The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
-Mahatma Ghandi-
I have a mission of service. It’s always been there and, frankly, I’m not really sure where it came from. Although my father was a career Army man, my parents never really seemed to volunteer in any sort of civic-minded way that I can remember. I guess they were too busy trying to keep the family afloat. I began donating whole blood to the American Red Cross for the first time while in high school in Charleston, South Carolina. I knew someone else needed my blood a whole lot more than I did. It was the first time I felt some sense of commitment to others.
I began my working career right out of high school as a cargo jet mechanic in the United States Air Force. I didn’t feel patriotic or anything….I just needed a job. So off I went to boot camp to learn how to march and salute and stand at attention and all that other really important stuff. I continued to donate blood and do volunteer work for the local Red Cross and then decided to join the base search and recovery team. This was essentially a team of people who would go out and search for survivors in the event of a military plane crash. They used to put human hair in tin cans and light it on fire so we could get used to the smell of burning flesh. They would scatter meat around a perimeter and have us come through and bag and tag it during exercise. I’m not sure, but I think it was chicken. Thankfully I never had to serve on a real detail.
In 1989, Hurricane Hugo devastated the Charleston area. I volunteered to go with a group of men armed with axes and chainsaws to remove trees that had fallen on base housing. It was long and tedious work and water was scarce. After many days, I returned to my regular duty assignment. For my efforts, I was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal which was a humbling experience. It’s no Purple Heart, mind you, but it’s a real medal that goes around your neck and everything. They don’t present it to you in some sort of ceremony like you see on TV….you have to order it from the base uniform shop.
As a young lawyer in Memphis, I understood the privilege and prestige I had as a licensed member of the bar. I served on the Memphis Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee and became acquainted with some of the most cherished lawyers I’ve ever met. There are too many to name, but they know who they are. This group sought to level the playing field for those unable to afford legal representation in civil court. Clinics were staffed across the city and eventually centralized to allow anyone to meet with an attorney to discuss their legal issue. What a fantastic thing! I also regularly took overflow pro bono cases from Memphis Area Legal Services. What a joy it was to selflessly help those who really need and appreciate your services.
I have since served on several non-profit boards. The importance of lawyers providing their perspectives to all the moving parts of a non-profit organization is fascinating and has helped me grow in so many ways. It is also a great way to give to the community and meet a whole lot of very cool people. I have recently been volunteering with the free Tennessee legal helpline for four hours every week. I regularly receive appreciation from those I have talked to and provided advice.
When my son was younger I used to read him the Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein before bedtime. It is the story of a tree that sacrifices everything it has to a young boy as he ages over the years and becomes an old man. The tree never expected anything in return, only the joy it gave to this person. In the end, the tree gives everything but its stump which the old weary man sits upon and makes the tree useful and happy.
I say all this because Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1 (which isn’t really a rule at all but more of an ask) provides that lawyers should aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services each year. It is understandable, however, why some attorneys are unable or unwilling to fulfill that aspiration. Many government lawyers are prohibited from engaging in the private practice of law. Others may not feel competent to advise potential clients in areas of the law they are not familiar with. In those instances, lawyers should feel comfortable giving to their respective communities in ways that appeal to them such as making donations to legal organizations or other charitable groups, serving on community boards or non-profits, or volunteering their time to make their communities a better place. This is how we feed our souls and truly connect as Americans.