Thank you so much for that kind introduction. I am thrilled to be back at Wake Forest today and I am honored to speak at this Law Review Symposium. It is wonderful to be part of such an esteemed tradition, where we can collaborate, meaningfully explore a variety of legal issues, and hopefully provide and receive mentorship in the practice of law.
While I have always been a proud alumna of Wake Forest University, I have become increasingly involved with Wake Forest Law School in recent years thanks to Professor Abby Perdue and her work with the Wake Washington summer internship program. In fact, I see several of my past and future interns in the crowd here today.
This morning, after listening to the opening session and spending time with you at breakfast, I went over to the undergraduate side of campus and spent time with students discussing separation of powers, law, and careers. It was invigorating and great to be back on campus.
It has been twenty-seven years since I graduated from Wake Forest University. Stepping back on campus, it feels as though no time has passed, and my pride in being a Demon Deacon endures. One memory that sticks with every Deac long after graduation, whether a graduate of the university, law school, medical school, or business school, is the school’s motto: Pro Humanitate. It is everywhere around the campus—permanently engraved into the school’s stonework—and Pro Humanitate underlies every aspect of the education all Deacs receive. As a fellow Deac, I am honored to offer my thoughts on how we, as present and future attorneys, can apply Pro Humanitate in the legal profession. Repeating the motto is easy, but living it in one’s day-to-day life requires intention and purpose.
My remarks are primarily directed to the students in the room, though they are equally applicable to attorneys, professors, and others. For the students in the room, you may think, “I am just in law school—I haven’t entered the legal profession yet. What does this have to do with me?” That sentiment is incorrect. Your journey in the legal profession began the moment you stepped foot on campus your 1L year. Two decades from now, you may end up standing where I am today. The path your career takes, and your level of satisfaction in this wonderful profession, will be impacted by your conduct at the inception of your legal career and every year following.
In preparing for today’s address, I reviewed several articles about the meaning of Pro Humanitate. I was struck by convocation remarks given about a decade ago by James Powell, Wake Forest professor of classical languages, who eloquently wrote on the motto’s meaning. He said, “The Wake Forest motto, Pro Humanitate, is regularly translated as ‘For Humanity’ and is probably most often understood to mean that we do what we do for the sake of humanity, for the people of the world. It is often heard as a very specific call to community service.”
Referencing the Roman term “humanitas,” Professor Powell suggested a complementary meaning of Pro Humanitate: For Kindness, and for Human Cultivation and Learning. With this definition, Professor Powell posited that we can better serve and uplift humanity by acting with kindness and continually striving to educate ourselves.[3] I find this interpretation of the motto compelling, especially as applied to the legal profession. Indeed, humanity, or humanitate, is synonymous with human civilization, which integrally relies upon the rule of law.
Our nation’s attorneys are the front-line defenders of the rule of law in the United States and serve as the caretakers and guardians of our constitutional system. When attorneys, law professors, or judges act unethically, uncivilly, unprofessionally, or in a manner detached from their community and “humanity,” our system of laws suffers. When legal professionals instead act in the opposite manner, with integrity and with civility, our profession, system of government, and democracy are bolstered. In this way, civility and the ethical practice of law are at the heart of what Pro Humanitate encompasses.
Of course, talking about these concepts in the abstract is easy. Applying them to your professional life is the challenge. Practicing law can be trying at times, and incorporating Pro Humanitate requires deliberateness and diligence. At minimum, the successful practice of law requires thoughtfulness, action, and intention in three areas: civility, ethics, and public service. Today, I will address each of these three foundational ideals in our legal profession. Hopefully, if I am sufficiently persuasive, my remarks will instill in each of you the motivation to pursue your legal career with Pro Humanitate at front of mind.
