A lawyer stands between the abuse of governmental power and the individual.
A lawyer stands between the abuse of corporate power and the individual.
A lawyer stands between the abuse of judicial power and the individual.
A lawyer stands up to the smugness and complacency of society.
A lawyer helps to mold the rights of individuals for generations to come.
In short, lawyers are the trustees of our liberties.
And whom have we seen perform this historic role?

We saw him at the miracle in Philadelphia, the Constitutional Convention of 1787 fighting for the Bill of Rights, the credo of American freedom not adopted until 1798. His name was James Madison. He was a lawyer.

We saw him exhorting the battle cry of the Republic, "Give me liberty or give me death." His name was Patrick Henry. He was a lawyer.

We saw him at Gettysburg with tears in his eyes, gaunt and morose, rededicating our country to the principle of equal justice for all. His name was Abraham Lincoln. He was a lawyer.

We saw him speak from his wheelchair, lifting our spirits, making us stronger with his inspirational philosophy, "The only thing we have to fear is is fear itself." His name was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was a lawyer.

T.I. Koskoff