Spring 2009 - Texas Wesleyan School of Law - Texas Wesleyan ...

Photo by Glen E. Ellman
Service comes in many forms. Whether
it is for a long-term commitment
or a few donated hours, a wellknown
cause or a quiet mentorship,
there are always individuals who
go the extra mile to give something
back. From student to alumnus to
fellow practitioner, Texas Wesleyan
University School of Law is fortunate
enough to see and experience this
service to the community and to the
legal profession every day and at
every stage of the profession.
As the fi rst state bar president from Fort Worth since 1958,
Roland Johnson said he is looking forward to helping his
colleagues and community members at the state level.
Helping lawyers
Help clients
Sit down for a conversation with
Roland Johnson of Harris, Finley &
Bogle, P.C., and it quickly becomes
clear that his passion for improving the
legal profession, of which he has been a
part of for more than 30 years, is widereaching
and sincere. He is an active
member of several legal organizations
including, but not limited to, the
American Law Institute, the American
Board of Trial Advocates, the Texas
Bar Foundation, the Texas Center for
Legal Ethics and Professionalism, and
the Tarrant County Bar Foundation.
He currently serves as a member of
the Dean’s Advisory Council for Texas
Wesleyan School of Law and has been
a member of two of the school’s dean
search committees.
In June 2008 Johnson was sworn in as
president-elect of the State Bar of Texas,
and he sees the position as a way to
help his colleagues on all levels.
“In the fall of 2007, the phone rang and
I was asked if I would put my name
in the hat to start the president-elect
process,” Johnson said. “I was almost
scared to take that risk. But in talking
it over with [my wife] Cindy and [my
sons] Wes and Ben, they convinced
me that I ought to do what Cindy and
I had been teaching our boys, which is
that you’ve got to step out, you’ve got
to try, and so what if you lose, that’s
the way life is.”
2
By Abby E. Dozier
Johnson’s election marks the fi rst
time in 50 years that Fort Worth
can boast a state bar president. He
said he considers himself lucky to
have been asked to take part in the
interview process and to have had the
opportunity to run for the position.
In choosing to step out and take the
kind of risk he had taught his sons
to embrace, he recognized his own
responsibility to others as a lawyer.
“I think lawyers are, by defi nition,
leaders,” Johnson said. “Citizens,
whether they be individuals or
companies, come to lawyers in times
of need. That almost thrusts you into
a leadership position, meaning that
you can either help it or hurt it, but
you’re going to do something. Helping
is what we are called to do.”
For Johnson, running for the position
– which encompasses a three-year
commitment, fi rst as president-elect,
then president, then past-president –
was not only a chance to help within
the legal community, but in the civilian
community that he and his colleagues
serve daily.
“Tarrant County lawyers are a good
group of professionals, and [I thought]
if the home team could get our chance
to do more state bar work, I was willing
to take a risk and try,” Johnson said.
“Also, after practicing for 30 years … it
was a great time to circle back around
and say that service to the profession
is as important as working for clients.
It’s also important to try to work for the