Volume 13, Issue 2
Winter 2002
Senior Lawyer News
Frank Overton Brown, Jr.
Chair, Senior Lawyers Conference
Our direct interest in civility springs from two sources: our individual responsibilities as legal professionals, and our Senior Lawyers Conference Bylaws, approved by Virginia State Bar Council, in which two of our charges are ". . . to uphold the honor of the profession of law. . . [and] to encourage cordial discourse and interaction among members of the Virginia State Bar. . .". Accordingly, the emphasis in this issue of our newsletter is on civility.
Although "civility" is a fundamental component of professionalism, in lay terms, "civility" is generally defined as "politeness" or "courtesy." Politeness is accepted as "conduct marked by consideration for others," and courtesy is accepted as "behavior characterized by graciousness and consideration toward others." If we continued our review of definitions, we would be drawn to the inevitable conclusion that civility is really the "golden rule," which most of us learned as children, "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You." This is an ethic of reciprocity, which, in one form or another, has existed for centuries in many cultures throughout the world; yet, a look at writings throughout history reveals a pattern of concern in which writers and commentators have decried uncivil conduct, or a decline in civility. Unfortunately, in today's business and legal practice, the golden rule has sometimes been corrupted to be, "Do Unto Others Before They Have A Chance To Do It To You." We trust that those who adhere to this latter point of view are in the minority in our profession, and that the majority of practicing lawyers are civil and professional in their conduct. We are hopeful that, through the combined efforts of law schools, the bar, individual lawyers, and the judiciary, civility will be maintained where it exists and restored where it is lacking. We believe that civility is not only a necessary characteristic of a professional lawyer, but that it is an essential quality in a civilized society.
As lawyers, we have a duty to demonstrate
civility in our dealings with our clients, other attorneys, judges, and others,
as we carry out our profession. We commend to the reader the materials on civility
in this issue of our newsletter, and we trust that they contribute toward the
accomplishment of our goals. Thank you.