When I first addressed you back in December as the ladies and gentlemen of The Missouri Bar, there were nearly 1,000 less of you than there are today. Following the swearing-in ceremonies in October, 1997 and April, 1998, hundreds of men and women became Missouri attorneys.

While greeting and shaking hands of these enthusiastic, energetic and optimistic individuals, I had occasion to reminisce to when I was sworn in as an attorney. I had the good fortune to be taken under the wing of a wonderful, wise and caring attorney who became much more than just an employer; he became my mentor and friend. I had the further good fortune of later going to work for and with an outstanding lawyer who spent 11 years of his life and career being my mentor and friend.

While greeting the new attorneys, I wondered how many of them would have the good fortune I had to associate with someone who would take the time to share his or her time, advice and friendship. I then wonder how many of us have taken a moment in the last day, week, month or year to give a little bit of ourselves, in advice and friendship, to other attorneys. GIVE? SHARE? Should these words and concepts be foreign to us as a profession? These words mean that each of us should serve as a mentor, whether on a formal or informal basis, and thus give and share for the benefit of our profession.

Do lawyers give and share? I would submit that we most certainly do when it comes to society as a whole, as has been documented by the results of the report on pro bono services provided by lawyers in the state of Missouri. The question is even more important when it is restricted to whether we give and share "within" our profession and whether or not we should do so.

In trying to answer the question, perhaps we should take a moment to assess whether this current era of incivility, hostility and sanctions is advancing the best interest of clients, our society and, more importantly, ourselves as attorneys and our profession. In an earlier article I reminded all of us that the Rules of Professional Conduct mandate that we represent our clients with competence and diligence and to zealously assert our clients position under the rules of the adversary system. I also reminded us that the preamble of the Rules of Professional Conduct state that we, as lawyers, are guided by our "personal conscience and the approbation of professional peers." It makes it clear that each of us should strive to attain the highest level of skill, to improve the law and the legal profession and to exemplify the legal professions ideals of public service.

Perhaps if we occasionally gave a little of our time, advice and friendship to each other, our reputation among ourselves would be enhanced. Who knows, even society might acknowledge that our profession does not deserve all of the "bad mouth." All of us would benefit and, more importantly, our profession would benefit. I am not advocating mandatory, mind-boggling methods.

For example, when was the last time you went up to a new lawyer at your circuits law day and introduced yourself? When was the last time you chose a new table to sit at during your local bar meeting and welcomed a new attorney to the profession? Dare I ask when the last time was you offered a moment of assistance or advice to a fellow attorney, young or old? Who among us has watched, without moving a muscle, an out-of-town lawyer struggle before the court on a rather routine matter because of unfamiliarity with the unwritten local rules or customs? I am not advocating selling short your clients interest, as I know you would not do whether I, or anyone else, advocated it However, I am advocating that we must endeavor to remember that we are all in the same profession, whether we be associates, partners, opposing counsel, or just members of The Missouri Bar. What we do and say, as well as what we choose not to do or say, has ramifications, both immediate and long-term. The Austrian novelist and philosopher Elias Canetti said, "Justice begins with the recognition of the necessity of sharing."¹

Sharing can be accomplished within our profession by each of us treating one another as we would like to be treated and stepping to the plate when a fellow attorney can use a little bit of advice, counsel or just plain old friendship. Your Missouri Bar has developed a formal mentoring program, on a pilot basis, in southwest Missouri. With the help of the attorneys in that area of the state, we are creating a workable plan that can be used throughout the state for a permanent mentoring program. Im happy to say the interest thus far has been positive.

In conclusion, you proved, as the lawyers of Missouri, your assistance to society through the pro bono programs. Now is the time for us to do something for ourselves.

As President of The Missouri Bar, I was recently offended by a law professor who was quoted as saying, "I feel that lawyers reputation for being highly unethical is well-deserved." I would suggest that all attorneys in this state should be equally offended and, prove that we are proud of our profession and challenge all other professions to equal our contribution to society.

Let us prove to one another that we possess that same concern and desire to assist and help one another, thereby strengthening our profession. We are all proud to be lawyers, so lets show it with the attitude and assistance that we provide to one another in our legal profession.

Footnote

1 Crowds and Power, "Distribution and Increase" (1960).