The Oklahoma Bar Journal January 2023

JAMES R. (JIM) HICKS Immediate Past President Tulsa Background: Born in Blackwell and raised in Denton, Texas. Live and work in Tulsa.

Education: My education was at TU for seven years – petroleum engineering and then law. What is your most important goal during your service on the OBA Board of Governors? My goal in every level of service for the Tulsa County and Oklahoma bar associations has been and remains to commu nicate to non-lawyers the high level of profession alism I have observed among our members during my 45 years of practice. As many have heard me say, Oklahoma lawyers are some of the finest people I have ever met. Why is it important for OBA members to serve and volunteer? Because our license is a privilege and not a right. We should always be looking for ways to elevate the regard of non-lawyers for our profession. Service volunteering is certainly one way to do so. What challenges are OBA members encountering, and how can the OBA help find solutions? From my service on the OBA Professional Responsibility Tribunal and several of our recent CLE programs, I have come to believe the stress of our profession has resulted in a disproportionate percentage of our members falling victim to substance abuse. Our Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program is a wonderful resource for our members. What’s your favorite OBA member benefit? Clearly, our continuing legal education system is extremely helpful. I, and I think many of our members, par ticularly enjoy the opportunities to combine social events with CLE, such as the annual Solo & Small Firm Conference and the Annual Meeting. What technology gadget could you not function with out? I suppose I could function without my iPhone, but I would not be happy. Today is not like the old days when pay telephones were ubiquitous, and all I needed to keep in touch was a bag of quarters… What’s the best book you’ve read this year? I just fin ished rereading the Childe Cycle series by Gordon Dickson, one of my all-time favorites.

Married to Nancy since 1983 with twin children, Hannah and Stan. Three grandchil dren ages 13, three months and nine months Education: OU – bachelor’s degree; and TU College of Law – J.D. What is your most important goal during your service on the OBA Board of Governors? Onboarding the OBA’s newly hired executive director, Janet Johnson Why is it important for OBA members to serve and volunteer? Because our work is a profession, and participation in the bar association supports the profession and helps us focus on the goals of our special licenses. What challenges are OBA members encountering, and how can the OBA help find solutions? Time crunch and stress. The OBA provides services to assist with office technology and stress manage ment techniques and services. What’s your favorite OBA member benefit? Fastcase legal research What technology gadget could you not function without? iPhone What’s the best book you’ve read this year? The Compleat Victory: Saratoga and the American Revolution by Kevin Weddle

JANUARY 2023 | 41

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL