For the next few minutes, I would like to focus your thinking in
this regard by identifying certain qualities that set apart
those attorneys of distinction who are admired by their
colleagues.
As you have
just completed the rigorous demands of your legal education, the
first qualities I will mention are ones that should now be
second nature to you. Both diligence and the willingness
to work hard are, as you know, essential requirements for doing
well in law school and in the successful practice of law as
well. Thomas Jefferson said, "I'm a great believer in luck
and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."
It is also common wisdom that the successful practice of law
requires the continual exercise of good judgment and a
willingness to make a conscious commitment to fairness and
integrity in all that you do. In that regard, you should
strive always to be a person of your word, and if you succeed in
this endeavor, your opponents and the judges you appear before
will trust what you say as being truthful.
We lawyers and judges are taught from day one that an attorney's
duty to represent his or her client's interest vigorously is one
of the sacrosanct tenets in practicing law, and no one on this
dais will tell you anything to the contrary. Over the past few
years, however, some lawyers have apparently lost the ability to
balance this duty along with fulfilling their responsibilities
as an arm of the court in a civil and professional manner.
This imbalance has resulted in a decline in civility and
professionalism that directly affects all lawyers, as our
profession is no longer esteemed in the same way it was in the
early days of this country when over half of the participants in
the 1787 Constitutional Convention were lawyers.
To the justice system, the nature of an argument is a debate, a
productive vehicle to explore all sides of an issue. It
has been such forever. At the heart of our profession is
the belief that excellent advocacy on all sides of a question,
coupled with an impartial and conscientious bench, leads to
justice and fairness. But, increasingly, there is reason
for concern about the evaporating sense of legal community and
the gradual disappearance of civility. Whether in
argument, negotiation, or simple interaction, we have been
overtaken by an upswing in antagonism that all members of the
bar recognize. For you, the newest of our attorneys, one
of the most disappointing aspects of the erosion of civility is
that you will not have known a difference. You may believe
that this is the way that the practice of law has always been.
It is not.
Civility is not a study in manners, nor does its absence
necessarily implicate unethical conduct. It is instead the
atmosphere of courtesy that comes from a mutual respect for the
position of attorney that each of us holds.
I am certain that my colleagues on this court would agree with
me that one way in which you can begin immediately to build an
outstanding reputation is through professional behavior and
being respectful of all with whom you associate during the
course of your workday, whether it be opposing and fellow
counsel, court staff, judges or clients.
The Connecticut Bar recently lost an excellent role model who
demonstrated great skill in vigorously representing his clients,
but with impeccable civility and courteous manners.
Attorney John S. Murtha died on May 26th at the age of 98. He
received his law degree in 1938 from Yale Law School, joined the
Hartford law firm of Hewes, Prettyman & Await until the outbreak
of World War II. He then served in the U.S. Naval Reserve– first
as the Commanding Officer of an Infantry Landing Craft in the
Mediterranean and then of a landing Ship Tank in the Pacific.
After the war, John Murtha returned
to Hartford as an assistant state’s attorney and later to Hewes,
Prettyman & Await. In 1968 the firm became Murtha, Cullina,
Richter & Pinney and John Murtha, the senior partner, practiced
corporate and labor law representing the interests of
management. I read from his Hartford Courant obituary:
Known in the office as “Chief,” Murtha expected hard work,
integrity and an old-fashioned sense of decorum from the lawyers
in his firm. Men could wear only suits, though a sports coat and
tie were acceptable on Saturdays. He once spied a young lawyer
sockless in his wingtips. Without additional comment, Murtha
said, “go buy the socks.” The same lawyer was later in a
discussion with a lawyer from another firm. The exchange became
heated, and the Murtha lawyer raised his voice. John Murtha
later called the young man out. Murtha lawyers, the Chief said,
do not yell, no matter how outrageous the provocation.
To my mind, John Murtha was a resourceful and successful lawyer,
as well as a leader in his community where he served on numerous
boards including the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the
United Way, the Red Cross, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation,
and the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford. The list goes on and
on. He retired from the practice of law in 1989 at the age of
76, but his influence on and contribution to the legal
profession and community continue to inspire us all. The
respect and esteem in which he was held came not only from what
he did but also the way in which he did it.
In order to foster an atmosphere of civility, it is essential
for all members of the bar to gain a deeper appreciation of each
other and to build collegiality. One of the most rewarding ways
to do so is to offer your intellect, energy and time to one of
the numerous volunteer efforts sponsored by the state or local
bar associations.
Despite the frantic pace of
today's practice, lawyers have always considered educating the
public about the justice system to be one of its most important
obligations. The Connecticut Bar Association, both through
its young lawyers section and its public service outreach
program, and the local bar associations many of which are here
today, actively participate in extensive initiatives to
encourage the public to understand their legal rights and
obligations. Whether you take part as a volunteer coach or
judge in mock trials, or engage high school students in debates
about their constitutional rights and responsibilities, your
participation and contact with other attorneys will inevitably
help you to establish your reputation as a contributor, while
you are, at the same time, undertaking important public and
professional responsibilities.
Finally, if you retain your thirst for learning and show a
willingness to share the knowledge and expertise that you
develop with those attorneys who are new to the profession, you
will very likely find satisfaction and happiness in this noble
career you have chosen. As Albert Schweitzer said,
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key
to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be
successful."
Whether you
choose to emulate the example of John Murtha, or another lawyer
who has given you reason to be proud of joining this profession,
I hope that you will make it a practice to identify the
qualities present in those attorneys you admire, and follow
their lead. I also hope that your efforts in this regard
will one day cause those who follow to point to you as one who
has built a career on sound principles of professionalism and
integrity.
On behalf of
my colleagues on the Supreme Court, I welcome you to the legal
profession and wish you much success in your career in the
practice of law. Congratulations.
