TYLA PRESIDENT’S PAGE JULY/AUGUST 2022
‘What, Like It’s Hard?’
I’m tired. Perhaps more accurately, I’ve been tired. Back in
2017, I started riding a wave that began with bar service. The wave was
small at first. I volunteered for a committee, joined the board of the
San Antonio Young Lawyers Association, and served as president of the
San Antonio LGBT Bar Association. The wave then grew when bar service
brought me additional professional opportunities: double-certification
by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, publications, presentations,
awards, and other recognitions. The wave then peaked with my service and
leadership in TYLA. In my head, people who knew me from before were
saying, “You … did all this?” And I was like, “What, like it’s hard?”
Then something really hard did happen. With the pandemic, the
wave crashed, as did I. And I got tired, like really tired.
Right when the pandemic started, I had my first grievance filed against
me. Just after it was dismissed, I lost most of my personal files in the
2020 ransomware attack on the Texas appellate courts. Then, there was an
unprecedented assault on our nation’s capital. Then running a wholly
virtual statewide campaign toasted my brain. Despite my campaign slogan,
“Practice Proudly,” I felt more disconnected from my job than ever.
But it got better. I called the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program and
spoke for an hour on the phone with Chris Ritter (no relation that we
know of). He helped me feel better almost instantly by sharing a similar
story about his career. I also leaned on the support of my husband,
Dilshan, and my dear friend and former TYLA Chair Sara Giddings. I
restarted therapy and got back on anti-depressants. Lifted up by my
family and the support network I developed through bar service, I
recalled back to better times, which has reenergized me in looking
forward to this bar year.
As others have helped me, here’s how I plan to help others as TYLA
president, with the support and dedication of TYLA Chair Judge Lauren
Sepulveda and TYLA officers and directors. For attorney wellness, we’ll
produce a Taking on Trauma video series in which lawyers share
personal stories to help others through similar traumatic experiences in
the practice of law. For attorney development, we’ll publish guides
helping young lawyers with marketing, career development, and
understanding the grievance system. We’ll continue our tradition of
improving the legal profession through hosting nationally recognized law
student competitions. And for our core mission of service, we’ll create
numerous resources for the public and those involved in litigation,
including How Texas Courts Work, a flagship project graciously
supported by the Texas Bar Foundation, to help the public better
understand the role of the judiciary.
Despite my exhaustion over the past two years, I’m here and ready to
serve—powered by the past, prepared for the future.
Michael J. Ritter
2022-2023 President, Texas Young Lawyers Association
For more information on TYLA, contact them at tyla@texasbar.com or go to tyla.org.
