32 of the 55 framers of the Constitution were attorneys. Jokes aside, the legal profession has long been a profession of leadership. As WSBA governor-at-large Sean Davis recently noted in an excellent article in NWLawyer: "We are regularly called upon when circumstances are at their worst and when stakes are highest: charged with guiding and informing decisions, often between two or more undesirable outcomes. Our willingness to speak up, remain silent, or provide influence through other means is a form of leadership: good, bad, or otherwise .... [T]he response we provide tends to carry significant weight with the hearer." I'm proud to be a member of the legal profession.
Washington's Rule of Professional Conduct 2.1 ("Advisor") authorizes attorneys to "exercise independent professional judgment" and to "refer not only to law but to other considerations such as moral, economic, social and political factors, that may be relevant to the client's situation." Mr. Davis pointed out in his article that this ability to guide individuals in an evaluation of considerations beyond the law "is a unique position that our profession formally holds in society." I enjoy providing Washington condominium and homeowners associations with that kind of comprehensive legal advice.
Have a safe, restful, and appreciative Independence Day!
