Caleb Green '19

Do you have a motto and what is it?

I have several mottos that I live by, but one that stands out among them all is this: “Nobody cares what kind of attorney you are until they know what kind of person you are.”Put simply, your character dictates what kind of attorney you are.I adopted this motto at the start of my law school experience and it is still my daily aspiration as a practicing attorney. This motto challenges me to be the best version of myself fort hose throughout my community. Not only do I strive to be conscious of how I treat my clients and colleagues, but also how I treat opposing counsel, my staff,and even strangers I encounter throughout the community. This motto is a daily reminder to respect the various members of my community and also motivates me to be culturally responsible and avail myself as a resource to my community through pro bono services and civic engagement. I think Charles Hamilton Houston, the mentor to the Honorable Justice Thurgood Marshall, summarized my daily aspiration, declaring that “a lawyer is either a social engineer or a parasite on society.” The practice of law is an esteemed privilege that very few have the opportunity to experience. If you are only using your law license to benefit yourself, you are doing yourself and your practice a significant disservice.