November 2000

Public Trust, Confidence and Respect: Be Part of the Solution

by Jan Eric Peterson
WSBA President

Last month I wrote that I am campaigning for a proud profession. I stated that it begins with each of us, by being proud of who we are and what we do, and reclaiming the position of respect we should be afforded as members of one of the learned professions. So what can we do about it? An old saying from the '60s still rings true today: If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

To be afforded respect, we must earn it. The easiest way to change public perception is to change reality. The three respected learned professions used to be doctors, lawyers and clergy. What sets them apart from other "professionals" who get paid for a special skill, from Ph.D.s who have mastered a body of knowledge? They are helping professions serving the highest values: health and well-being, spiritual fulfillment and justice. The public's trust, confidence and respect for lawyers is at an all-time low because many are convinced we have lost sight of our fundamental purpose and core values; we have become more a business and less a learned profession. Lawyers are seen as too expensive, too greedy, too slow, and too contentious, causing more problems than they solve. We are not perceived in our role as counselors, problem solvers or public servants. We must make some fundamental changes to earn back the public's trust, confidence and respect. We must bear in mind that our role is to serve our clients and the public interest first and provide valuable and affordable service in a timely manner, or risk becoming irrelevant.

Access to justice is key if we are to regain our position as one of the respected, helping professions. One of the promises of America is equal justice for all. It's written on the Supreme Court building. It's in the Pledge of Allegiance. When that promise is broken, nothing else we do will earn the public's trust, confidence and respect. It's not just lawyers' responsibility, it is society's responsibility. Adequate funding for civil legal services and the courts must be a number-one priority for the Bar.

The next priority is public legal education. It's shocking to know that 60 percent of the populace can't name the three branches of government. A civics course is not required to receive a high school diploma in Washington. Jury summons response is down to 20 percent. The third branch of government, the judiciary, is equally important, but judicial elections remind us how little the public thinks about it. I was frustrated when trying to find judicial race returns on television the night of the recent primary election. I couldn't find one. Obviously, the message from the media was "it's not important"! In a system of self-government, it is essential that the public appreciate, understand and participate in the institutions of society. There is no more important principle than the rule of law, no more important institution than the justice system. There can be no freedom without justice. Studies and surveys show that the more people know and the more actual experience they have with the justice system, such as serving as jurors, the more trust, confidence and respect they express.

You can help me do something about it. Be part of the solution. I have formed the President's Initiative Task Force to conduct the campaign for a proud profession. A multitude of ideas have been proposed. But yours are certainly encouraged and welcomed. Write, call or e-mail me. Following are a few things that can happen if we have the will to volunteer. Join me in one specific effort to be part of the solution:

The goal is to place a lawyer in every classroom in every school in the state during Law Week, the week of May 1. Last year's pilot project was a resounding success. This year, under the leadership of Ron Bemis, the program will be expanded. Volunteer lawyers will be connected with teachers and schools to teach about the law by conducting mock trials, showing videos, answering questions, etc. We need you to volunteer. Contact Lisa KauzLoric at 206-733-5944 or lisak@wsba.org. Be part of the solution.

The Volunteer Attorneys Legal Services program (VALS) and the local county bar associations provide innumerable opportunities for pro bono service, one case at a time. You do have the time to do something. Every time a lawyer does something for nothing, at least three things are accomplished: (1) Someone is helped who needs justice, (2) enormous public good will is engendered for the profession, and (3) the lawyer gets a great deal of personal satisfaction for having done the right thing for all the right reasons. Call your local bar and volunteer; access the WSBA website access to justice page at http://www.waaccesstojustice.org/; contact Sharlene Steele at 206-626-8262 or sharlene@ wsba.org. Be part of the solution.

Under the leadership of WSBA Governor Steve Henderson, and with the coordination of the Professionalism Committee, we are determined to create and implement a meaningful mentorship program for every new admittee to our bar. This means providing each new lawyer with a qualified, trained mentor, armed with materials and annually accountable for actually having done the job. A learned profession nurtures its own. Volunteer by contacting Tom Russell at 206-727-8220 or cle@wsba.org. Be part of the solution.

Every time you hear about a lawyer who has done something especially good, honor that person in any number of ways: Acknowledge what they have done by writing, calling or personally congratulating them. Call your daily or community newspaper, radio station or other media outlet and tell them about it. Gather testimonials and thank yous about lawyers and send them to us. We'll get them to the media, we'll publish them on our website, we'll spread the news. Contact Director of Communications Judy Berrett at WSBA, 2101 Fourth Ave., 4th Fl., Seattle, WA 98121-2330; 206-727-8212, judithb@wsba.org. Be part of the solution.

We intend to produce public service announcements; develop an office pamphlet or brochure entitled "Proud to Be a Lawyer" for you to give to your clients, teachers and friends; write op/ed pieces, editorials and letters to the editor for newspapers; and revitalize the Speakers Bureau with a kit and an outreach program to get lawyers to speak to community organizations, service clubs and the like. If any of these ideas interest you — volunteer, either on your own or through Judy Berrett in the Communications Department of the WSBA. Be part of the solution.

Don't give anyone a reason to make a joke about you. Through our daily interactions with clients, witnesses, jurors and our communities, we can be seen as trying to help if in fact we are. The jokes will disappear when the facts improve and the public perception catches up. Someone asked how I want to be remembered after my year as president is over. I had to think about it, because it's looking at what you want to do from the other end of the tunnel. I'd like people to say: He made me proud to be a lawyer; he helped me be part of the solution. Please help me.

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