resenting that I wasn’t advancing as a prosecutor. Instead, I learned every thing I could about a different side of practice. Every pivot is intelligence gathering for a future you can’t yet see. Don’t be afraid to go back. There’s an unspoken rule that you can’t return to a place you left, that it signals failure or lack of direction. That’s nonsense. Some of my most meaningful work came after I returned to the SAO with the depth and perspective I gained from civil practice. If something calls you back, trust that instinct. Honor your season of life. I made career decisions around raising three children that didn’t always make sense from a pure career advancement perspective. But trying to force a career time line that doesn’t fit your life is a recipe for burnout and resent ment. Your career is long. There’s time. Let your values guide you, not your timeline. My faith has always been central to how I make decisions. When I’m facing a fork in the road, I ask whether a path aligns with my core values and allows me to serve in the way I’m called to serve. That’s a much better compass than “Is this what I'm supposed to do at year five?” or “Will this look good in 10 years?” As I write this, I’m leading an organization of attorneys through our exploration of AI 2035: The Legal Profession and the Judiciary in the Age of Artificial Intelligence . None of us knows exactly what the practice of law will look like in 10 years. That uncertainty isn’t a bug in your career development. It’s a feature. It’s what creates space for the unexpected opportunities, the sur prising connections, the roles you never knew existed until sud denly you’re in them. If you’re a young lawyer reading this and feeling behind, con fused, or wondering if you made the wrong choice three years ago, take a breath. You’re not lost. You’re exploring. And that uncon ventional path you’re worried about? It might just be preparing you for something extraordinary that hasn’t revealed itself yet. Trust your timing. It’s better than you think.

The Chicago Bar Association mourns the passing of Joseph L. Stone, a mediator, arbitrator, and expert in corporate and real estate law. He was Of Counsel at Seyfarth Shaw and the founding director of the Business Law Clinic at Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. Stone was a leader in the legal community and a career-long member of The Chicago Bar Association, serving as CBA President from 1986 to 1987. He served on numerous CBA com mittees and performed in the Bar Show from 1962 to 2024. The CBA is forever grateful for Stone’s contributions to our Association and the legal profession.

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