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Message from the President

Now, more than ever, we as lawyers -- members of the most powerful and influential profession -- need to help others without regard to billings and fees.

While some legal practices are thriving in this current economic climate (bankruptcy comes to mind), we know full well that other practices are not. The recession that fell on us so quickly has hurt a great many people in almost all industries, including many lawyers who have lost their jobs or who, due to a leaner workloads, aren't earning what they once were. And, of course, almost all of us have watched our retirement accounts dwindle.

That said, we should not forget that many people have suffered -- and will continue to suffer -- far worse than most established in our profession will. The people who barely survived in more prosperous times -- and who have no resources whatsoever to fall back on now -- are feeling most severely and immediately the sting of this recession. We know this, of course, but, as with any set of unsettling statistics, we tend to see points on a sterile chart rather than real live people. To be sure, we can see many homeless people on our streets, but there are so many other people who are suffering from this ecomonic crisis that remain invisible to us. I am asking you for a favor. I am asking you to see these newly desperate people as a part of your world, as an integral part in our community, and not just as an unfortunate statistic or potential drain on our own resources.

The Century City Bar Association prides itself on being a group of lawyers who endeavor to build on the sense of community that we share. But we -- as a community of lawyers -- are also an inseparable part of the larger Los Angeles community, and we as a profession owe much to that greater community.

With this in mind, let me ask you for another favor. Now, more than ever, it is important for all of us to do some form of community service or pro bono work. Now, more than ever, your personal, individual help desperately needed. Whether it is helping to feed the homeless, financially supporting pro bono agencies, or doing pro bono work yourself, please help in a way in which you feel comfortable. Even if you can only do one small thing, that is better than doing nothing. One of my heros, Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, has always said that the real enemy in society is "indifference." Wiesel is right. Let's not be indifferent.

As lawyers, we are leaders in the community at large. Despite all the lawyer jokes, people still respect and admire us and our profession. If we, as the legal community and as individual lawyers, set personal example of helping the less fortunate in our own way, in a way that is comfortable to us, our friends and other people will take notice and inevitably will follow our lead. Please do what you can.

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