Kathy S. Kimmel, Fox Rothschild LLP

To support and advance the legal profession, it’s critical that lawyers take opportunities to learn from each other, said Kathy Kimmel of Fox Rothschild LLP. Attorneys should be curious about facts, the law and the art of advocacy and should stay curious throughout their careers, said Kimmel.

Learning, as well as promoting professionalism, is achieved in many ways, including through interactive CLEs, participating in bar associations and other professional organizations, such as the Inns of Court. Contributions of time and money benefit the profession as a whole as well as the individual lawyers who develop professional relationships or friendships and use those opportunities to learn from each other, Kimmel said.

“Through my engagement in professional activities, I have learned invaluable lessons and insightful tips from judges and attorneys whose practice areas differ from mine. It is well worth the time commitment,” she said.

To Kimmel, support and advocacy should be not only what a client can do but what a client should do to advance their goals. She offers what most clients want: perspective and judgment about the situation, as well as zealous advocacy. That’s where the issue of what can be done versus what should be done enters.

“Some lawyers fight for the sake of fighting. While zealous advocacy is a given, it’s rare that picking fights at every turn is the interest of the client,” Kimmel said. “Does it advance the client’s interest? Is it worth the increased cost and time?” These considerations are important, but lawyers don’t always remember them, Kimmel said.

An effective way to gain experience and judgment, while providing necessary legal representation, is through pro bono work. Kimmel takes cases through the Tubman Safety Project which provides shelter, counseling and legal services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault and stalking.

Pro bono work also provides opportunities to interact with other lawyers and judges, Kimmel said. Another way to help the public, the profession and the courts is to support an independent judiciary and qualified judges.