As I write this column, 2010 has just come to an end. The New
Year has begun with crisp and cold days and I am relaxed and
rejuvenated after having had the privilege of spending some time off
with my family and friends. I hope that each of you reading this
column have had at least some opportunity to enjoy the people and
things that are important to you as well and are now ready to start the
New Year refreshed and ready to make a difference. The beginning of
a New Year is often a time we reflect on how to make changes for the
better in our lives and our work so I decided to use the space in this
column this month to speak about two issues important to me, and
hopefully to you as well.
PROFESSIONALISM
As we all know well, our profession by its very nature is conflict-
filled and adversarial. Many if not most practicing attorneys work long
hours and spend their days working with people who are experiencing
some of the most difficult times of their lives: foreclosures, criminal
charges, divorces, land disputes, drug or alcohol abuse issues, out of
control children, serious medical problems and financial woes: simply
put, clients are not usually in a good space and are not always able to
function at their best. It is often too easy to personalize clients’ legal
problems to the point of forgetting that we are professionals. The
attorneys who make the most positive impression, to their clients, to
the bench (at least to this member of the bench) and to the community
are those who remember the little things: they work hard and are
prepared, they come to court on time, they follow the rules, they can
be counted on to keep their word and, though zealous advocates and
adversarial in the court room, remain courteous and civil to each other
and to everyone involved in the legal process: clerks in the courtroom,
court reporters and staff at the courthouse, workers at your office and
the office of your adversary, state workers at the departments your
client sues, the legal secretary at your law office or adversary’s office –
in short, the public.
At the end of the day each of us is a part of the public face of the
legal profession; and we should remember that when we are doing our
work, we touch the lives of many people, including many who we do
not know are even watching us. Acting professionally is a simple way
to show the best side of our profession, and it brings many rewards, to
you and to your clients.
PUBLIC SERVICE
Those of you who know me know that public service is important
to me. As a profession, we are very privileged and I have always
believed it is important to give back. There are many ways for each
of us to make a difference, and I want to encourage each of you to
find a way to continue to donate your time and expertise, or if you
haven’t yet found time or the right place to give to, resolve to make this
year the time to start. Here are some ideas: Volunteer for Thurston
County Volunteer Legal Services or take on a pro bono case, be a Big
Brother or Sister, volunteer at the Thurston County Food Bank, the
animal shelter, your local high school or your children’s classrooms,
the Thurston County Bar Association, the Dispute Resolution Center,
or your neighborhood association to name just a few. If you are
interested in helping but think you don’t have time, there are ways
you can contribute in smaller (and still important) ways: volunteer
to help either Judge Dubuisson or me with our Street Law classes at
two local high schools, join or speak at your local service club, donate
your unused books and/or clothes to families in need. If you want to
give in a way that is different from your work life, consider signing up
for downtown Olympia clean-up days, working at the animal shelter,
sorting food or filling backpacks for school children at the Food Bank,
helping to clean up a local park or being a big brother or big sister to a
young person who needs a positive adult role model. If you truly don’t
have time to donate, consider making greater financial contributions.
As 2011 begins, resolve to improve your life and the lives of those
around you by practicing law in the most professional way you can and
by contributing more to our community. Especially in these difficult
times, we will all benefit.