They say membership has its privileges. But what does it mean to be a member of LMA Midwest? As I thought about embarking on another year of educational programming, networking opportunities and chapter gatherings, I began to reflect on why we're all here.

We're here to learn. As a defector from the world of practicing law, the initial value of my LMA Midwest membership was the opportunity to learn. As my LMA pals already knew, practicing law and marketing law are two entirely different propositions, which require radically different skill sets and outlooks on the world. Thankfully, monthly educational programming allowed me to get current on trends in the industry, best practices and antidotes to the many common pitfalls we all encounter.

I quickly realized, however, that an equally valuable resource for learning was sitting right next to me at the programs I attended. They were my fellow members. This chapter boasts members from virtually every job function within the legal industry, from every type and size of firm and company and with years of collective experience. Within the membership ranks, I found an inexhaustible wealth of knowledge and experience, by far one of the greatest values of my membership to date.

We also are here to make friends. I choose to say "make friends" rather than the more formal "network with colleagues" because in my experience, building relationships at LMA Midwest goes far beyond just networking. Yes, we share our professional successes and challenges with each other, and yes, we offer each other business and professional opportunities and intelligence. I have reaped immeasurable value from LMA Midwest in this regard.

But we also laugh and cry together; we celebrate weddings and baby showers; we commiserate about hard times and raise a glass together when the world does right by us. The friends I have made at LMA Midwest are among my dearest, and not a week goes by without giving me occasion to reflect on the many true and valuable friendships I've gained here.

And finally, we're here because we belong. And this is where the really good stuff is, in my opinion. Belonging is a powerful thing, and belonging to LMA Midwest has made a world of difference in my professional and personal life. What a joy it is to have a community with which to share my successes. What a sense of comfort it is to know that you all are looking out for my best interests, even when I'm not around. What a privilege it is to have been swept up by this dynamic, diverse, brilliant, generous and kind collection of people with a shared interest in seeing the legal profession at its best.

And so, I am here to serve. In gratitude for the immense value LMA Midwest has brought to my career and my life, I am here to serve. In fact, it is an honor to serve, and I am thankful to be surrounded by the incredibly talented likes of Allen Chichester, Bill Fitzgerald, Stuart Goodman, Sydney Iglitzen, Tina Johns, Melissa Marshall, Rich Marsolais, Anne Schuster and Gary Young and the many committee chairs, members and other dedicated volunteers who are too numerous to name here and too important not to mention at least as a group. Thank you for committing your time, talents and hearts to this collective endeavor of ours! It's going to be another fantastic year.

Tasneem Goodman is a Partner at Akina Corporation and the 2012 President of LMA Midwest. She can be contacted at tgoodman@akina.biz.