Critical Junctures: Sustainability, Mentorship, and the Discipline of Restraint
Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes
Sustainability. Sustainability is the capacity to make decisions and take actions that meet present needs while cultivating the resources, relationships, and opportunities required for long-term success. When I think about sustainability in our profession, my mind often goes back to a simple but uncomfortable truth: So much of a lawyer’s career is determined before it even begins, simply by where you land your first job. That initial placement can dictate the kind of work you do, the mentors you find, the professional network you build, and too often, the opportunities you never see. Working closely with The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, especially with its outstanding leadership in Arti Hirani and Reno Pierre, I am constantly reminded that the future of our profession is in excellent hands. Arti, sworn in as YLD president earlier this year, has already set an ambitious course with her “Open for Opportunity” initiative, a statewide effort to highlight the value lawyers bring to their communities and to create more pathways for young attorneys to thrive. Reno, as YLD president-elect, brings a dynamic energy to this mission and further strengthens the division’s ability to prepare young lawyers for long-term success. The signature program of the initiative is The Florida Bar Job & Resource Fair being held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Broward Convention Center in Ft. Lauderdale — the first event of its kind dedicated to supporting the next generation of Florida lawyers. Designed to connect law students and young lawyers with dozens of employers from across the state, this event will provide real pathways to employment, on-site job interviews, and access to career-building resources such as professional headshots, resume revision services, and exclusive networking sessions.
Arti Hirani
While this initiative is tailored to emerging lawyers, it represents an exciting milestone for all members of The Florida Bar and an exciting joint partnership between The Florida Bar Board of Governors and the YLD. The Job & Resource Fair is more than an event — it’s a statement of our collective commitment to opening doors and creating opportunities for those who will carry our profession forward. Together, we will make this event a success and show the next generation that The Florida Bar is truly “Open for Opportunity.”
Reno Pierre
That is one of the reasons I am so proud of The Florida Bar’s Counsel to Counsel program, now entering its third year. Launched under my close friend, past President Gary Lesser, this initiative matches lawyers with at least five years in practice to those in their first three. Over six months, mentors and mentees meet regularly, working through guided topics that address not just the mechanics of lawyering, but the intangibles such as professionalism, networking, and work-life balance that can make or break a career. With matches based on practice area, geography, and interests, the program ensures new lawyers receive targeted and meaningful guidance that reaches beyond the walls of their first workplace. It is one of the most direct ways we can level the playing field for new attorneys, giving them access to the kind of wisdom and perspective that might otherwise take decades to develop. My commitment to sustainability also extends to our law schools. One of my goals this year is to visit every law school in Florida, and I have already begun. Being at Florida International University and Florida A&M University College of Law was nothing short of inspiring. At both schools, Arti, Reno, and I met students brimming with ambition, hope, and that familiar mix of excitement and uncertainty. Their questions were thoughtful and pointed, often circling back to a version of the same inquiry: What is the lesson that has stayed with you the most throughout your career? For me, that lesson is the discipline of restraint. In law, as in life, the power to act is not the same as the need to act. Restraint means listening before speaking, observing before intervening, and thinking before deciding. It is the discipline to pick your battles, the humility to recognize when silence is more persuasive than speech, and the wisdom to let time do some of the work for you. As I continue my travels to law schools across the state, I will carry that message with me, not as a limitation but as an invitation. When we teach our future lawyers the value of restraint, we are not asking them to do less. We are preparing them to do more, and to do it with purpose. If we can give our newest members not just jobs but genuine guidance, not just credentials but character, we will be doing more than sustaining the profession. We will be strengthening it for generations to come. Let’s get to work!
