During the first 10 years of this new century, our time-honored legal traditions have been challenged in many different ways. I believe that one of the most significant challenges that we will face over the next 100 years is the ability to instill a common sense of professionalism and purpose to our new young lawyers.
In discussing the theme for Law Day 2010, Michael Greco, president of the American Bar Association for 2006-2007, included a frequently quoted definition of professionalism by Dean Nathan Roscoe Pound of Harvard Law School:
A group of persons pursuing a learned art as a common calling in the spirit of public service… Pursuit of the learned art in the spirit of public service is the primary purpose. Gaining a livelihood is incidental, whereas in a business or trade it is the entire purpose.
