sult of going through the whole restructur- ing process. A large part of that I attribute to you, Bob, and your ability to provide as- sistance at all levels in connection with the restructuring process. There is a better way of putting that, but I think that your input went a long way towards advancing an al- ready positive relationship. I think the VBA responded in a good and positive way to restructuring and was very active and very forthright in its views on the restructuring and where it should go. I think the Chief Justice has been very open and receptive to the views of the Vermont Bar Associa- tion and attorneys in general. I think that his participation in traveling around the state to get the views of the members of the county bar associations, and taking those views into account, went a long way towards strengthening a positive relation- ship. I am extremely grateful for how Jus- tice Reiber, you, and the Vermont Bar As- sociation handled that and how the Board helped in compiling input so the judiciary could consider it and incorporate it into the restructuring process and the legisla- tive process as well. We also have a non- elected seat on our board for a member of the judiciary, and we are extremely thankful for that input. Judge Durkin has been a tre- mendous addition to the Board. I think that is a valuable relationship and one that we are looking forward to continuing.
BP: So, let me ask you, if we were sitting
here a year from now and you are about to turn the gavel over to your successor, what would you like to say? How would you judge if your year as president was a success? JC: My year will have been successful if, by then, the Board has in place a pro- cess by which to continuously monitor and evaluate where the profession is going, on a ten, twenty, fifty year basis—that we have in place through our current commit- tee structure a process of being continu- ously able to identify new developing ar- eas of the law from a technological and substantive standpoint, so that we can stay ahead of the curve. I do think that we need to have some sort of a formalized plan in place by which that evaluative process can continue to occur on a more or less con- stant basis. If we have in place some struc- ture that will enable us to identify trends and begin to actually pick and choose be- tween the number of different options that are available, where our resources should be devoted on behalf of our membership in terms of providing technology, or mak- ing changes to Casemaker, or doing those sorts of things, then I will feel as though I will have contributed. I don’t know that I can be more articulate than that, Bob, but that is what I am hoping to be able to achieve. I am also hoping that we contin-
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ue to effectively move the ongoing work of our association forward. I am fully aware that as the year progresses, there will be is- sues that we need to tackle and address as they arise. There will be legislative issues that will be coming up.
BP: Yes, there may be difficult legislative issues to face. JC: Yes, so that may take a considerable amount of time, but I do want to stay fo- cused on trying to get the Board to gel around some sort of process to continu- ously evaluate, monitor, and decide where it should go proactively.
BP: Final question. Your term begins,
you are going to follow Teri Corsones, and I know there are members of the Board of Managers … JC: (Laughing) Forget about it Bob! I know where you are going here. It’s not going to happen, although Teri and I have reached a pact, and I am putting it down here, and I do want this published, that Teri will continue to provide her monthly re- freshments, or should I say “baked goods” at our meetings.
BP: Your first executive order as presi-
dent. JC: That’s right, that Teri come prepared
to provide baked goods at each one of our meetings as, bless her heart, she has done faithfully these many years.
BP: And every Vermont Bar Foundation meeting and every Rutland County Bar meeting—she does it everywhere. JC: With all she does, I don’t know when she sleeps, but bless her heart for doing it. She has been, by the way, terrific in every way I can think of and imagine. She runs a beautiful meeting. She is gracious and kind and smart. She has been a good example for me to follow. She has done a terrific job. I look forward to continuing to work with her and I really look forward to con- tinuing to work with Amber, who’s going to be coming up behind me. Amber has been terrific, and she and I have been on the Board together for a long time, and I am looking forward to working with her in the coming years.
BP: Thanks, Jim. JC: Thank you.
THE VERMONT BAR JOURNAL • FALL 2011
9
Interview with VBA President Jim Carroll
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