As a young man, Don Bivens, chair-elect of the ABA Section of Litigation, was inspired to make his journey into leadership by the civil rights movement, specifically by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Through newspaper articles and television, he internalized the message, the impact, and the concept that one should use one’s skills to make the world a better place. Those beliefs propelled him through law school, in his profession as a civil litigator, and into his involvement with the community. They shaped his role as a leader.
Along the way, Bivens counted several mentors, teachers, professors, and more senior lawyers and judges who helped him develop professionally, including the Honorable Andy Hurwitz, Larry Hammond, and Ed Hendricks. All were extensively involved in their local communities and in the political realm. They set excellent family examples and took the time to invest in him.