Have you ever worked on a project that paid you back in inspiration, relationships with new colleagues, and a renewed sense of purpose?
That’s what the new ABA book on professionalism in the legal profession has been for me. I had the privilege of editing it, gathering the wisdom and hard-earned experience of lawyers and judges who care deeply about what it means to belong to a profession defined by our duties to our colleagues, our clients, the courts, and the public.
I’m grateful to the contributors who shared their stories and insights, and to the ABA Section of Litigation Ethics and Professionalism Committee, which I co-chair, for trusting me with this project.
The book’s purpose is simple. It is to remind us that professionalism isn’t a credential or a slogan–it’s a daily practice. Each essay offers a different perspective on who we are as lawyers and who we hope to become. At a time when the rule of law and public trust in our institutions feel especially fragile, the book is an invitation to re-evaluate and recommit to the highest ideals of the legal profession.
My own hope is that it offers something you can carry with you into your next brief, hearing, or conversation with a client or colleague — and that you’ll share it with someone else who cares about professionalism in the law so that they can do the same.
You can learn more about the book and order a copy through the American Bar Association here:
https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/456859450/
Legal Ethics Today 