Freeman's Challenge:

"...much to be done...our neighbors will need our help..."

My guess is that not many of us knew what the practice of law involved when we made the decision to become lawyers. I know I did not. My ambition to be a lawyer began with winning oratorical contests in grammar school. (In those days we called them “declamation contests”). Whether it was this early experience or some more important guidance along the way, I stumbled ahead into what has been for me the happiest of all possible careers.

Of course the practice of law has its full measure of problems, but even with the burdens we all share, I know I am not alone in understanding that as lawyers we really do fill an important professional niche, wherever we live. Beyond this, I believe that all of us have a very important craving for service above and beyond the work we do strictly for pay. As lawyers, we have a rich variety of possibilities for this service.

For example, as officers of the Court, we fill needs for pro bono counsel to the poor and the disadvantaged that frequently cannot be met in any other way. Properly administered and fairly allocated, this is work lawyers proudly accept. We willingly do our share, and the role of officer of the Court is a badge of great honor.

Apart from this, our training as lawyers especially qualifies us for government service. We are in a primary position to serve in the general assembly and the many other Federal and state government offices.

And importantly beyond this, as lawyers, over time we can become trusted advisors, not just to our clients, but to the community at large. It is in this role that we often find our best chance to make a significant difference in the lives of our fellow citizens.

Currently our nation is in a serious economic crisis. The financial troubles we find ourselves in today will pass in time. How bad the troubles will be and just when we will recover, we don’t yet fully know. As lawyers we DO know that there will be much to be done, and we know that our neighbors will need our help in many ways not covered by billable hours – but in ways that will still be deeply satisfying service – open to us all.

Finally, let me say again, that I very much appreciate receiving this award. I know that this is a room full of potential DuRant Award winners and that my remarks in every sense constitute preaching to the choir.

Photo credit: John Mann Photography