December 2000

President’s Corner

Proud to Be a Lawyer:
Holiday Edition

by Jan Eric Peterson, WSBA President

As I go around the state banging my "proud to be a lawyer" drum, and as the holidays approach, I am thinking of possible connections with the spirit of the season. Certainly we can trace our profession’s roots to the basic Judeo-Christian ethic, the tenets of the laws of right and wrong in Western culture. Moses could be considered our first law-giver when he delivered the Ten Commandments and the long list of laws that followed. The tradition of interpretation and judgment can be seen as the seeds of the legal profession. We can look to Solomon for the judicial model of wisdom with compassion, a wise and understanding heart.

Jesus could have been a great lawyer. He understood the necessity of the rule of law and said he didn’t come to destroy the old laws or the teachings of the prophets but to fulfill them. He said to give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, the laws of commerce and coin. But, of course, he understood the power of civil disobedience to reveal an unjust and corrupt order. He also had a gift for teaching through parables and stories that would have made him a great advocate.

Even the legend of Santa Claus teaches rewards for good behavior and the punishment of only a few lumps of coal for those who behave badly. Like a judge, he’s making a list and checking it twice to see who’s naughty and nice.

From these holiday inspirations we can learn the common thread of community and caring for others that should be the guiding principle of a service profession. Join in the holiday activities of your community, particularly those that embody the spirit of giving and caring. Make a holiday gift of yourself by volunteering. Get out there and be a visible example of a profession we can all be proud of by living the true holiday spirit.

Happy holidays.

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