Keep your head up and keep going and know that we will be there for you. We owe our people that as much as we owe them a paycheck and a place to hang their hat.
Kegel, Tobin and Truce, has often been described as a “Lifestyle Firm” and occasionally I have been asked: what exactly does that mean – A Lifestyle Firm. Is it an attitude? Is it a tradition? Well, it’s a little bit of both. It’s something that has evolved since Bob Kegel and Jim Tobin founded our firm in 1972, and the torch was passed to Joe Truce in 1991. Aside from our commitment to outstanding legal advocacy, we believe that a law firm should be more than just a paycheck and a place to hang your hat. It is a recognition that one’s life outside of the office—parenting, school, caring for others—is vital not just to the individual but to the firm as well because it builds a sense of unity and common purpose when we encourage and foster those endeavors. It just makes us better.
After I joined the KT&T family years ago, I met my wife, got married, and together we raised two terrific boys. I coached their baseball teams for ten years. I coached their Mock Trial for seven years. I never missed a sporting or school event. I was in Superior Court year after year with Colin for Mock Trial Competition. I was in Oregon with JD for his Cross Country Division III Regional Finals. Those boys are now 19 and 23 and KT&T allowed me to be there for them all those years.
Similarly, as a firm, we have tried to be there for our attorneys and staff. We have shared their joys and their accomplishments. We have also stood by them during their most difficult times.
… Without hesitation, we sent that person’s medical records to a nationally renowned physician across the country …
Years ago, one of our attorneys had a life-threatening illness. Without hesitation, we sent that person’s medical records to a nationally renowned physician across the country so that we could get a 2nd expert opinion. Today that individual is in excellent health. And what we did years ago for that young person remains one of my proudest moments in KT&T history.
I take great pride in the fact that I had the opportunity to grow as a defense attorney under the tutelage of my mentor, Joe Truce, as did most of us. Years ago, Joe also created the iconic “George the Bartender” series. It is a whimsical but lethal review of controversial legal issues as told to the attentive George the Bartender, over a straight-up martini, sometimes a double!
We are a firm rooted in tradition and the value of every employee. We believe in the importance of working as a team. We also believe that we owe a debt to the community around us. For example, our firm for the last ten years has participated in the Justice Jog, a charity 5K and 10K event that supports and celebrates CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) which mobilizes community volunteers to champion for children that have mostly experienced abuse and neglect.
I remember when I was coaching Little League and if the game was not going well for our kids, I would tell them “keep your head up, pull together and keep going,” because success is often a matter of sheer perseverance. And by the same token, that is the message we offer our staff and attorneys as they face the challenges and adventures in their personal lives. Keep your head up and keep going, and know that we will be there for you. We owe our people that as much as we owe them a paycheck and a place to hang their hat. Why? Because a law firm should be more than just a law firm. It should be a “Lifestyle Firm” as well.
