What Law Students Can Do to Defend the Independence of the Legal Profession

Attacks on the legal profession are ongoing. In response to these attacks, hundreds of attorneys and legal organizations have endorsed a baseline set of Legal Principles that offer a means of collective action for all in the profession to reaffirm their commitment to rules of professional ethics, their duty to provide pro bono representation to those unable to pay, and their unwillingness to accept representation under conditions that threaten their independence.

Law students play a key role in encouraging all in the legal community to reaffirm their commitment to these fundamental professional values. Collectively, they can send a clear message to potential employers that the next generation of attorneys refuses to compromise those values. By standing up and speaking out, law students can begin their legal careers proud to be joining a profession committed to the rule of law. 

Below are five actions law students can take to defend the independence of the profession that they will soon join. 

1: Request that potential employers identify whether they endorse the Principles. Seek employment only at employers that embrace the Principles. When interviewing with potential employers, the most powerful action a law student can take is to ask whether the organization endorses the Principles and if not, then why? This line of questioning sends a strong message to law firms and legal organizations that law students strongly prefer to only seek employment with employers that refuse to compromise their professional independence. 

2. Educate your peers about the Principles. Broadly distributing the Principles and these action items to as many law students as possible provides the greatest opportunity for students and the profession to act collectively. 

3: Encourage your dean to endorse the Principles in their personal capacity. While law school deans face institutional hurdles to endorsing on behalf of their school, deans’ personal endorsement of the Principles adds weight, gravitas, and increases awareness of the Principles. A template email to share with law school deans may be found here.

4: Encourage your professors to endorse the Principles. Similarly, law professors’ thought leadership, reputation, and authority help to socialize the Principles within the legal community. A template email to share with law professors may be found here.

5: Encourage student organizations to endorse and promote the Principles. Working through student organizations provides an opportunity for law students to act collectively. Student chapter leaders and members should encourage their organizations to endorse the Principles and hold programming that is reflective of the values promoted in the Principles. Consider that career panel speakers may encourage students to seek employment only at potential employers that embrace the Principles.