President's Letter

Lawyers Do Well by Doing Good

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Now, as our nation faces economic uncertainty and anemic state court budgets threaten access to justice, it is important for us to do what is right as lawyers. Pro bono work helps our communities…

Oct 1, 2011 9:40 AM CDT

Step Up, Pitch In, Make a Difference

I begin by thanking you for entrusting me with this great privilege and responsibility of representing you, our members, as well as our entire profession. The operative term is representing, because that is what we do every day in our practice of law. Whether our client is an individual, a…

Sep 1, 2011 8:50 AM CDT

Getting in the Way: It’s a Lawyer’s Job to Do Right, and Deter Wrong

Often we talk about the good that lawyers make possible: the wrongs we right, the facts we uncover, the agreements we shape, the laws we improve and clarify. But the most important thing we do is often overlooked. Simply put, we get in the way of attempts to shortcut justice.…

Aug 1, 2011 8:20 AM CDT

A Common Thread: Four Different ABA Entities Share Goal of Safeguarding Constitutional Democracy

One of the things the ABA should offer is a complete picture of key issues in the legal profession. Call it connecting the dots. And that’s why this year’s work by four different interconnected ABA entities is so important. In their own way, each is safeguarding our constitutional democracy for…

Jul 1, 2011 9:10 AM CDT

ABA Military Pro Bono Project Offers Civil Legal Assistance to US Service Members

One thing I’ve learned as ABA president is that 12 months is not long enough to tell you about all the important projects we take on. I would like to share one project with you that relates to the ABA’s increasing advocacy on behalf of our fighting men and women.…

Jun 1, 2011 8:20 AM CDT

Truth in Legal Education Will Help Prospective Law Students Make Informed Decisions

The legal profession right now is changing, affecting every lawyer, whether a 1961 or 2011 graduate. While lawyers remain typically averse to change, the profession has demonstrated an ability to respond to challenges creatively and effectively. Even in these difficult times law students have not made a mistake in choosing…

May 1, 2011 9:20 AM CDT

With Our Courts Starving for Resources, the ABA Will Redouble its Advocacy Efforts

In what country do courts require you to bring your own paper if you want to file a complaint? Where are civil jury trials being suspended for up to a year? Where is it that 97 percent of lawyers surveyed say their clients are under pressure to settle or plead…

Apr 1, 2011 9:00 AM CDT

More Effort Is Needed to Support Legal System Diversity, and ‘Fatigue’ Is Not an Option

Di·ver·si·ty: the condition of having or being composed of differing elements; the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization. Fa·tigue: weariness or exhaustion from labor, exertion or stress. —Merriam-Webster.com In the next few months, a host of important facts…

Mar 1, 2011 11:20 AM CST

Value and Visibility: Two Major Priorities Guide Efforts to Address Needs of Lawyers and the Public

February marks the halfway point of an ABA presidential year, and as such it’s a good time to reflect on where the association has been and where it needs to go. We have accomplished a great deal in the past six months with regard to two major priorities: value and…

Feb 1, 2011 9:50 AM CST

Careful Planning Is Needed to Ensure Provision of Legal Services in Time of Disaster

Unthinkable occurrences do happen, like Katrina or the 1,000-year floods that hit Tennessee in May. And most national threat assessments warn of a possible major terrorist attack on U.S. soil, such as a nuclear device or a biological or chemical bomb. Careful planning can determine how well you rebound from…

Jan 1, 2011 10:10 AM CST

Better Civic Education Will Inform Our Children and Inspire Them to Participate

“Civic education in the United States is not good enough.” —Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter, August 2009 Our country’s future as a democracy depends on the integrity of our legal institutions, our commitment to justice and our understanding of constitutional self-government. Our children must learn those values.…

Dec 1, 2010 6:15 AM CST

Lawyers Do Well by Doing Good

Step Up, Pitch In, Make a Difference

Getting in the Way: It’s a Lawyer’s Job to Do Right, and Deter Wrong

A Common Thread: Four Different ABA Entities Share Goal of Safeguarding Constitutional Democracy

ABA Military Pro Bono Project Offers Civil Legal Assistance to US Service Members

Truth in Legal Education Will Help Prospective Law Students Make Informed Decisions

With Our Courts Starving for Resources, the ABA Will Redouble its Advocacy Efforts

More Effort Is Needed to Support Legal System Diversity, and ‘Fatigue’ Is Not an Option

Value and Visibility: Two Major Priorities Guide Efforts to Address Needs of Lawyers and the Public

Careful Planning Is Needed to Ensure Provision of Legal Services in Time of Disaster

Better Civic Education Will Inform Our Children and Inspire Them to Participate

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