The Council of Appellate Lawyers is a dynamic community, and 2023 already is giving us opportunities to gather, share, and serve. If you haven’t availed yourself of your fellow CAL members’ collegiality, humor, and support, I encourage you to sign up for a committee and attend a virtual meeting. One of the things I love best about CAL is our commitment to not waste time with make-work – we don’t hold meetings for the sake of checking a box! We have plenty of meaningful work to do, and there are tasks of every size to tackle: from quick to lengthy, building-block to pivotal, bite-size to all-you-can-eat. No matter your availability, we have a spot for you! Joining a committee is a gateway to meeting other appellate lawyers and reaping the benefits of membership in this dynamic community.
For example, our AJEI Planning Committee has been hard at work on CAL program proposals for the 2023 Appellate Judges Education Institute. This year’s AJEI will be held in Washington, D.C., on November 2 through 5. Having completed our program-planning work, this committee is now reaching out to lawyers across the country to encourage registration and sponsorships. Thus, joining this committee not only introduces you to committee members and keeps your finger on the pulse of the upcoming AJEI programs and events, but also provides opportunities to connect with other appellate lawyers from coast to coast.