Gavel Passed to Mattoon to Lead State Bar Association
The ceremonial gavel has been passed to the new president of the Nebraska State Bar Association.
Outgoing president J. Scott Paul welcomed incoming president Steven F. Mattoon during a reception Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Omaha’s Happy Hollow Club.
Mattoon officially became the NSBA president at the conclusion of the group’s annual meeting on Friday, Oct. 11, in La Vista.
“Scott has been a tremendous leader,” Mattoon said, thanking Paul for his service. “Scott is always the calmest person in the room. He never gets flustered.”
When he sought the presidency, Paul said he decided to ask for forgiveness, not seek permission, from his firm, McGrath | North.
“I thank McGrath | North,” he said. “I thank my partners, because they’re the ones who first and foremost made this possible.”
Paul said he tried to stress the benefits of being a lawyer during his term leading the state bar.
“I focused on attorney-client privilege,” Paul said. “But I’m not talking about the evidence rule. I’m talking about the privilege that we as lawyers have to represent clients, the privilege that we have to have their trust and the responsibility to advise them on matters that are very important to them. We’re the officers of the court. We’re the keeper of secrets. We do these things for our clients, and it’s important, and I don’t think lawyers get enough credit for what they do for their clients.”
Paul said lawyers face a lot of bad press, comments and jokes, but he said lawyers need to be proud of what they do for their clients and to benefit society.
“In my view, there are only two professions: there’s doctors and lawyers,” Paul said. “We hear about hairdressers saying, ‘Oh, I have a client who does this.’ They want to assume the mantle of professionalism by talking about their clients, but we are the ones that have clients. Doctors have patients, and, in my view, those are the two professions.”
Mattoon praised Paul for securing a long-term lease for the state bar, and he said he’s thankful that Paul will keep serving the group as its immediate past president.
“It has been a pleasure to serve as your president for the past year,” Paul said. “As for Steve, I want to tell you that you’re going to be in good hands over the course of the next year.”
Mattoon has been preparing to learn what’s needed to be an effective president, Paul said.
Liz Neeley, executive director of the Nebraska State Bar Association, said serving as the NSBA president is a selfless act.
“It takes a considerable amount of time – time away from your firm, time away from your family,” Neeley said. “In Nebraska, we are so lucky to have lawyers that are willing to, and care enough about the future of the legal profession and the administration of justice, that they’re willing to take the time to take the charge and lead the association.”
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