Out With the Old, In With the New!
Posted By Irene C. Olszewski, Esq. on December 31, 2012
As I write my final post on this blog for 2012, I am reminded of the many wonderful moments that 2012 brought into my life. I had the opportunity to work with many new clients this year, from all walks of life. Although some of those clients came to me for help with difficult issues, such as divorce or to facilitate the Probate process for the estate of a deceased loved one, I was blessed to be able to get to know those wonderful people on a personal basis. My clients are the reason I love my work. In the face of adversity, they display courage and tenacity that is to be admired. I learn from them and they help me to grow both as a lawyer and as a person.
Other clients came to talk about their Wills and other legal documents of protection. For those fine folks, planning for the future was important and the realization that they had checked something major off of their to-do lists was sheer relief. Still other clients came to facilitate the step-parent adoption process, which is one of the happiest tasks I perform as an attorney. The many conversations that make up consultations with clients working on their estate plans and family plans have been fascinating and enlightening. It reaffirms my faith that working with the law is indeed a worthwhile endeavor.
As an attorney, I had some wonderful moments in 2012 that resulted from the writing of this blog and my other blog, Connecticut Lesbian and Gay Law. I was asked to write a piece on LGBT issues for the Connecticut Law Tribune which appeared in January. I will also be contributing a piece to that newspaper in 2013. In March, I was asked to participate as a panelist in the Secrets of the Legal Bloggers event hosted by the Young Lawyers Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, which was a real treat. Both of my blogs celebrated their 3rd year of existence, in June and July, respectively. I was interviewed by the Connecticut Post in May about President Obama’s support of same-sex marriage. In September, I had the opportunity to be a guest lecturer at a family law paralegal class at Manchester Community College on the topic of same-sex marriage and LGBT rights. I was also elected vice-president of the Collaborative Divorce Professionals, a local group of lawyers, mental health professionals and financial professionals that are trained in the collaborative divorce process. I was contacted by the BBC in London to give an interview on the Boy Scouts’ discriminatory policy banning gays from the organization. Although that interview never materialized due to a major world crisis that prempted the story, it was gratifying that my opinion had been sought by a reporter. In October, I was privileged to attend the Diversity Award dinner for my mentor and colleague, Judge Maureen M. Murphy. I ended 2012 with an interview for a piece on DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) that is supposed to run in the Hartford Courant. All in all, it was an exciting year.
2012 had its share of difficult moments, as well. Connecticut was hit by a couple of major storms this year that left many parts of the state without power and caused unsurpassed damage. Thankfully, my law office was spared each time. The unimaginable tragedy in Newtown left America shaken and saddened — it also brought out the best in the American people, reaffirming my faith that most people are inherently good and decent.
As you reflect on 2012, I hope you will find that all in all, it was a good year. However you choose to celebrate tonight, I hope that you will have a fabulous time and that you will remain safe.
I wish for each of you to have a wonderful 2013, full of hope, promise, joy and prosperity. Most of all, I wish you peace.
Thank you for reading! Happy New Year!
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copyright 2012 Irene C. Olszewski, Esq.
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