Grace: A doctor-teacher-astronaut. I imagined we would be living in space by the time I was an adult. I dreamed of traveling to space to take care of the people living there. Since it would be a relatively new profession, I would also teach other doctors how to practice medicine in space.
Laura: When I was in second or third grade I wanted to be Pelé. My school did not have a girls’ soccer team, so I convinced my dad to help start one and coach. While I did manage to captain my high school team, my dreams of international football glory did not manifest. Then early in my high school career I was selected to participate in Cincinnati’s Youth in City Government program (David Mann was Mayor) and for a time I thought I might go into elected politics. I also made my professional acting debut on Juvenile Court, appearing before “Judge Paul Trevor” played by Sam Wilson (no relation), former Dean of UC Law. Despite this brush with stardom on a beloved local TV legal drama, one thing I did not imagine is that I would find a career in the law.
Grace: Four years ago I drove down to Florida and back with my three boys. My husband was in Florida for work so we met him there. My oldest son had his learner’s permit so he helped me with the driving. We took our time, staying in a different place each night while visiting friends and family along the way. Coming out of COVID, it was wonderful to have the freedom to see people again and explore new cities.
Laura: In 2016, I traveled with my family and our best friends to Africa. We spent time in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Botswana. In Zimbabwe we took a boat ride on the Zambezi River and saw elephants crossing the river to an island, trunks linked around tails. Down river we could see “smoke” from the mist of Victoria Falls rising in the distance. In Hermanus, South Africa, we saw a pod of Southern right whales breach the surface and play along the coastline in front of us. In Botswana, we slept outside under an inky black sky that glittered with the diamond-like brilliance of a million stars. It was a trip I will remember forever because every day highlighted how truly amazing the diversity of people, cultures, creatures, and ecosystems is on this planet.
Grace: Sometimes, it is the little cases which make the biggest impact on people’s lives. We have had cases worth millions of dollars or with tons of press coverage, but some of the most important cases were relatively quiet—perhaps the state is ordered to provide a child with the services he desperately needs, or a victim and his family confront the man who sexually abused him as a child, or an employee is able to settle her claims against a former employer, end the stress of litigation, and move past the situation.
Laura: Relationships and reputation matter, and fostering respectful, collaborative, congenial relationships is key. Relationships I developed with law school professors and mentors while I was a law student helped me get started in my career after graduation. During my time as a federal law clerk in the Southern District of Ohio, I observed the fundamental importance of respect and civility by and among the members of the bench and bar, towards each other, court staff, clients, and members of the public. The support of mentors and colleagues in the legal community was also key when I moved from the Court into private practice.
Both: The Professionalism Committee has several cornerstone programs. Courthouse Connections, a collaboration with the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism offers a behind the scenes look at the Hamilton County Courthouse and the practitioners who work there every day, with networking and courtroom tours. The annual Professionalism in the Law seminar is a free program for all CBA members offered in November. Our Take Ten program brings dynamic speakers to the CBA for a “Ted Talk”-styled discussion of issues to help attorneys develop and manage their careers. We also hope to expand Beyond Civility, a pilot program launched in 2025 which aims to help practitioners develop and refine tools and strategies that enhance civility and professionalism, empowering them to serve as role models in our community.