TRF 2025 Wrapped!

TRF has much to be grateful for as we close out the year! From new team members to new admissions and even a new office, it was a year of change and looking toward the future. Here is our wrap-up of 2025!

ADMISSIONS

·         Senior Associate JulieAnn LeMay: Texas Bar

·         Associate Morgan Smith: Texas Bar

·         Partner Johnny Blassingame: Colorado Bar

·         Associate Allison Lubbers: Texas Bar

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

·         The TRF team raised funds for the For Their Thoughts Foundation’s annual “MoveFTT” mile-a-day challenge

·         TRF gathered supplies for Positive Tomorrows’ School Supply Drive

·         Team members volunteered at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to pack meals and contribute a donation

PRESENTATIONS

·         Associate Morgan Smith presented “The Silent Teachers” to the Central Oklahoma Association of Legal Assistants and to the OBA’s Bench and Bar Committee

·         Sharon Thomas discussed appellate law as a panelist at the OU Law Eugene Kuntz Conference

RECOGNITION

·         2025 Oklahoma Super Lawyers and Rising Stars: Leah Rudnicki, Sharon Thomas, Johnny Blassingame, JulieAnn LeMay, Morgan Smith, and Addison Book

·         Top 25 Women Super Lawyers in Oklahoma: Leah Rudnicki

·         2025-2026 Marquis Who’s Who: Sharon Thomas

·         2026 Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America: Johnny Blassingame, Caroline Lewis, Leah Rudnicki, Sharon Thomas, JulieAnn LeMay, Allison Lubbers, and Morgan Smith named in Oklahoma City

·         The Journal Record’s Leadership in Law Award: Johnny Blassingame, Caroline Lewis, and Sharon Thomas

·         Best Law Firms in America 2026: TRF named a Tier 1 Commercial Litigation and Oil and Gas Law firm and a Tier 2 Energy Law firm in Oklahoma City

TEAM WINS AND WELCOMES

·         Associate Addison Book joined the team in January and immediately started a trial

·         Senior Associate JulieAnn Robison married and became JulieAnn LeMay

·         Caroline Lewis was first promoted to Partner and then granted a Motion for Summary Judgment in a federal case

·         Business Manager Veronique Scurry published her first children’s book, “Leila’s Dreams”

·         Paralegal Annabelle Morales welcomed her first child

·         Associate Kylie Simpson passed the bar exam and was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar

·         Legal Assistant Jayde Ferguson joined our Oklahoma City office

·         TRF members cheered on the OKC Thunder and attended the celebratory parade!

We’re so appreciative of our wonderful clients, who help us do our best work and allow us space for work/life harmony. We will be closed during the holidays for the second year in a row, and we couldn’t do this for our employees without your support! Please note that our last day in-office will be December 23rd and we will be returning on January 2, 2026.

Happy Holidays!

Spotlight on Women in Law

The first time a woman was admitted to practice law before the United States Supreme Court occurred in 1880, over 100 years after the Court was established.[1] Belva Lockwood’s achievement with the highest court marked a critical turning point, but she is only one in a long line of women who came before her. Eleven years prior, Myra Bradwell became the first woman to pass the Illinois bar exam in 1869. She was subsequently denied a license to practice when the Supreme Court of the United States held that “[t]he paramount destiny and mission of woman are to fulfill the noble and benign offices of wife and mother . . .”[2] Bradwell never practiced law, but she was eventually admitted to the Illinois Supreme Court and then the United States Supreme Court. The obstacles faced and achievements won by Belva Lockwood and Myra Bradwell were essential in blazing the trail for modern female lawyers. Women continuously fight for their position in the legal world today, marking even more milestones in the process.

Belva Lockwood

Admitted to the United States Supreme Court in 1880

Today, the challenges for professional women, particularly those in the legal field, look a bit different. Women practicing law has become the norm in every courtroom, and we now outnumber men in law school classes and in Associate positions.[3] Women have yet to fully break free from the belief restraining us to “the benign offices of wife and mother,[MH1] ” however. While there is now more support for women and mothers working outside of the home[4], at-home responsibilities have not decreased. As women have assumed more and greater roles in law schools, law firms, and judgeships, their time spent on household chores and childcare has barely decreased[5], leaving half of the population simply exhausted, rather than fulfilled.

Men have become more involved in parenting and supportive of women having professional careers, but they are still less willing to share the burden at home.[6] Even younger generations, who are expected to become “more open-minded and egalitarian over time,” do not typically share housework equally today.[7] In 1975, the number of hours that men began dedicating to household chores increased substantially, creating space for women to spend less time on the same tasks.[8] That trend began to reverse around 2010, and a 2019 Gallup poll shows that women still single-handedly manage most of the daily household responsibilities, such as preparing meals, washing dishes, doing laundry, and cleaning the house.[9] The same poll shows that men typically manage the family’s vehicle maintenance and yardwork on their own, tasks which are required far less often.[10]

Economists and social scientists posit that the nature of work, specifically “greedy” jobs, has forced couples who want to have a family to divide and conquer: one spouse pursues a career, reaping hefty financial benefits, and the other spouse focuses on the home and family. Researchers have found that highly educated, heterosexual couples can maximize their financial gains when one partner, usually the husband, works extreme hours rather than both partners working reasonable, 40-hour weeks. Today, employees who work long, intense hours are paid significantly more for being constantly on-call as opposed to employees who worked at least 50 hours a week forty years ago.[11] This structure has developed over time, particularly in the legal industry, because the “greedy” jobs are typically “client service jobs.”[12] If a client is able to reach a lawyer, salesman, or accountant whenever the client has a question or need, then the client usually hires the more available professional in comparison to other professionals who can only be reached during more traditional working hours. Employers have capitalized on the “always-on” employee by paying a premium for their constant availability, meaning that one spouse can earn more on his or her own by working extreme hours than could the spouses together each working typical full-time schedules.[13] This setup usually results in the husband working long hours and the wife either working part-time or not at all so that she can take care of the family: a position in which many women do not want to be.

Women should be afforded the opportunity to be fulfilled by a career and to be a wife and mother if they wish. The goal is not to create a world where both partners work insane hours every week; it is to create a world where nobody has to.[14] Economist Claudia Goldin’s research reveals that “the most effective way to do that . . . is for employers to give workers more predictable hours and flexibility on where and when work gets done.”[15] This is made possible by making it “easier for workers to substitute for one another.”[16]

At The Rudnicki Firm, we are trying to do just that by implementing policies that provide flexibility and rest so that our employees are their best selves in all aspects of their lives. These policies include 12-week paid parental leave for lawyers and staff alike, providing modern technology that allows employees to easily work from home as needed, and setting a lower minimum-hour requirement for attorneys.

Caroline Lewis, Sharon Thomas, and Gila Brandenberger

Partner, Appellate Counsel, and Legal Staff Supervisor at TRF

Feedback from our employees shows that this model works. Attorney Caroline Lewis, who took parental leave after having her first child in February 2024, stated, “The best version of me as a mom is one who works.” Caroline is now a fulltime working mother thanks to the flexibility afforded by TRF. Additionally, after working as a fulltime attorney for over forty years, Sharon Thomas is thankful for the opportunity to work remotely so that she can visit her sister in another state 3-4 times a year. “Our technology is such that working remotely can be done seamlessly and securely, and that has been a valuable perk for me.” Finally, Gila Brandenberger has been working as a paralegal for over 30 years, and by the time she started at TRF in 2018, she had battled and beaten breast cancer. She was diagnosed with a rare form of Lymphoma in 2021 and continues fighting that battle today. TRF has supported Gila through a 6-week hospital stay, intense treatments, and recovery time so that she can process and deal with living with cancer. She stated, “Although I needed some time away from work, TRF understood that I also needed to work for various reasons, including a need to feel productive. I really feel this culture of support is due in part to the fact that I work for a woman-owned firm that is primarily staffed by women.”

To continue to evolve and create a firm where employees are satisfied with their jobs and do not feel pressured to work excessive hours, TRF closes the office during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, which started recently in 2024[DD2] . This is practically unheard of in the legal field, but TRF recognizes that people do their best work when they are supported and energized. Pizza parties just do not cut it in today’s busy world. By giving all its employees the opportunity to recharge, TRF has built a firm that produces excellent work, rivaling larger firms, and it has done so in a way that supports not just women, but everyone within the firm. TRF will continue exploring ways to improve the workplace for everyone, blazing the trail for the professional world to adopt similar policies that support people in their personal and professional lives.

---

[1] In Re Lady Lawyers: The Rise of Women Attorneys and The Supreme Court, https://www.supremecourt.gov/visiting/exhibitions/LadyLawyers/section1.aspx#LadyLawyers1 (last visited May 16, 2025)

[2] In Re Lady Lawyers: The Rise of Women Attorneys and The Supreme Court, https://www.supremecourt.gov/visiting/exhibitions/LadyLawyers/section1.aspx#LadyLawyers1 (last visited May 16, 2025)

[3] Jeffrey Johnson, J.D., Women In Law Statistics 2024 Forbes Advisor (Updated: Mar. 20, 2024, 11:34am, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/women-in-law-statistics/#sources_section

[4]Brittany N. Dernberberger, Joanna R. Pepin, Gender Flexibility, but not Equality: Young Adults’ Division of Labor Preferences, Sociological Science (January 2020, Vol. 7), chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://sociologicalscience.com/download/vol-7/january/SocSci_v7_36to56.pdf

[5]Brittany N. Dernberberger, Joanna R. Pepin, Gender Flexibility, but not Equality: Young Adults’ Division of Labor Preferences, Sociological Science (January 2020, Vol. 7), chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://sociologicalscience.com/download/vol-7/january/SocSci_v7_36to56.pdf

[6] Claire Cain Miller, Young Men Embrace Gender Equality, but They Still Don’t Vacuum, The New York Times (Feb. 11, 2020),  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/upshot/gender-roles-housework.html

[7] Francesca Donner, The Household Work Men and Women Do and Why, The New York Times (Feb. 12, 2020), https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/12/us/the-household-work-men-and-women-do-and-why.html

[8]Modern  Parenthood, Chapter 5: Americans’ Time at Paid Work, Housework, Child Care, 1965 to 2011, Pew Research Center (Mar. 14, 2013), https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/03/14/chapter-5-americans-time-at-paid-work-housework-child-care-1965-to-2011/

[9] Megan Brenan, Women Still Handle Main Household Tasks in U.S., Ballup (Jan. 29, 2020), https://news.gallup.com/poll/283979/women-handle-main-household-tasks.aspx

[10] Francesca Donner, The Household Work Mend and Women Do, and Why, The New York Times (Feb. 12, 2020), https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/12/us/the-household-work-men-and-women-do-and-why.html

[11] Claire Cain Miller, Women Did Everything Right. Then Work Got ‘Greedy.’How America’s obsession with long hours has widened the gender gap, The New York Times (April 26, 2019), https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/26/upshot/women-long-hours-greedy-professions.html

[12] Claire Cain Miller, Women Did Everything Right. Then Work Got ‘Greedy.’How America’s obsession with long hours has widened the gender gap, The New York Times (April 26, 2019), https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/26/upshot/women-long-hours-greedy-professions.html

[13] Claire Cain Miller, Women Did Everything Right. Then Work Got ‘Greedy.’How America’s obsession with long hours has widened the gender gap, The New York Times (April 26, 2019), https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/26/upshot/women-long-hours-greedy-professions.html

[14] Claire Cain Miller, Women Did Everything Right. Then Work Got ‘Greedy.’How America’s obsession with long hours has widened the gender gap, The New York Times (April 26, 2019), https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/26/upshot/women-long-hours-greedy-professions.html

[15] Claire Cain Miller, Women Did Everything Right. Then Work Got ‘Greedy.’How America’s obsession with long hours has widened the gender gap, The New York Times (April 26, 2019), https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/26/upshot/women-long-hours-greedy-professions.html

[16] Claire Cain Miller, Women Did Everything Right. Then Work Got ‘Greedy.’How America’s obsession with long hours has widened the gender gap, The New York Times (April 26, 2019), https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/26/upshot/women-long-hours-greedy-professions.html

TRF READS

Power, Leadership, & Purpose – A Six-Year Reflection

At The Rudnicki Firm, we don’t just practice law—we lead. And leadership isn’t a title; it’s a mindset, a method, and a muscle we continue to strengthen year after year.

 The TRF READS series was launched to shape our internal leadership culture through intentional, purpose-driven reading. Each year, we select a book that challenges conventional definitions of power and offers new frameworks for how we show up as advocates, colleagues, and leaders.

This series captures key lessons from each title, and how they resonate with the way we work—and win—at The Rudnicki Firm.

 2020 – Wolfpack by Abby Wambach

Lesson: Power is collective.

We lead with the pack. We share wins. We rewrite the rules. We don’t ask for permission—we take up space and bring others with us.

 2021 – When Women Lead by Julia Boorstin

Lesson: Power is authentic.

Empathy, adaptability, and emotional intelligence aren’t side notes to leadership. They’re the strategy. We lead best when we lead as ourselves.

 2022 – Good Power by Ginni Rometty

Lesson: Power is ethical and earned.

Trust is currency. Real leadership is about stewardship, accountability, and using power to open doors for others, not close them behind us.

 2023 – The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

Lesson: Power is resilience.

Not every day is a trial win—and that’s okay. Strength is showing up on hard days. Leadership includes rest, compassion, and endurance.

 2024 – Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

Lesson: Power is clear and courageous.

We speak truth. We hold boundaries. We don’t sugarcoat reality, and we don’t shy away from tough conversations—because that’s where trust lives.

 2025 – The Power Code by Katty Kay & Claire Shipman

Lesson: Power is impact without ego.

We reject outdated, hierarchical models. We define power by what it builds—not what it controls. That means joy, connection, and purposeful results.

How This Applies to The Rudnicki Firm

This reading journey wasn’t academic—it was cultural. These books reflect how we litigate, mentor, and collaborate. They align with our mission to elevate women in law, deliver fierce representation without ego, and create a firm culture rooted in trust, preparation, and purpose.

We lead with clarity. We prepare like nobody else. We show up with grit, grace, and generosity. And we lead with power that creates—not power that competes.

That recaps  the TRF READS series: six years, six powerful books, and one consistent thread—power doesn’t have to look like it used to. Not in the boardroom. Not in the courtroom. Not in leadership. And certainly not here.

What’s Next

We’ll continue adding to the TRF READS series. If you have a book to nominate for 2026 or insights to share from this year’s picks, we want to hear them!

Until then, keep reading. Keep leading. Keep rewriting the rules.

Happy International Women's Day!

As a woman-led and founded firm, we’re used to seeing women in law every day!

It has not always been common practice for women to join the bar: it took centuries to get here.

How many legendary women in law can you name?

• Margaret Brent: first woman lawyer in the American colonies in 1648

• Arabella Mansfield: first woman to be admitted to a state bar in 1869

• Ada Kepley: first woman to graduate from an American law school in 1870

• Charlotte Ray: first Black woman lawyer and first woman admitted to the District of Columbia bar in 1872

• Belva Lockwood: first woman admitted to the United States Supreme Court Bar in 1879

• Florence Allen: first woman to serve as a state supreme court justice in 1920

• Sandra Day O’Connor: first female justice for the United States Supreme Court in 1981

• Alma Bell Wilson: first woman to serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court (and later the first female Chief Justice of the same) in 1982

• Janet Reno: first woman to serve as a United States Attorney General in 1993

This is just a small sample of the many bright minds and pioneering spirits who blazed a trail through the traditionally male-dominated field of law. We are so grateful to the women who have paved the way for us and generations to come!

While progress has been made, there are more paths to forge ahead.

It is estimated that approximately half of law firm associates are female, but the numbers are halved when it comes to equity and managing partners. TRF intends to be part of this changing!

Celebrating 8 Years of Excellence at The Rudnicki Firm!

As we mark our 8th anniversary, we’re reflecting on the journey that has brought us here—a path shaped by our firm values: Integrity, Excellence, Fortitude, Appreciation, and Ingenuity. From courtroom victories to community engagement, TRF takes pride in what we’ve built together.

Legal Accolades & Achievements

Our attorneys have been honored by multiple organizations during our eight years. Here are just a few of the awards for which our team has received recognition:

Firm:
Best Law Firms in America©, Oklahoma City

·       Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation, 2023 - 2025

·       Tier 1 for Oil and Gas, 2025

·       Tier 2 in Energy Law, 2022 - 2025

The Journal Record

·       2024 Recipient of “Empowering Women” award

·       2023 Reader Rankings – Top 5 Civil Litigation Firms in Oklahoma City

Acquisition International (AI) Legal Awards

·       2022 Leading Women-Owned Litigation Firm 2022 – Southern USA

 Attorneys:
Best Lawyers, Oklahoma City

·       Johnny Blassingame, 2024 – 2025, Commercial Litigation

·       Caroline Lewis, “Ones to Watch”, 2023 – 2024, Commercial Litigation and Energy Law

·       JulieAnn Robison, “Ones to Watch”, 2024 – 2025, Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

·       Leah Rudnicki, 2017 – 2025, Commercial Litigation and Oil and Gas Law

·       Sharon Thomas, 2022 Energy Law “Lawyer of the Year”; 2013 – 2024 Oil and Gas and Energy Law; 2023 – 2025, Commercial Litigation

 Eugene Kuntz Oil and Gas Award

·       Sharon Thomas, 2024 Recipient and first female honoree

 Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Attorney

·       Johnny Blassingame

·       Sharon Thomas

 Super Lawyers, Oklahoma

·       Johnny Blassingame, 2022 – 2024, Civil Litigation: Defense

·       JulieAnn Robison (“Rising Star”), 2023 – 2024, Civil Litigation: Defense

·       Leah Rudnicki, 2021 – 2024, General Litigation

·       Sharon Thomas, Appellate, 2022 - 2024

Community Engagement

Beyond the courtroom, TRF thrives on advocacy and a deep-rooted commitment to our community.

 ·  Celebrating Women in Law – commemorating International Women’s Day and Rosie the Riveter Day annually, and empowering legal professionals to take parental leave without jeopardizing the advancement of their careers.
• Championing Mental Health Awareness – Advocating for wellness in the legal profession by encouraging all our employees - and anyone working in law - to advocate for themselves as much as their clients and embrace work/life harmony.
• Honoring Trailblazers – Celebrating way-pavers in law, whether historical figures, modern day leaders, or in-office mentors like our own Sharon Thomas, using 40+ years of experience to guide young attorneys and break barriers!

 Engagement:

·  Rocking the Stage for Justice – Our “Brief This!” lip-sync group won “Best Performance” at the Oklahoma Bar Foundation’s 2019 fundraiser, supporting access to justice programs.

·  A Mile a Day– annually participating in the “Move FTT” challenge to move at least a mile a day while raising funds for the For Their Thoughts Foundation for dementia patients and their caretakers.

· Supporting the Next Generation - annual attendance at the Juliette Lowe Leadership Society Luncheon celebrating inspiring girls and women leaders and the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma's “Cookies and Cocktails” fundraiser.

·  Earth Day –TRF team members and family beautified the grounds of Will Rogers Garden in Oklahoma City in 2024.

·  Giving Back – our volunteers packaged 3,168 meal kits for Oklahomans at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and served as Joy 4 Kids “Santa Sponsors” for a child in need during the holidays. Nationally, TRF has contributed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Hawaii Community Foundation, and California Community Foundation in recent years.

 In addition to the firm’s collective volunteering and pro-bono efforts, many of our team members individually give back to the community:

 ·       Johnny Blassingame coaches youth basketball.

·       Leah Rudnicki teaches Sunday school, has served as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, and is Co-Chair of the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Bench and Bar Committee.

·       Sharon Thomas reads for the Oklahoma City Head Start Program.

·       Caroline Lewis serves on the MPower, Inc. Board.

·       Staff members also fundraise and volunteer for multiple community organizations across the country, including Imagination Library, Positive Tomorrows, Rhode Island Pet Network, and Water4Water.

Who We Are

Outside of our time as lawyers, staff members, and volunteers, our team is made up of spouses, parents, grandparents, siblings, and caretakers. Most of us have pets, are dog-lovers, and have interests ranging from traveling to reading and from sports to acting. We embrace what makes us unique as much as what makes us a collective.

As we observe this milestone, TRF extends our deepest gratitude to our clients, colleagues, and community for their support. Here’s to many more years of growing together!

Issue Two: What Women Are (and Are Not) in the Electorate

Westlaw allows users to search for all Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) opinions that have used the phrase “women are”. A recent search returned 95 opinions. The most recent opinion using the phrase “women are” was the Dobbs opinion written by Justice Alito and joined by the majority members of SCOTUS:

“Women are not without electoral or political power.” Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Org., 597 U.S. 215, 2277 (2022).

Instead of saying what women are in this quote, Justice Alito says what women are not. He says women are NOT powerless. He says that we have the power to vote and that we need to use our power to vote (he says “women”, but it is an issue for everyone). This is not the time for women or men to sit out. Think of your mom, sister, daughter, wife, or any other label applied to a human who no longer has the same rights as before June 24, 2022, the date of the Dobbs’ opinion.

If you believe that now is better than “before” for women – 100% agree! As evidence of what it was like when only white men could vote, here is a sample run-on sentence contained in a dissenting minority opinion from SCOTUS dated December 1, 1851, penned by Justice Wayne. This opinion contains the following quote:

“[T]hat the testimony of women is weighed with caution and allowances for them differently from that of men…” Gaines v. Relf, 53 U.S. 472, 551 (1851) (dissenting opinion).

In other words:

“[W]omen are inferior to men…” Id.

Context: This opinion was written three years AFTER Seneca Falls, and almost 70 years before women had the federal right to vote.

Be sure to use your power today and VOTE!

Issue One: Oklahomans are 48th in the Nation in Voter Turnout

TRF Voter Information Series

As of July 3, 2024, The Rudnicki Firm (“TRF”) employs seventeen Oklahoma residents and has lawyers working twenty pending cases in the state courts of Oklahoma.1  The city/town, county, state, and federal elections each have different effects on an individual Oklahoman and the governance of different levels.  If you think or you have been told that your vote does not count, that is simply false.  Every vote counts and this is true in the year 2024, just like it has been in every past year. This article is to provide facts so each of you will VOTE.  If you need to register, you can do so here. 

Did you know that a single vote in Oklahoma is worth more than a single vote in almost any other jurisdiction in the nation? Regrettably, this value is due to Oklahomans near last place ranking in voter turnout.² The pitiful Election Day turnout is a relatively new trend, as the state has steadily dropped seventeen places over the past five presidential elections.³ But voter turnout is a tight field; even a ten-percent voter increase can make Oklahoma competitive with the national average in time for the 2024 Election.⁴

Bumping up the number of voters in Oklahoma could lead to federal dollars and increased disposable income for all state residents. Low state voter turnout has been financially crippling: Oklahomans’ disposable income is at a twenty-year low compared to other states.⁵ Last year, Kansans kept on average over $3,000 more than their Oklahoman neighbor.⁶ During the pandemic, Oklahomans were made to scrape by with some of the least federal support in the nation.⁷ These financial realities coincide with the near thirty-year freefall in relative voter turnout that finds Oklahoma at the bottom of the list.⁸  

Voters ensure that Oklahoma selects the most capable candidate who can compete and win for Oklahoma on the national stage. Voters represent the millions of Oklahomans who either will not or cannot vote for themselves.   

VOTE. Whether you vote to bring the state back into national competition, to boost Oklahomans’ support and income, to improve quality of life for you and your family, or to ensure the most capable candidate is elected, VOTE.  Based on the data, your vote should count more here in Oklahoma than anywhere else in the country.  

The Voter Registration Deadline for the General Election is October 11, 2024. For those who cannot vote on the November 5, 2024, Election Day in Oklahoma, early voting begins on October 31, 2024, and runs through noon on November 2, 2024. Learn more about the voting process in Oklahoma from the Oklahoma State Election Board.

---

¹ TRF is motivated to increase voter turn out.

² Election Sciences Lab, Univ. of Fla., 2020 General Election Turnout, https://election.lab.ufl.edu/voter-turnout/2020-general-election-turnout/ (last visited June 24, 2024); New Hampshire Secretary of State, Voter Turnout Ranking of States: 1996-2020 Presidential Elections, Based on Vote for Highest Office Divided by Voting Age Population (VAP) AFTER National Voter Registration Act of 1993, https://www.sos.nh.gov/ (last visited June 24, 2024); Voter turnout rate in the presidential election in the United States as of December 7, 2020, by state https://www.statista.com/statistics/1184621/presidential-election-voter-turnout-rate-state/.

³ Id.

⁴ Id.

⁵ U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SASUMMARY State annual summary statistics: personal income, GDP, consumer spending, price indexes, and employment (https://apps.bea.gov/itable/?ReqID=70&step=1, last visited June 24, 2024).

⁶ Id.

⁷ https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/fiscalrecoveryfunds-statefunding1-508A.pdf.

⁸ See Election Sciences Lab, supra; New Hampshire Secretary of State, supra.

Mental Health Awareness in Law

The Rudnicki Firm is observing Mental Health Awareness Month this May.

It’s no secret that legal work can take a toll on the mental health of lawyers and staff. Long days, complex tasks and decisions, frequently changing focus, and needing to be easily accessible can be hard on new and seasoned professionals alike. There is no easy solution, but making space to reevaluate priorities and approaching from a place of empathy can ease the strain. 

At TRF, we strive for employees to feel comfortable discussing concerns and asking for help. It is imperative in a hybrid workplace that every member of our team is seen and heard. In addition to the efforts of our dedicated managers, the entire firm gathers for bimonthly “Coffee Talks”, where all update on status and evaluate workloads. Prevention of burnout benefits not just our team, but our clients, too, who receive our best efforts when we’re at our healthiest.

No matter your title or position, mental health affects us all. Simply making our state of mind a regular subject of discussion and removing any surrounding stigma can prove life-changing for colleagues – and ourselves. We all can recognize when we need to step back from work or other hardships to take time with family and friends. When taking care of our bodies and using our usual stress relief strategies aren’t enough, however, there are support groups and counselors ready to help.

Are you in the legal profession and feeling anxious, depressed, or using unhealthy coping mechanisms? Lawyer Assistance Programs exist in every state, providing confidential support to judges, lawyers and law students facing mental health problems and substance abuse. In Oklahoma, contact Lawyers Helping Lawyers at 1-800-364-7886. Texans can contact the Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program at 1-800-343-8527, Voicemail at 512-463-1453, E-mail, or visit Facebook.