Have a Heart.

• Author: Higer, Michael J.
• Position: President's page

By the time you read this, my year as Bar president will be nearly half over. In my travels, I have met with a great many lawyers, judges, and law students across our state. My travels have confirmed what I already knew, which is the difficulty that comes with being a lawyer today. To quote one of my favorites, former Dodger great, Roy Campanella: "You have to have a lot of the little boy in you to play baseball for a living." And you have to have a lot of heart to be a lawyer for a living.

There are countless pressures on us every day: billable hours, 24/7 client demands, a must-win mentality, and threats from commoditization, online providers, and artificial intelligence. Technology is an accelerant for all of these pressures. Work-life balance can be an elusive illusion.

Have a heart. Have a purpose. Practice with commitment. Practice with passion. Practice with compassion. Doing so will not alleviate all of the pressures that surround us each day, but reconnecting with your higher purpose of service as a trusted counselor and as a zealous advocate for justice will enhance the meaning of everything you do, including the tasks often seen as ordinary and rote. What will ultimately distinguish you, and all of us as lawyers, is the care and compassion we provide clients, the sanctity of the confidences our clients share with us, and the professionalism that characterizes our conduct and communication in and out of the courtroom. Distinguishing ourselves in this manner will give us a renewed sense of value--that we really do make a difference in what we do each day. Finding and connecting with that spark within you will kindle your spirit in how you go about everything you do. It matters to your clients. It matters to our justice system.

Recently, I attended a memorial service for my good friend and former Board of Governors member...