Lawyers gather to discuss morality

The lawyers at the table threw around words that some might not expect to hear -- phrases like "the morality of lawyers" and "the ethical responsibility." But then again, the 15-member panel included some of the most accomplished public interest lawyers in the country. All were Honorary Fellows of the Penn Law School, lawyers who have received honorary degrees from Penn recognizing their work. The roundtable discussion held last night in the Law School's Levy Conference Center was part of the school's sesquicentennial anniversary. It was also part of "Social Movements and Law Reform," the 20th Annual Edward V. Sparer Symposium, which will be held this weekend. "The Law School is saying something about its commitment to public service," Law School Dean Michael Fitts said. "The University of Pennsylvania Law School has a number of firsts over the years -- we were the first to have a public service requirement. We're showing the importance of public interest to law and related professions." Holding positions ranging from a Department of Justice division director to the proprietor of a one-woman private practice, the panelists brought diverse viewpoints to the topic of public service. Their work goes far beyond litigation, education and public advocacy. Beneficiaries of their work include immigrants, poor and the homeless. Penn Law Fellow David Rudovsky, who mediated the discussion, tried to focus it on the progress and future of public interest law. Many spoke of the 1960s and the highly publicized lawyers of the civil rights movement, saying that many perceive these to be the glory days of public interest law. "We have a revolution [in public interest law] that we don't even understand and we've just taken for granted," said Daniel Greenberg, the executive director and attorney in chief of the Legal Society Aid. "My great fear is that when people like us talk to students, they'll hear, 'Your greatest mistake is that you were born too late -- the court systems are great [now],'" he added. Penn Law students are required to complete 70 hours of public service before they graduate -- a requirement that the school hopes the experience will inspire them to continue with pro bono work. But according to Law School Public Service Program Director Susan Feathers, about 30 percent of Penn Law students enter the school planning to go into public interest law, while only five percent actually do so. Many of the fellows stressed the importance of public interest programs within law firms. "It seems to me there should be an ethical responsibility on the part of lawyers to do pro bono service," President of the American Bar Association Jerome Shestack said. Out of Philadelphia's 14,000 lawyers, roughly 100 are in public interest, said local attorney Tobey Oxholm. Many noted that the small number of lawyers in public interest was partially due to stiff competition for the few jobs available in public interest, not a lack of willingness to enter the field. However, others said the paycheck -- smaller than the average corporate lawyer's salary by over half -- and the courage it takes to enter public interest law are factors. "You've got to live every day like this is the worst day in the history of civilization," Atlanta civil rights attorney Millard Farmer said. "Once you feel in your heart that it's wrong, everything else just falls into place."