A PROFILE IN PROFESSIONALISM

Nancy B. Rapoport
To me, professionalism is all about the spirit of the law as well as the letter of the law. Under the old Model Code, professionals hit the “highs” of the Ethical Considerations, rather than just the bare minimum standards of the Disciplinary Rules. A true professional regards his or her work as a calling as well as a vocation, taking the time to make sure that the client gets the full benefit of the lawyer’s experience and judgment. A professional also uses his or her skills for the good of the community by, e.g., taking on pro bono representation, serving on non-profit boards, reaching out to students who might never have considered law as a profession.

Nancy B. Rapoport (left) Dean and Professor of Law University of Houston Law Center McKen V. Carrington (center) Dean of Thurgood Marshall School of Law James J. Alfini (right) Dean of South Texas College of Law

McKen V. Carrington
Professionalism has become a concern for the leader-ship of the profession, and for good reason. It is about people in an honored profession. Professionalism is the need to uphold the time-honored norms of the legal profession in the face of an increasing tendency to practice law as a commercial enterprise. In law practice, the considerations are many, including market concerns like billable hours and competition. Modern lawyer advertising does not always speak well of the profession or show the closeness and confidentiality in the attorney-client relationship. Professional-ism goes to the idea that the
lawyer should be idealistic and resist the tendency to engage in crass commercialism. Professional-ism also means that the lawyer should always ensure that his actions speak well of the profession.

James J. Alfini
Professionalism is a state of mind. It requires lawyers to see themselves as pursuing a noble calling. It should serve as a constant reminder to lawyers in a democratic society that they are the guardians of our system of justice, and must accept certain responsibilities in dealing with their varied constituencies. They must conduct themselves in a manner that insures that they will be viewed at all times as trustworthy, diligent, and courageous, and must agree to be bound by the highest ethical standards even if doing so may not be in their personal or financial interests. By maintaining this state of mind, lawyers will enhance not only their own reputations, but also that of the legal profession.

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