Strength in Community

“Together, we are strong.” —Ashe from League of Legends

My love for games began at a young age with a particularly deep affection for board games and video games. This passion has only grown over time, intertwining with my memories of friends, family, law school, and practicing law. I now have played several thousand different games, and it continues today as my main hobby. Games provide numerous benefits, but the one I find the most profound is their ability to foster bonds and build communities. This year, I plan to explore the lessons I’ve learned from gaming and how they parallel the practice of law.

As we embark on this bar year, I’m reminded of a quote from the game League of Legends: “Together, we are strong.” For those unfamiliar, League of Legends is a team- based strategy game where two teams of five unique heroes compete to defeat the opposition. Success in the game requires teamwork—a single missing hero can jeopardize the entire team’s efforts. Each member must contribute their unique skills and work in unison to achieve victory. This quote encapsulates the essence of teamwork in the game and extends to the broader concept that teams only succeed when they work together.

In parallel, the Texas Young Lawyers Association is a team of unique individuals with their own skills that, when working together, can accomplish tremendous things. Like the competitors in League of Legends, TYLA has a shared goal and understands both what we want to achieve and how we will achieve it. Together, TYLA can create extraordinary projects for everyone that further the mission of the State Bar of Texas as its “public service arm.” To that end, with the help of TYLA Chair Courtney White, TYLA’s officers and directors, the State Bar of Texas, our Texas young lawyer affiliates, our Texas law schools, our Texas judiciary, our lawyers, and our communities, we will work together to strengthen our bar for all of us.

This year, TYLA is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of lawyers, supporting our current legal professionals in their daily practice, and wholeheartedly engaging with our communities. Our signature project this year, with grant funding from the Texas Bar Foundation, will create a comprehensive website for future and current law students on all the facets of entering and succeeding in law school. We will create a robust guide on creating teen court programs to help encourage and guide future generations of lawyers. Through our podcast Young Gunners, we will interview successful lawyers to provide a road map for those to follow who wish to follow in their footsteps. TYLA will also create a board game intended for primary school age children to teach them about the legal profession and the judiciary in a fun and engaging manner. We will actively engage with our communities through local roadshows, visiting young lawyer affiliates and law schools. Continuing our tradition of excellence, we will offer top-quality advocacy competitions and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Trial Competition. Working together, we are committed to making a meaningful impact within and beyond our legal community.

As both games and the practice of law have taught me, I know it will take a committed effort to foster and cultivate a team to accomplish these goals and more for all of us. Thank you for the privilege to serve as your next TYLA president. I look forward to serving you in the interest of improving our profession for everyone.

HISHAM MASRI
2024-2025 President, Texas Young Lawyers Association