TYLA PRESIDENT’S PAGE FEBRUARY 2023
‘I’m Not
JOSIE GROSSIE ANYMORE!’
In Never Been Kissed, copy editor Josie Geller is given the
opportunity to become a reporter by going undercover as a high school
student. During her first time in high school, Josie was bullied and
given the nickname “Josie Grossie.” After Josie struggled with returning
to high school, her brother Rob gave her a pep talk, telling her she
just needs the right person to help her get her foot in the door with
the popular crowd. According to Rob, the first step was for Josie to
believe—as Josie ultimately shouts—“I’m not Josie Grossie anymore!” As
Rob put it, “All you need is one person. Once the right person thinks
you’re cool, you’re in. Everyone else will be too scared to question
it.”
Young attorneys who find success in law generally have others to
thank—trailblazers, support networks, and mentors, to name a few. I
recently learned about “sponsors.” A sponsor is an influential leader in
the organization who advocates behind the scenes for a younger attorney.
Like mentorship, sponsorship can help a young lawyer navigate and
advance their career both inside and outside of the organization. To put
it in Rob Geller’s words, your sponsor is that person who thinks you’re
cool and helps you get your foot in the door. But because sponsorship
tends to occur behind the scenes, it’s not always apparent that you
might already have a sponsor.
For me, the person I have to thank for her mentorship and sponsorship
is Justice Luz Elena Chapa, with whom I worked for over six years at the
4th Court of Appeals in San Antonio. When I started working with Justice
Chapa in 2014, I was a bit rough around the edges. She certainly helped
me smooth out those edges and mentored me in areas where I needed
improvement. Justice Chapa was always supportive of me and encouraged me
to get involved in the legal and local communities with reasonable,
healthy limits. While working with her, I not only got my start in bar
service and started pursuing professional advancement through board
certification and other areas, but I also became a better attorney and
public servant and gained more confidence. What’s more is that, as with
some sponsors, I wasn’t always aware that she was advocating for me
behind the scenes. For everything, I’m eternally grateful to Justice
Chapa. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.
If you’re looking for a mentor or sponsor, you might consider whether
you already have such a relationship. For those working in smaller
organizations or in solo practice, sometimes finding mentors and
sponsors comes through bar service or pro bono work. Building meaningful
relationships in the legal profession can be challenging, but it gets
easier with the more effort you make. And sometimes, those efforts can
start with reconnecting with and thanking those who have already helped
you out along the way.
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.
