As the holiday approaches, it is customary to pause and reflect on those things for which we are thankful. Many of our causes for giving thanks are personal, but we should not overlook the blessings of our professional lives. As the legal profession, like so many others, struggles through difficult times, and as the burden of those times falls heavily and unfairly on many talented and dedicated lawyers, it becomes more difficult to see reasons to be thankful. When the stresses and strains of modern law practice start to wear on me, I find it helpful to think of a balance sheet, that lists both assets and liabilities, and to use this time to focus only on the assets side, knowing full well that I spend more than enough time the rest of the year focused on the liabilities. And I find it helpful to think beyond my personal situation, to the lives and works of others. So, here is a partial list of those things for which I am thankful today.
I am thankful for the many brilliant people I have had the privilege of associating with in various work settings for 30 years of practice, and most thankful for the friends and colleagues with whom I work today.
I am thankful for the clients who entrust me with their important matters, and for my partners and referral sources who entrust their clients to me.
I am thankful for the mentors who have taught me, and for the young lawyers whom I have the opportunity to teach.
I am thankful for the support staff who keep my law firm going, and without whom we would surely be at sea.
I am thankful for the people I have come to know through professional associations, and especially for the staff, leaders and countless volunteers of the Boston Bar Association, who work tirelessly and effectively, day in and day out, for the betterment of our profession, its struggling members, and our society.
I am thankful for the lawyers who have left behind or foregone lucrative private practices to work in public service, and especially for those in the judiciary who work without adequate support to uphold the tradition of justice on which our democracy, our freedom, and our economy depend.
I am thankful for the legal services attorneys and pro bono volunteers who devote their time and talents to those in need, especially now when the need is great and the support is strained.
I am thankful for my family, who put up with the long hours and the frequent travel that come with the territory of the practice of law.
Finally, I am thankful that there is cause for hope that our profession will pull out of the current malaise as the economy recovers and as we learn to adapt to new challenges and what may be a new paradigm.
We belong to a great and noble profession, populated with extraordinary people. While many have found it hard to stay busy, some have lost their jobs, and some have had their jobs deferred, there still is work to be done, there still are opportunities to serve, there still are fellow professionals who care, and there no doubt are better days ahead. For that, at least, we can give thanks.
I am thankful for the many brilliant people I have had the privilege of associating with in various work settings for 30 years of practice, and most thankful for the friends and colleagues with whom I work today.
I am thankful for the clients who entrust me with their important matters, and for my partners and referral sources who entrust their clients to me.
I am thankful for the mentors who have taught me, and for the young lawyers whom I have the opportunity to teach.
I am thankful for the support staff who keep my law firm going, and without whom we would surely be at sea.
I am thankful for the people I have come to know through professional associations, and especially for the staff, leaders and countless volunteers of the Boston Bar Association, who work tirelessly and effectively, day in and day out, for the betterment of our profession, its struggling members, and our society.
I am thankful for the lawyers who have left behind or foregone lucrative private practices to work in public service, and especially for those in the judiciary who work without adequate support to uphold the tradition of justice on which our democracy, our freedom, and our economy depend.
I am thankful for the legal services attorneys and pro bono volunteers who devote their time and talents to those in need, especially now when the need is great and the support is strained.
I am thankful for my family, who put up with the long hours and the frequent travel that come with the territory of the practice of law.
Finally, I am thankful that there is cause for hope that our profession will pull out of the current malaise as the economy recovers and as we learn to adapt to new challenges and what may be a new paradigm.
We belong to a great and noble profession, populated with extraordinary people. While many have found it hard to stay busy, some have lost their jobs, and some have had their jobs deferred, there still is work to be done, there still are opportunities to serve, there still are fellow professionals who care, and there no doubt are better days ahead. For that, at least, we can give thanks.
Comments
Post a Comment