They say leaders aren't born but are made by hard work. With the launch of a new leadership series, the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) can help ease the hard work of learning new skills and provide tools that enable attorneys to be leaders in their firm, in their practice area and in their community.

The four-part leadership skills series kicks off Oct. 8 with lessons from the state and federal bench, where members of the Judiciary will share insights on the skills required to be a leader and provide practical application to one's personal and professional life.

Then find out what it takes to serve on a board when the series continues Jan. 14 with "A Seat at the Table—How Board Service Helps You Be a Better Lawyer." Attendees will learn how volunteering teaches new skills, boosts careers and helps a nonprofit serve its mission.

The program will be followed on Feb. 18 with "Beyond the Buzzwords: The Whys and Whats of D&I and the Legal Profession," which will take a close look at the state of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and provide a tool kit that includes implicit bias training.

The series concludes March 9 with "Leading by Example in Trenton: Leaders in the Bar Lead New Jersey." Moderated by the former chair of the NJSBA's Banking Law Section, the program provides an inside view of how leaders in the bar work with legislators and the Association to influence laws, policy, rules and regulations. Attendees can get the tools to be a better voice for clients on policy issues through an understanding of the process of how laws are made and revised. They can also learn how to balance zealous advocacy with the ethics requirements unique to the legislative process.

Attend one or more programs in the series. Each seminar is $25 for up to 1.8 continuing legal education (CLE) credits, or attend the complete series for $75. To register, visit njsba.com and click on the legal community calendar.