SLCBA: Justice Tongue update
February 6th, 2009 5:15 am | by Kenneth Reich | in Articles
If you are a member of the Salt Lake County Bar Association then you are likely familiar with “Justice Tongue,” a regular contributor to the Bar & Bench quarterly newsletter published by the SLCBA. In the recent Bar & Bench, I found that Justice Tongue dispensed a bit of good advice to young lawyers (those “pampered, directionless, underachievers who would conceive that ‘managing partner’ is an ‘entry level position’”):
- The practice of law is a profession, not a business. (Debate ensues . . . which came first the chicken or the egg? Does being a professional keep you in business or do paying clients? Or, does being a professional guarantee you will have paying clients to keep you in business? Or, does being a lawyer mean more than making money and if you actually make money at it you can call it a bonus and consider yourself lucky?)
- You must always be proactive.
- You will be paid for thinking, planning, researching, studying, and effectively communicating.
- Your rewards and satisfaction in the practice of law will be in direct proportion to your commitment and effort.
- Above all, retain your integrity. (Amen.)
