The Oklahoma Bar Journal January 2024

Y oung L awyers D ivision

Ringing in the New

By Laura Ruth Talbert

O N BEHALF OF THE OBA Young Lawyers Division, let me be among the first to wish you a happy New Year! It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve as the YLD chair, and I could not be more excited for what the new year holds. As the curtain falls on the bygone year, we find ourselves standing at the threshold of a new era, ushering in the promise of fresh beginnings and untapped potential. The transition to new leadership invites us to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year while embracing the opportunities that lie ahead. It is a moment to express gratitude for the foundations laid by our previ ous leaders and to set our sights on an even brighter future in 2024. The YLD’s accomplishments last year leave much to reflect on, thanks to my predecessor’s tenacious leadership. If you know Caroline Shaffer Siex, you know she is the very definition of a leader. Caroline simply gets the job done, regardless of what it takes. With Caroline at the helm, the YLD had an excellent 2023. It would take the entire bar jour nal to recap everything Caroline did throughout the past year, so I’ll focus on just a few highlights instead. She was instrumental in coordinating YLD CLE in 2023, something that hadn’t been done in several years. Under her leader ship, the YLD put on another Wills

Tulsa area YLD members, led by Caroline Shaffer Siex, connect with new admittees during the YLD happy hour event.

ceremony, organizing happy hours and events in multiple locations across the state. All in all, the YLD had a great 2023 because – frankly – Caroline wouldn’t have it any other way. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your outstanding leadership, Caroline.

for Heroes event, which allowed many first responders and ser vice members and their families to get some much-needed estate planning in place at no cost to them. Caroline also ramped up the YLD’s involvement with new lawyers after their admission

80 | JANUARY 2024

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL