I have been well rewarded for my work as a lawyer, but I have to say that a large measure of the satisfaction I feel as I review a lifetime in the practice derives from the work with others in the volunteer sector—including fellow lawyers—to effect worthwhile, sometimes even important, results. There is, indeed, a widespread incidence of lawyers in the private bar who give time and advice to nonprofit organizations—sometimes through lawyering and sometimes through board, committee or management work. This volunteer public-interest work is nearly as important as the work of lawyers in a public-interest law office.
To me, a lawyer's responsibility to do public service can be summarized quite simply: to whom much is given, much is expected. And much is given to us who have had the opportunity to get a good education, get a law-school education, work in a law firm, make an adequate or better living and enjoy the fruits of the great education. We owe something back to the society that made it possible.
I see considerable overlap in the characteristics that lead a person to the practice of law and those that lead a person to be involved in civic activity. These activities share a major ingredient—the challenge of the planning and follow-through required to get a desired result. In both cases, the process is largely dependent upon persuading others to accept the wisdom of a plan and organizing a plan that works within the rules and traditions that govern the activity.
The essence of this civic work is problem-solving: the city needs a zoo, our schools need to pass a levy, foster children deserve a better shake. There are thousands of problems, virtually none of which are going to be rectified without organized citizen involvement.
Let me mention one of my activities that I feel particularly good about. I was asked to chair a long-range-planning committee for the Washington State Bar Association back in the '80s. The question we pondered was what the primary objective of our bar should be. In fairly short order, that group—which was an assembly of very experienced, thoughtful lawyers —came to a strong consensus: the most important thing that a state bar association could do and the priority of its agenda should be to improve the level of access to justice for all citizens. The Bar Board of Governors readily accepted this conclusion and obtained a rule from our state Supreme Court establishing a permanent Access to Justice Board, making this work a priority for the whole justice system.
In closing, I would add that the unpaid time and effort so many lawyers devote to the work of the profession itself—supporting the court system, administering lawyer discipline and the like—is a part, and an important part, of the whole of the voluntary work we do.
I feel sure I am not alone in these reflections.
For more information about the work of the Washington Access to Justice Board, go to www.wsba.org/atj.
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