President's Page
| Publication year | 2014 |
| Pages | 0220 |
| Citation | Vol. 75 No. 4 Pg. 0220 |
Anthony A. Joseph
ajoseph@maynardcooper.com
Got It!
In the south, we sometimes use the expression, "Even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then." It means that everyone on occasion stumbles on the right answer, or sometimes a good result comes from an unexpected source. Not that I'm trying to compare myself to a hog (no commentary please), or to characterize my efforts this year as finding a prized acorn, but I can now say after 10 months and seven days into my role as president that I think I finally "got it!" I finally understand. To those of you who know me, I am certain you will say that it took me long enough. Let me be clear that by saying "got it," I'm not suggesting that I have all the answers, nor am I trying to say "mission accomplished." It's far from that. What I can say without any shred of doubt is that I have seen who we are as a bar, I have looked at the challenges that we face and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. At the end of the day, isn't that what it's all about? That is, recognizing the needs, dedicating the resources necessary to meet those challenges, having a strong desire to make it happen, and having hope. MLK said it best when he declared that "[he] might not get there with [us]" . . . but he had a dream of where we were going and what we could become. His dream was predicated on a vision, universal truth and hope. Our hope as a bar lies within our bar's motto:
"Lawyers Render Service to the Profession and to the Community"
Service defines what it means to be a lawyer.
Relevancy Now and for the Future of Our Profession
Service is our mission, but relevancy must remain our cornerstone. While we exist to serve the profession and the greater community, we must recognize what is relevant to the current needs of each part, and subpart, of those we serve.
Access to Justice
Alabama is the seventh poorest state in the country. Almost one-fifth (900,000) of our citizens live below the poverty level. The civil legal needs of many of those existing at that level are not being met. However, I am proud to report that this year, as in the past, many lawyers have stepped up to volunteer through our pro bono initiatives. Over 1,500 members of bar volunteers have spent almost 11,000 hours and served over 9,300 of our citizens. What a great team effort!
One of the goals for the bar this year was to increase the number of volunteers from our...
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