As the ISBA opens applications for its newest Leadership Development Academy Class, we take time to reflect on the experiences of other LDA class members. Below, learn about Andrew Teel's experiences and takeaways from the program. The application for the 2020 LDA class is due Nov. 4. Learn more and apply here.

How has your career progressed during the time since you graduated LDA?
It is no exaggeration to say that my career has progressed more in the five years since graduating from the LDA than in the nine years before my involvement. Whether it was presenting oral argument at the Indiana Supreme Court’s bicentennial event in Corydon or assuming leadership positions in the state and local bar, the LDA gave me the confidence to put myself out there for opportunities that would otherwise have passed me by.

In what ways have you seen LDA impact your career?
The biggest impact for me was the realization that success as a lawyer is more than how many hours you can bill. The idea of servant leadership really resonated with me and gave me the push I needed to pursue causes that I was passionate about, both within the legal community and the community where I live. I am much more fulfilled now than when I measured success and failure by my salary.

Do you still connect with anyone from your LDA class?
Yes! One of the best things about the LDA is having an instant network of people from all over the state, practicing in virtually all areas of the law. 

What advice do you have for attorneys early in their careers?
Expose yourself to as many areas of the law as you can. When I began my career in a small insurance defense firm, I could have never imagined that I would try multiple federal criminal cases or argue a plaintiff’s case to the Indiana Supreme Court. Had I stayed with what I knew, I would never have even attempted to most noteworthy accomplishments in my career.

Why would you recommend LDA to new attorneys?
There are so many reasons, but the one I would highlight the most is the personal connections. I know of no other program or opportunity where you can have one-on-one time with Supreme Court Justices, engage in conversations with state-wide business leaders, or just grab a beer with a remarkable attorney from the other side of the state. It is these connections that have stuck with me long after the paintball bruises have healed.

Andrew L. Teel is a Law Clerk to the Hon. Holly A. Brady, United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

As the ISBA opens applications for its newest Leadership Development Academy Class, we take time to reflect on the experiences of other LDA class members. Below, learn about Traci Cosby’s experiences and takeaways from the program. The application for the 2020 LDA class is due Nov. 4. Learn more and apply here.

How has your career progressed during the time since you graduated LDA?
When I graduated LDA Class IV in 2015, I was a law clerk at the Indiana Supreme Court. I then moved to the City of Indianapolis Office of Corporation Counsel as Assistant Corporation Counsel – Litigation in January 2018. I have served as Deputy Chief Litigation Counsel for the City since May of this year. 

In what ways have you seen LDA impact your career?
The program has aspired me to pursue leadership roles within state and national bar associations as well as in my legal career. Because LDA focuses on developing leaders—not simply training attorneys—the five-month program offers valuable tools in developing leadership skills, such as team and consensus-building, and developing task-oriented goals. Organizations want active members who can contribute. Employees who balance professional demands while being active in local organizations are more likely to be promoted to management/supervisory level positions and appointed to sit on special committees and decision-making boards. In fact, it was noted to me that my leadership roles in the community played as important a part as my prior professional responsibilities when being considered for employment.

Do you still connect with anyone from your LDA class?
My LDA family stays connected—and I mean beyond the LDA Facebook page. Even though we don’t see each other on a monthly basis like we did in 2015, not only is it nice to personally know an attorney in all corners of the state, but we continue to support each other through life’s ups and downs. We celebrate job changes, relocations, marriages, and births. And even hold each other up through life’s my most difficult moments. My father passed away a couple of years after my LDA graduation. He was a Muslim living in California and I am Christian. I had no idea how to go about planning a service that would honor his faith and from so far away. I texted my LDA sister, Ala’a, who I had not spoken to in almost a year. She responded right away. She held my hand and walked me through what I needed to do. And when I apologized for not having stayed better in touch she simply responded, “There is no need for apologies among friends.”

What advice do you have for attorneys early in their careers?
Take advantage of the opportunities for growth, such as the LDA program, as they are made available to you. Far too often we forget that we are leaders in our community—not just attorneys on the job. It is a tremendous privilege to be members of the legal community and with that comes a responsibility to give back more than we have been given. The LDA empowers and equips you to do just that.

Why would you recommend LDA to new attorneys?
The strength of the LDA program is that it teaches you about yourself. It teaches you to identify the areas in which you add value and contribute to those around you beyond the meetings, contracts, billing, and briefing. It teaches you to be a better listener, a more compassionate leader, and a more well-rounded thinker by opening you to differing perspectives from around the state. In the end, the greatest value of being a part of the LDA program is impact that it has on you as a person. If you are looking to for an opportunity that will accelerate your professional opportunities while developing personal growth, look no further than the LDA.

Traci M. Cosby serves as Deputy Chief Litigation Counsel at the Office of Corporation Counsel.