Our Common Calling

Allene Evans is a friend of mine, and I know her to be a lawyer of the highest order. Her eyes are so bright that you are instantly aware of her perspicacity* and intellect.

In the casual conversation of a recent political gathering, Allene recently shared experiences she had while on a safari to Kenya a couple of years ago. Her comments struck me as some evidence of the informed and strong belief held by people everywhere, even in the remote areas of the world, that it is not enough to have a system of justice. We must have individuals who are trained and entrusted with carrying the torch for this system. In our society they are called lawyers.

Allene told us of being in that part of Africa during the rainy season and experiencing the intense curiosity of young people who were surprised at confronting as a visitor, an unaccompanied woman who was “not real old.” (She’s not. Having just turned 65 myself, I know youth!) Young Kenyans, especially, bombarded her with many questions. One was almost always, “what do you do?”

“They were surprised and thrilled when I told them I was a lawyer,” she said. Two particular experiences made a strong impression upon her. One occurred when a mother said “… my little girl has always wanted to be a lawyer. She is so smart!” Allene was touched, and gave the lady’s daughter her own silver friendship ring as a token of her confidence in the child’s dream. Allene said, “You are going to be a lawyer.” Without hesitating, the girl blurted, “Yes, I am!”

The other happened when she observed to a young boy: “It seems significant to you that I am a lawyer.” The immediate response was, “Why, lawyers are the guardians of a just and free society.”

That this young man in a foreign country recognizes that we lawyers are “the guardians of a free society” is more than just astonishing. It is a message to us that we need to remind ourselves of the words in our Texas Lawyer’s Creed:

The conduct of a lawyer should be characterized at all times by honesty, candor, and fairness. In fulfilling his or her primary duty to a client, a lawyer must be ever mindful of the profession’s broader duty to the legal system …

We must always be mindful that the practice of law is a profession. As members of a learned art we pursue a common calling, the spirit of public service. We have a proud tradition. Throughout the history of our nation, the members of our citizenry have looked to the ranks of our profession for leadership and guidance. Let us now as a profession each rededicate ourselves to practice law so we can restore public confidence in our profession, faithfully serve our clients, and fulfill our responsibility to the legal system.

*A word borrowed from, and with thanks to, Michael T. Gallagher of Houston. It means acute mental vision or discernment.