HOW SERVING OTHERS IS THE OBLIGATION OF EVERY LAWYER By Lori L. Burrows In the 1590s, William Shakespeare penned Henry VI. Arguably the most famous line from the play is Dick the Butcher’s proclamation “[t]he first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Type that quotation into any online search engine and see for yourself the extensive and sometimes heated debate regarding whether Shakespeare was lauding or lamenting our profession. Read in context, the line was delivered to a mob angry with the monarchy. The Butcher’s invitation to “kill all the lawyers” was said in response to rebel Cade’s plea for revolution. They wanted to overthrow their government and create a dictatorship led by lawlessness. Given the context, it is my belief that the Butcher was acknowledging the service lawyers provide the community at large. He was saying, in effect, that without lawyers society has no backbone or rule of law. Because we are in an election season, reflection on the origins of our country and the revolution that produced one of the only thriving democracies on Earth is natural. Though not perfect our legal and political framework, borne of the United States Constitutional Convention in 1787, has served us well for more than two centuries. When one considers that 35 of the 55 delegates willing to serve at the Constitutional Convention were either practicing lawyers or had legal training and well more than half of our Presidents have been lawyers as well, the inextricable link between the law, democracy, and public service is apparent. Although the motivations to attend law school and practice law are as varied as the members of our profession, it is my contention that service is the linchpin of the legal profession and each lawyer should strive to serve others. Public service, regardless of the gain, fuels our profession and our profession ensures our society’s underpinnings remain strong. This is as true of young lawyers in Arkansas as it was of the founding fathers. As part of our jobs we encounter clients during both trying times such as a divorce or personal injury, as well as exciting times such as the adoption of a child or the creation of a new corporate venture. On their behalf, we maneuver the legal landscape to protect or promote their interests. Lawyers ensure there is vindication against crime coupled with the protection of innocent people charged with a crime. We ensure there is orderly redress for most wrongdoing, and in the case of our beloved country, a functioning democracy. At the risk of becoming self-aggrandizing, it is important to remember that our calling to be attorneys comes with a commensurate calling to be diligent public servants. In order to honor those who came before us as well as advance our political and legal frameworks we must engage in activism for the benefit of our legal community as well as the community at large. I believe engaging in community service—however you define that for yourself—is part of our obligation to the rule of law and the privilege of practicing law. Consider this your call to use your skills, including the legal ones, to serve others. If you are not sure where to start, let me help. We are fortunate to have two law schools in this state, both of which could use volunteers. Professors and administrators are continually looking for attorneys to participate in moot court and other similar oncampus competitions as well as help with mock interviews to prepare students for law clerk interviews. In addition, the Arkansas Bar Association annually sponsors the mock trial competition, which needs judges, bailiffs and other support personnel. Arkansas Legal Services Partnership always needs lawyers to do pro bono work for families and individuals in need. Alumni associations need volunteers to lead their organization and you could help raise funds to support your alma mater’s growth. Every local animal shelter needs help grooming, feeding and 4 walking the pets in its care on a daily basis. The local chapters of
Habitat for Humanity need people every Saturday morning throughout the spring and summer to build homes for deserving families. Hospitals and nursing homes need volunteers to visit patients to brighten their days. Literacy groups need volunteers to tutor both children and adults and teach them to read. Since graduating from law school, I have engaged in each of the activities above and I can attest personally that I have always gotten much more than I have given. As another lawyer famously said, “service is the rent we pay for living:” Ms. Wright Edelman got it right—it is not enough that our profession as a whole is one rooted in service; we also have to be individuals who serve. Service to others gives us a fuller appreciation of our own lives. If you would like to volunteer but do not know where to start, please feel free to contact me and I can get you in touch with organizations seeking volunteers. Otherwise, go pay some rent by using your skills to make our community a better place to live. Endnotes 1. For an interesting and opposite opinion I recommend The Ethical Spectacle-Lawyers, July 1997, online at http://www.spectacle.org/797/ finkel.html. 2. Marian Wright Edelman is a Yale-educated lawyer and lifelong children’s rights advocate. The same quotation has been credited to Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress in 1968. Lori L. Burrows is a Staff Attorney for the Arkansas Public Service Commission in Little Rock. She can be reached by phone at 501.682.5875 or email at LBurrows@psc.state.ar.us.