Dana M. Horton
President, Rhode Island Bar Association
Drop Your Anchor
If you had asked me when I graduated from law school whether I imagined someday serving as President of the Rhode Island Bar Association, a 128-year-old organization with such a long and proud history, I likely would have said no. Today, it is an honor I am proud to undertake as I serve our members over the coming year.
The RIBA has been a professional “home” to me in so many ways since I graduated from law school, not because I had a connection or it fell into my lap, but rather, out of necessity. It seems like a rite of passage to share my “how I got here story,” and I trust you will find it is particularly meaningful as it ties in directly to what we are planning to focus on for the next twelve months (and beyond).
Like many of you, I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. From a young age, I was never afraid to speak up when I believed a voice needed to be heard. I grew up in Johnston, with no lawyers or judges in my immediate family. My parents were not four-year college graduates. But they worked hard and raised us right and always encouraged us to follow our dreams and goals. After I graduated from the University of Rhode Island and was accepted into law school, I made a promise to myself that I was going to be the best law student and lawyer I could possibly be. I knew I had to work hard, maybe harder than many, as I had no connections, no network and no one to guide me in areas of the legal profession.
Throughout law school, I balanced coursework, internships, and work responsibilities while gaining valuable experience in both state and federal courts. Despite strong academic performance and practical experience, I still struggled to establish myself professionally in Rhode Island after graduation. Following a judicial clerkship with the Connecticut Superior Court and several years practicing at a Connecticut law firm, I realized that if I wanted to successfully build a Rhode Island practice, I would need to be resourceful and intentionally create my own professional network.
I began by getting involved with the Rhode Island Bar Association through the Young Lawyers Committee, bench/bar committees, and eventually the House of Delegates. I attended meetings, listened carefully, asked questions, and sought guidance from those willing to share their knowledge and experience. Over time, those connections helped shape both my career and my understanding of the important role the Association plays within our profession and community.
This opening President’s Message is not meant to be a sales pitch for the RIBA. My point is that I took initiative because I had to. With no connections and no network, I had to build my own if I wanted to be the best RI attorney I could be and be proud of the work I was doing here. Over the years, through committees, leadership positions and involvement with the Bar, I developed relationships with individuals who supported me throughout my career and continue to do so. Throughout our Bar Association, we have a sea of knowledge and experience that should be shared willingly with all members of the bar, particularly our newer attorneys who, like me many years ago, may feel like they have no “connections” or “network.” And so is born, the Anchor Network.
Developed out of my own personal need as a new attorney for a collective organized resource of attorneys who could provide guidance and direction throughout my career, the Anchor Network is also inspired by the anchor itself, which serves to steady a vessel and keep it in place, preventing drift in wind, tides and currents.
At one time or another, we have all partici- pated in a mentor program, either as a mentor or mentee. In my opinion and experience, with some limited exception, they all have one thing in common. They all start strong, with the best of intentions, and then they fizzle out. The Anchor Network was created out of a desire to build something strong in content, flexible enough to meet the varying needs of our members, and hopefully self-sustaining.
At its heart, the Anchor Network is a mentor program, but it is flexible enough to meet the needs of our attorneys at any stage of their career. It is a new RIBA initiative focused on connection, professional support, and engagement within the RI legal community. The Network is designed to help attorneys connect with volunteer “Anchors,” for guidance, insight, and mentorship across practice areas and experience levels, and it is open to every member of the RI Bar.
The participation requirement is simple: log into the RIBA website, go to your dashboard, scroll to the box labeled “Join a RIBA Program,” and click on “The Anchor Network.” From there, members can sign up to become an Anchor. This will put an anchor symbol next to your name in the attorney member database so others can identify you as someone willing to share your knowledge and experience. Privately, our members will be able to search just the Anchor Network database by topic area. When you sign up to be an Anchor, you will be prompted to select from a robust dropdown menu of a variety of topics you are willing to accept questions, phone calls, emails or otherwise discuss with an attorney who needs assistance, has questions, or is looking for guidance.
Because this database is itself a Network, my hope is that it will become the beacon of attorney interaction and assistance among the Rhode Island legal community. The Anchor Network lends itself to recommendation and promotion by attorneys, judges, Bar committees, affinity groups, and agencies alike. Anyone looking for advice, guidance, and a further way to make connections within the Rhode Island Bar should feel comfortable turning to the Anchor Network.
Whether it is generational, post-COVID or something else, we have all witnessed the change in how newer attorneys build professional relationships and connections. Many have a desire to learn and need a way to build their connections and network but do not always respond to the traditional way the Bar has made such benefits available. The Anchor Network is a way for us to bring the network to them, while also sharing the knowledge, wisdom, and experience we collectively have as a Bar. My hope is that it strengthens collegiality, wellness, and our sense of professional community for generations to come.
In the spirit of fostering new relationships and building a bridge and a network available to all attorneys, we will have multiple opportunities for social engagement and interaction throughout the year and throughout the state, so please watch for those announcements. As we build and grow our new Anchor Network, I thank you all in advance for participating and providing feedback as we go. This is the next big thing in the 401.
As I was able to attend a few swearing-in ceremonies this past year, I shared a similar message with each of our new brothers and sisters: the fact of the matter is you chose to practice law here in RI because you wanted to be here, but you are a member of the RI Bar Association because you have to be. If you haven’t looked at our website, do yourself a favor and spend a few minutes learning about all that your extremely modest dues provide for you, your colleagues, and the Rhode Island legal community. Get involved. Ask questions. Make suggestions. Find your path. Give back. But most importantly, be the change you want to see! This year, as President, I will focus on strengthening connections among our members in a number of ways. I will be intentional about reaching out, and I hope you will too. Welcome others in, attend an event even if you know no one else going, and remember that one small connection can make the biggest difference. Thank you for entrusting me to lead this great organization for the next year. I am looking forward to a great 12 months!