Page 18 - JulyAugust23 Report

PRACTICE/INTEREST GROUPS
For more information about becoming involved in a CBA group or committee, contact Membership at (513) 699-1406 or mymembership@cincybar.org.
Cincinnati Bar
YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION
Get To Know YLS Chair Ryan Goellner
Tell us a little bit about your background
I’m a native of North Olmsted, a suburb of Cleveland. I didn’t always know I wanted to be an attorney. At first, I wanted to be a teacher. But I had an advisor who really pushed me to look at graduate school rather than go right into teaching, and about the same time my best friend started talking about law school. Once I looked into it and saw all the opportunities a JD would present, it was an easy decision. So, I stayed in town (having come to Cincin- nati to go to Xavier University) and graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2015. I started at Frost Brown Todd later that fall and have been there ever since, having just been named a partner in 2022.
I joined the CBA in law school by just signing up (probably to snag the free cup or giveaway), but after graduating, I wanted to get more involved in professional life and get to know more lawyers in the community. So I attended a YLS event and signed up for the Social Committee.
What has your involvement with the YLS entailed thus far?
My history of whimsical signups panned out. After helping plan events with the Social Committee for a couple years, I was asked to chair it with Cindy Moore, who was an awesome co-chair. I really enjoyed planning and attending all the different events and getting to know young lawyers who had been around longer than I had, as well as the new folks coming up behind me. I also helped with planning initiatives for a retooled Diversity and Inclusion Committee, judging or coaching Mock Trial for the past 7 years, and some of our Community Service activities.
What inspired you to be chair?
As co-chair of the Social Committee and then in other execu- tive committee roles, I saw all the excellent work past chairs had done, and I wanted to build on that and leave my own contribu- tion. The YLS did so much for me early in my career — especially in terms of connecting me to other young (and more senior) profes- sionals — I felt the need to give something back. I hope I can do that through a productive term as chair.
What are your goals for your year as YLS chair?
My theme for the YLS this year is Re-engagement. Previous chairs David Boyles and Jabari Shaw did a great job leading us through and out of the pandemic, and I want to continue that energy, capitalizing on folks’ willingness to hopefully get back out of the house (or home office) and connect in person. I also want to engage with the more senior members of YLS to keep them involved in YLS and then help them stay involved in all the great things the CBA has to offer even after their time with YLS comes to an end. We’re going to try some new events this year as well (or at least new twists on old events) to hopefully increase the appeal of YLS to inactive or even non-members. Each YLS board committee has excellent leadership this year, so I’m excited to see what new ideas each of them brings and implements.
Why is theYLS important for young attorneys and the CBA as a whole?
YLS is important for young attorneys because it helps them build connections (both socially and professionally) early in their career. Even after a short time practicing, you get to know that while the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky legal commu- nity is not small, it often feels so because it’s close-knit. So YLS helps you get to know and work alongside the people who will likely soon be your employer, co-counsel, or even adversary. But that camaraderie helps ensure our legal community is going to be professional, courteous, and even kind to each other. YLS is important to the CBA as a whole for pretty much the same reason — by fostering those connections and values early in lawyers’ careers, YLS helps ensure a better bar for decades to come.
Why is the CBA important?
It might seem old-fashioned, but I view the CBA as the corner- stone of the Greater Cincinnati legal community. It provides a space in every way — literal and physical, as well as virtual and metaphorical — for attorneys to gather and get to know each other. The CBA helps regulate the practice of law in the region and helps maintain the high ethical standards of the profession through several committees. It encourages collaboration between our numerous elected judges and members of the bar. It also helps
18 THE REPORT | July/August 2023 | CincyBar.org