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Do You Represent?

By Brian Hall

I just finished up my first board meeting for my alma mater law school, Michigan State University College of Law.  As a relatively recent graduate, it was fantastic sitting in a room full of practitioners ranging in number of years of practice from freshly admitted to the bar all the way up to those entering their fortieth year of practice.  I silently concluded that there was no better way to exhibit passion and admiration for your school than to give of your time, and in most cases with these individuals, financial support as well.  Ultimately, it led me to question whether or not I properly represent the school and law college that has given so much to me.

Now as an attorney, I have, just like every other attorney, two schools to which I pledged my collegiate experience.  First, there was my undergraduate work at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  Second, there was my three years of law school at Michigan State University College of Law.  When I graduated from Miami, I immediately became a lifetime member of the alumni association.  However, I have not been very active since that time.  Recognizing that, I decided to become extremely active with my law school by joining the board of Michigan State University College of Law.  Although I have just finished my first meeting and I am in my first month of what will be two consecutive three year terms, I already can tell that I will be able to make a great difference and properly represent the school.

The fact of the matter is, as attorneys, we all owe a lot to our universities and law schools.  The reality is that without these schools accepting us and presenting us the degrees we so desperately sought (granted we had to work for them), we would not be where we are today.  I for one am extremely thankful for what my alma maters gave to me.  I know I do not speak for myself when I say this, and I know that my partners, who also happen to be graduates of Michigan State University College of Law, are active and willing to give both time and money to the school that enabled them to become the attorneys they are today.

So as I set out to do the best I can to represent my school in my professional life, I pose one question to all of you:  How well do you represent? 

Full post as published by The Greatest American Lawyer on August 21, 2009 (boomark / email).