In Search of the Silver Lining

Thomas M. Burke
The Hullverson Law Firm
St. Louis

These are challenging times, replete with government bailouts, corporate bankruptcies, fluctuating financial markets, and rising unemployment. The legal profession is not immune from these problems. There has been a downturn in many areas of practice. There have been layoffs and cutbacks at many firms.

Despite these difficulties, my conversations with hundreds of lawyers throughout the state during the past eight weeks – in locations such as St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, Springfield, Mexico, Monett, Independence, Rolla, Waynesville, Troy, Brookfield, and Forsyth – have caused me to disagree with one of Missouri’s legendary citizens, baseball player cum philosopher Yogi Berra, who concluded, “The future ain’t what it used to be.” In my view, the future is bright, and better days are ahead.

The problems we face will require all of our unique talents and skills as lawyers. They will require our re-dedication to our profession, our calling as lawyers, our system of justice, and the rule of law.

Uncertain times call for our leadership and our full engagement as defenders of the rule of law. We are trained to address conflicting and uncertain situations, and to impose structure, process and order. We often face clients who are filled with fear, anger and confusion, and help them walk a path toward resolution of their problems with a steadfast, deliberative hand.

My conversations throughout the state have convinced me that Missouri’s lawyers are up to the challenge. Despite these uncertain times, lawyers uniformly express a pride in their profession, a respect for the rule of law, their belief in the independence of the judiciary, their support of the Missouri non-partisan court plan, their belief in the value of pro bono work, their support of legal services and commitment to equal access to justice, their commitment to diversity and inclusion, and their belief in the independence of the bar as a self-regulating profession.

My meetings with lawyers have reaffirmed my belief in the good value that The Missouri Bar provides its members; but, more importantly, my meetings have given me the opportunity to thank the membership for their great service to the bar: as active members of a variety of substantive committees; as presenters and attendees at the scores of CLE programs offered; as authors and contributors to the various bar publications, including the Journal of The Missouri Bar and Precedent; as participants in a variety of bar-sponsored programs, such as the Mentoring Program and Fee Dispute Resolution Program; and as attendees at networking and social events, such as the Annual Meeting and the Solo and Small Firm Conference.

In the coming months, The Missouri Bar will work diligently to provide its members with those services and programs that support them in their practice, including CLE, the Lawyer Referral Service and law practice management information, to name just a few. In addition, the bar will continue to provide benefits and services which promote the professional and personal growth of all of its members. Likewise, your state bar will continue its efforts to promote public understanding of the law and the legal process, promote the role of the legal profession in the administration of justice, and foster mutual respect between the public and the profession.

In the coming weeks, I anticipate meeting with lawyers in Columbia, St. Charles, Hannibal, Sikeston, Sedalia, Joplin, Poplar Bluff, Cape Girardeau, Kirksville, and points in between. I look forward to meeting and thanking those lawyers for their service to our profession, learning of their dedication to the rule of law and our shared fundamental values, and reminding all of us that the practice of law is a noble profession. We have the greatest legal system in the world, and it is our great privilege, honor and responsibility to preserve that system and the rule of law. To that end, and with that dedication, our future is bright.