You’ve survived law school, passed the bar, learned how to redline a document without crying, and maybe even mastered the art of not hitting “Reply All.” Congratulations, you’re officially a young lawyer.
Now that you have the hard part down, and you’re well on your way to mastering the legal world, it’s time to think about how you’re going to use that legal license outside of the courtroom or office. If you’re anything like me, you’ve already been thinking about how you can use your new legal mind to help better your community and make an impact. Our community needs your sharp legal brain, your energy, and your surprising knack for Robert’s Rules of Order.
Let’s combine your passion for the law with your enthusiasm for community engagement! It’s time to talk about nonprofit board service: why it matters, how to get started, and how you can make an impact before you’re a senior partner with a library of cufflinks.
Let’s start with a quick objection you might be thinking:
“But, I’m just a few years into practice. Aren’t boards for people with decades of experience, massive networks, and... tons of cold, hard cash?”
Overruled.
Nonprofits need more than just deep pockets. They need fresh perspectives, strategic thinkers, community-minded professionals, and people who can spot legal landmines in a fundraising contract from 50 yards away.
Your value isn’t about years in the game. It’s about what you bring to the table:
The hardest part about getting on a non-profit board can be knowing who to contact, what resources are available to you, and how to find a board you’re passionate about. Many folks are under the impression you need to be invited to serve on a board, and that is not the case. In fact, there are many boards in Cincinnati looking for a bright, young mind just like yours! My journey started with ArtsWave. Since joining law school, I knew I wanted to find my way back to the arts. The arts are what I am passionate about. My father is an artist and has his own printmaking studio called Hare of the Dog Press. I knew from him — sorry, Dad — that artists were great at art; paperwork, not so much. To get started with my board dreams, I knew I needed training. Through an online search I stumbled upon board training through ArtsWave. It has an incredible program called Boardway Bound that teaches young professionals (like you gentle reader), how to be a valuable board member. During my training, I joined five boards and might have gotten a little too involved. But those who know me, know that that’s just my speed. (Sam Berten and Brianna Vollman, if you’re reading this, I know you were zero percent shocked.) While not everyone has time or can afford training, there are many fantastic resources in Cincinnati to help you get started.
If you’re looking to start your board training and get set on a board in the next year, here are some programs I recommend (this list is in no way exhaustive):
While I started my board journey with Artswave, and concurrently with Pro-Bono Partnerships of Ohio, I first joined committees of boards I was considering joining. I currently serve as Vice Chair of the American Sign Museum, President of Tiger Lily Press, and as a general board member on Pyramid Hill and My Nose Turns Red boards. At each of these boards, I have been involved in committee work.
Committees operate separately from board business. Many committees do not require you to be on the board. I highly recommend joining a committee first, before making a full board commitment. Through your committee service, you are likely to see the ins and outs of the board, and see if that board would be a good fit for you. When considering what committee to join, I recommend joining a board committee that you are passionate about or could give advice on. While I love my job, I don’t always want to be doing my job. Just because you’re a lawyer, it doesn’t mean you necessarily need to do lawyerly things on a board. In college I worked at Keeneland in the marketing department, and I absolutely loved that work. I typically serve on marketing or programming committees rather than governance.
Board service isn’t about padding your LinkedIn profile—it’s about showing up, following through, and helping lead. That means:
If you are ready to join a board, attached here is a list of current organizations who are looking for new board members:
If you are interested in joining one of these boards, reach out to Ray Gargano, Vice President Community Investments at ray.gargano@artswave.org. He would be happy to help you out!
You don’t have to wait until you’re a “seasoned” lawyer to serve on a nonprofit board. You don’t need gray hair, a six-figure donation, or a corner office.
You just need:
Your legal career is just beginning—but your impact can start now.
Still have questions?
Reach out to me, Cecelia Tio at ctio@lumindigital.com. Happy to grab coffee or chat virtually to get you started on your board journey.
Cecelia (Cece) Tio serves as Assistant General Counsel for Lumin Digital, Inc., a fintech in San Ramon, California. In her fully remote role, her primary responsibilities include contracts negotiation, contracts drafting, and dispute resolution. Besides working for Lumin Digital, it is a passion of hers to assist non-profit organizations in achieving their long term goals.