By James L. Nolan

The popularity of lawyers jokes tells us that many are cynical about the morals and motives of the men and women of the bar. Indeed, we (lawyers) are regularly derided for using our skills for less than noble aims -- cutthroat litigation, duplicitous defenses, and facilitating the pursuit of greed with tax avoidance schemes, corporate manipulations, and other ploys not
precluded by "binding legal authority."

Still, something tells me the Judge of the Universe hasn't given up on us. This is symbolized in the fact that once a year, Catholic dioceses around the world hold "Red Masses" for members of the legal profession and the judiciary. In Washington, D.C., judges, lawyers, government officials, law professors and dignitaries including Supreme Court justices attended the Red Mass on October 1. It marked the start of the judicial year on the day before the opening of the high court's term.

The occasion is a fitting one to explore how we as followers of Christ think about the system of justice and those who vow to uphold its principles.

Interestingly, in the early days of Christianity, lawyers and judges were barred from membership in the Church because they had to give allegiance and offer sacrifices to the false gods of Rome in order to practice their profession. Now, many say that for lawyers and judges to get ahead they must give allegiance and offer different kinds of sacrifices
to other gods with names like power, wealth, and public acclaim.

One can fairly ask -- have things changed all that much?

I have conducted informal surveys of colleagues in the profession, somewhat less than a fully scientific sampling. I asked for a list of five things they find most satisfying and five that are the most troubling in
their practices.

On the up side, they list intellectual stimulation, financial comfort, the excitement of competition and prestige, as well as the ability to help others.

On the negative side, they worry about pressures on their spiritual, personal, and family lives (fueled by the constant demand to rack up billable hours). They also sense a devaluing of honesty and integrity in the
profession. Particularly demoralizing were times when they took positions for clients that were legally correct, but inequitable and morally questionable.

My impression is that people coming from the standpoint of religious faith are particularly uneasy. They see the noble purposes of law debased and the ideal of service deprecated. Expediency is often substituted for excellence.

Some question whether the profession is a fit place for a person of faith. They need not feel this way. Our society sorely needs faithful religious lawyers in civil and criminal practice.

But the very words, "religious lawyer," might sound like an oxymoron. In light of the pressures, costs, and compromises, how is a lawyer of faith to preserve and thrive in the profession? How is any professional to do this? Here are some essential components:

Engagement. The good that lawyers can do for individuals and society is far too important to ignore. All of us are called to collaborate in God's creative and redemptive work and use our skills and talents for the greater good. Envisioning one's profession as a vocation is a good place to start.

Community. In our very secular culture, being a person who can acknowledge that religious faith informs one's life can be quite lonely. A lawyer seeking more than the skillful compartmentalization or suppression of
religious sensibilities requires a community of support and encouragement.

Prayer. We are not alone. By prayer we keep our communication lines with God open and supple. While no particular form or method of prayer can be seen as tailored for the lawyer, a lawyer's training and verbal bent might make praying with the Psalms a particularly compatible pathway. Like a lawyer's petitions in court, the Psalms lucidly capture the heart of messages we humans attempt to communicate to the eternal Judge.

A religious lawyer is one who carries a sense of obligation, a desire for integration (of faith and profession), and a drive for the transcendent into the court room and law office. In other words, such a person will want to practice law with the idea that God is the ultimate client.
 

James L. Nolan (nolan@wtu.edu), an attorney specializing in business litigation for over 30 years, is executive director of the Woodstock Business Conference, a program of the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The Conference has chapters that meet monthly in 18 cities, bringing together business and professional people including lawyers for discussions of faith and work.