I've heard a lot of lawyer jokes over the years. I understand how someone who has been sued can feel like the world would be a better place if there were no lawyers...and I'm sure most people who have been through a divorce don't have a warm feeling about their ex-spouse's attorney.
I am not going to subject you to a defense of the legal profession. I'm not going to tell you how some of the best people you'll ever meet are lawyers. That's because some of the best people you'll ever meet are cooks, plumbers, school teachers, parents, janitors, and engineers. No single profession has a monopoly on people who are sincere, who care about doing their best for others, and who make the world a better place.
I mention this because part of my job last month was to interview all the attorneys who will be receiving awards at this year's Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar. I asked them each a few questions about their accomplishments, and I was impressed -- not by what they did -- but by who they were.
They've used their law degrees to make the world a little more just. They are passionate. Some, about helping others; some about understanding an area of law; others about improving Missouri's legal system.
If you have a few minutes, you might get your day off to a good start by clicking on a few of the interviews -- just to meet some lawyers who will never be the butt of a lawyer joke.
Here's the link: Interviews with Award Winners