I’ve been binging one of my favorite classic TV shows, The West Wing. A new audiobook about the show got me in the mood to watch again. In the episode called Gone Quiet, there’s a storyline in which President Bartlet’s presumptive opponent in the upcoming election “got the question.” The question is, “Why do you want to be President?” The candidate fumbled through a confused answer to what should have been a softball. Bartlet’s team gloated until realizing they had not prepared to hit that one out of the park either. 

This episode happened to play while I was thinking about how to introduce my far less grand (but real-life) presidency to you. The show reinforced that answering “the question” with purpose is critical to what we can accomplish together in the upcoming year, as Faith Whittaker passes the relay baton my way.

As much as anything, I am excited for the opportunity to pay it forward. Stated simply, one of our goals is that you get what you want from the CBA. Whether directly or a few steps down the road, the CBA opened so many doors in my own career. My first service opportunity? Coaching in YLS’ high school mock trial program. My first professional leadership position? Chair of the Local Government Law Committee. My first immersive leadership experience? The CALL program. The gateways to just about every service opportunity I’ve had in the last 25 years, either directly or from one relationship that led to another (and another, and another)? The Community Service Committee and CALL.

There’s not nearly enough space on the page for every concrete example. My favorite is that after our son Harrison was born with Down syndrome, I plugged into the developmental disability leadership community through a lawyer I knew best from CALL. That relationship led to more than a decade of personally meaningful work and counting. Nor is there space to describe each time litigating a dispute went more smoothly than it might have because counsel and I met at the CBA or knew of each other’s bar work.
I get what I want here. We want the same for all members.      

We will work toward this goal by maximizing the CBA’s greatest and most enduring strengths — relationships and engagement. There is no better place in our community to form relationships with lawyers from diverse practice areas, employment settings, and personal backgrounds. These relationships benefit our practices through knowledge gained and barriers broken and benefit our lives through friendship and service. There is no better place for lawyers to work together for the benefit of the broader community. Refining our service efforts will be a focus this year. 

And there is no better place for lawyers to convene when we have important issues to discuss. Our profession does not lack for such issues in 2025. We will address important issues, as always, in accordance with our longstanding mission: to promote professional excellence, foster justice, serve our members, and educate the public.

This is a unique organization on the local level. We mentor here and are mentored here. We speak here and listen here. We get careers off the ground and then bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to bear for others. When I “get the question,” the short answer will be that we must take good care of the one place this happens, for the benefit of ourselves, the practice of law, and the community at large. 

Please do reach out to discuss what you want from the CBA.
 I look forward to our collaboration.

Alan Abes is a partner at Dinsmore and the 2025-2026 CBA president.