TFP BLOG: April 2010

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The Legacy of John Adams

One hundred percent of our voters believe that pro bono representation of the popular and unpopular is a nobel tradition in the law and should not be a bar to working for the government.

John Adams would agree. He didn't just work for the government, he worked toward creating our government, even after he represented the wildly unpopular British soldiers accused of the Boston Massacre. (Although I don't know if he took on the representation pro bono).

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

NYCLA is a Cooperating Entity for the ABA International Section 2010 Spring Meeting

NYCLA is a cooperating entity for the ABA International Sections 2010 Spring Meeting, which is happening right now! If you need CLE credit and are interested in international issues, the 2010 Spring meeting offers four days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) of cutting-edge programs that you should check out. Also scheduled are lunches with distinguished speakers and lots of networking and social events too. Rates for programs are the same for NYCLA members as for ABA members. You can check out the programs by following this link:

http://www.abanet.org/intlaw/spring2010/agenda.html

NYCLA DRAFT DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONALISM

By professionalism we mean a group pursuing a learned art as a higher calling in a spirit that it is performing a public service, a service that is indispensible in a democratic nation founded on the rule of law. This calling is no less a public service because it may also be a means of livelihood. Pursuit of a learned art in the spirit of a public service is the essence of being a lawyer. It implies obligations of dignity, integrity, self-respect and respect for others.

The essence of professionalism is a commitment to develop one's skills to the fullest and to apply them responsibly and with the utmost diligence to the problem at hand. Professionalism requires adherence to the highest standards of integrity and a willingness to subordinate narrow self-interest in pursuit of the more fundamental goal of client service. Because of the tremendous power they wield in our system, lawyers must never forget that their duty to serve their clients fairly and skillfully takes priority over the personal accumulation of wealth. Lawyers must be willing and prepared to undertake zealous advocacy on behalf of their clients while retaining enough perspective to provide those clients with considered, well-informed and objective advice.

Although duties to their clients in particular matters are paramount, lawyers must throughout their careers remain conscious of and committed to the goal of improving the profession and the system of justice. This commitment includes taking personal and professional measures to increase the availability of legal services and abet even-handed and efficient application and administration of the legal system for all segments of society.